Olivia De Havilland won two Oscars for best actress, "To Each His Own" (1946) and "The Heiress" (1949). She is most remembered as Melanie in the blockbuster film, "Gone With The Wind" (1939).
She was under contract to Warner Bros., during the height of the studio system. Performers were held to 7-Year contracts and forced to appear in any kind of role. If they refused, they would go on suspension and owed films after the 7-Year contract ended. Olivia went to court and fought her studio claiming actor's and actresses were "slaves" to these contracts. She won and eventually the studio system would end by 1960.
Olivia died of natural causes at age 104. She remained one of the last Hollywood stars of the Studio System. Kirk Douglas was her male counter-part who passed away earlier this year at age 103.
Click photos below for Olivia De Havilland's magnificent career.
(MGM photo. Hattie McDaniel, Olivia, Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the Wind").
(Paramount Pictures 1949. On-set of "The Heiress" with Olivia, director William Wyler and Montgomery Clift).
(20th Century Fox photo 1952). "My Cousin Rachel" with Richard Burton and Olivia).
(20th Century Fox photo 1964. Olivia and Bette Davis in "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte").
