Actress. She was an American actress, beginning in Hollywood's Golden Age. Born into an affluent, yet unconventional family, in Hartford, Connecticut, her parents were liberal, outspoken, and politically active. Their four children were raised in an atmosphere where no topic of discussion was taboo. She attended Bryn Mawr College outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and received a degree in history and philosophy in 1928, the same year she debuted on Broadway with a bit part in the play "Night Hostess." In 1928, she married businessman Ludlow Smith, which was her only marriage. Though the marriage was rocky and they divorced in 1934, Ludlow was very supportive, financially as well as morally, during the early years of her career, and they remained lifelong friends. Noticed for her work in the theatre, she was signed by RKO Pictures for her first motion picture, "A Bill of Divorcement" in 1932. In 1934, she received her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Morning Glory." By 1938, she was unquestionably one of Hollywood's top figures, but after a series of commercially and critically unsuccessful movies, her career went into decline. Her descent was exacerbated by her very outspoken anti-Hollywood attitudes and unwillingness to speak to the press; she was labeled "box office poison." Katherine Hepburn returned to the stage in Philip Barry's "The Philadelphia Story," a play written specifically for her. After a successful Broadway run, MGM bought the rights, and the film, teaming Hepburn with Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, was one of biggest hits of 1940. Her career was seemingly revived overnight, she made her first appearance with actor Spencer Tracy in 1942's "Woman of the Year." They fell in love, despite the fact that Tracy was married, and they remained together until Tracy's death in 1967. They made nine films together. Katharine Hepburn made over 40 films and 16 plays, and received 12 Academy Award nominations, a record that stood until 2002. She received four Academy Awards, more than any other actor or actress in the history of the award. Some of her best known roles were "Bringing Up Baby" in 1938, "The Philadelphia Story" in 1940, "Adam's Rib" in 1949, "The African Queen" in 1951 with Humphrey Bogart, "Rooster Cogburn" in 1975 with John Wayne, and "On Golden Pond" in 1981 with Henry Fonda. Her last film was 1994's "Love Affair."