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Bette Davis' Kids: Memoir Rift & Estrangement
25 Oct
Summary
- B.D. Hyman's tell-all memoir caused a rift with her mother.
- Bette Davis had three children: two adopted and one biological.
- Estranged daughter B.D. was excluded from Bette Davis' will.
Bette Davis, a prominent Hollywood star, was a mother later in life. She had a biological daughter, Barbara "B.D." Hyman, and adopted two children, Margot and Michael Merrill.
Davis's relationship with B.D. became strained after B.D. published two memoirs in the 1980s. These books depicted Davis in an unfavorable light, leading to public estrangement and B.D.'s exclusion from Davis's will upon her death in 1989.
Margot Merrill, adopted in 1951, was diagnosed with brain damage at age three and spent much of her childhood in specialized care. She passed away in May 2022 after a challenging life.
Michael Merrill, also adopted, pursued a career in law and co-founded The Bette Davis Foundation in 1997 to support acting students. He inherited a portion of his mother's estate after her passing.
