Bankhead Family History & Genealogy

Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was born on January 31, 1902 in Huntsville, Alabama. Her father was a mover and shaker in the Democratic Party who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from June 4, 1936, to September 16, 1940. Tallulah had been interested in acting and, at age 15, started her stage career in the local theater troupes of Huntsville and the surrounding areas. At age 16, she won a beauty contest and, bolstered by this achievement, moved to New York City to live with her aunt and to try her hand at Broadway. She was offered a role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), but did not take it after she refused John Barrymore's invitation for a visit to the casting couch. Unfortunately, for the young Miss Bankhead, she did not make any headway on the stages of New York, so she pulled up stakes and moved to London, in 1923, to try her luck there. For the next several years, she was the most popular actress of London's famed West End, the British equivalent of Broadway. After starring in several well-received plays, she gained the attention of Paramount Pictures executives and returned to the United States to try her hand at the film world. Her first two films, Woman's Law (1927) and His House in Order (1928), did not exactly set the world on fire, so she returned to do more stage work. She tried film work again with Tarnished Lady (1931), where she played Nancy Courtney, a woman who marries for money but ultimately gets bored with her husband and leaves him, only to come back to him when he is broke. The critics gave it a mixed reception. Tallulah's personality did not shine on film as Paramount executives had hoped. She tried again with My Sin (1931) as a woman with a secret past about to marry into money. Later that year, she made The Cheat (1931), playing Elsa Carlyle, a woman who sold herself to a wealthy Oriental merchant who brands her like she was his own property and is subsequently murdered. The next year, she shot Thunder Below (1932), Faithless (1932), Make Me a Star (1932) (she had a cameo role along with several other Paramount stars) and Devil and the Deep (1932). The latter film was a star-studded affair that made money at the box-office due to the cast (Gary Cooper, Charles Laughton and newcomer Cary Grant). The films she was making just did not do her talent any justice, so it was back to Broadway--she did not make another film for 11 years. She toured nationally, performing in all but three states. She was also a big hit at social affairs, where she often shocked the staid members of that society with her "untraditional" behavior. She chain-smoked and enjoyed more than her share of Kentucky bourbon, and made it a "habit" to take her clothes off and chat in the nude. A friend and fellow actress remarked on one occasion, "Tallulah dear, why are you always taking your clothes off? You have such lovely frocks." She was also famous--or infamous--for throwing wild parties that would last for days. She returned to films in 1943 with a cameo in Stage Door Canteen (1943), but it was Lifeboat (1944) for director Alfred Hitchcock that put her back into the limelight. However, the limelight did not shine for long. After shooting A Royal Scandal (1945) she did not appear on film again until she landed a role in Die! Die! My Darling! (1965). Her film and small-screen work consisted of a few TV spots and the voice of the Sea Witch in the animated film The Daydreamer (1966), so she went back to the stage, which had always been first and foremost in her heart. To Tallulah, there was nothing like a live audience to perform for, because they, always, showed a lot of gratitude. On December 12, 1968, Tallulah Bankhead died at age 66 of pneumonia in her beloved New York City. While she made most of her fame on the stages of the world, the film industry and its history became richer because of her talent and her very colorful personality. Today her phrase, "Hello, Dahling" is known throughout the entertainment world. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson

Carnis Bankhead was born on May 1, 1934, and died at age 47 years old in July 1981. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Carnis Bankhead.

Marie N Bankhead of Orlando, Orange County, FL was born on March 21, 1930, and died at age 63 years old on July 29, 1993. Marie Bankhead was buried at Long Island National Cemetery Section Z Site 488 2040 Wellwood Avenue, in Farmingdale, Ny.

Patsy S Bankhead of Dallas County, TX was born circa 1951. Patsy Bankhead was married to Leander J. Bankhead Jr on September 23, 1970 in Dallas County, TX and they separated on March 26, 1981. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Patsy S. (Mcmurrian) Bankhead.

Leander J Bankhead Jr of Dallas County, TX was born circa 1949. Leander Bankhead was married to Patsy S. (Mcmurrian) Bankhead on September 23, 1970 in Dallas County, TX and they separated on March 26, 1981. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Leander J. Bankhead Jr.

Harold E Bankhead of Los Altos, Santa Clara County, CA was born on June 16, 1920, and died at age 69 years old on December 2, 1989.

Ernest L Bankhead of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on August 6, 1918, and died at age 69 years old on August 4, 1988. Ernest Bankhead was buried at Houston National Cemetery Section K Site 1423 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, in Houston.

Isaiah Roby Bankhead of Shelby County, Tennessee United States was born on June 16, 1924, and died at age 24 years old on April 9, 1949. Isaiah Bankhead was buried at Memphis National Cemetery Section D Site 468 3568 Townes Avenue, in Memphis.

Coy Bankhead of Bessemer, Jefferson County, AL was born on November 2, 1916, and died at age 90 years old on July 31, 2007.

Paul C Bankhead of Houston, Harris County, TX was born on May 24, 1928, and died at age 75 years old on April 18, 2004.

Jessie Bankhead of Fresno, Fresno County, California was born on August 15, 1901, and died at age 71 years old in August 1972.

Julius Bankhead of Yoakum, Lavaca County, Texas was born on February 22, 1921, and died at age 64 years old in September 1985.

Joe C Bankhead of Chester, Chester County, SC was born on June 27, 1917, and died at age 71 years old on December 29, 1988.

Isaac S Jr Bankhead of Trafford, Blount County, Alabama was born on April 25, 1921, and died at age 63 years old in December 1984.

William W Bankhead of Washington, District of Columbia County, DC was born on May 9, 1911 in Dist Of Columbia, and died at age 79 years old on November 23, 1990. William Bankhead was buried at Quantico National Cemetery Section 1 Site 6072 18424 Joplin Road (route 619), in Triangle, Va.

William J Bankhead of Blackstock, Chester County, SC was born on March 15, 1917, and died at age 84 years old on April 29, 2001.

William E Bankhead of Roscoe, Nolan County, TX was born on January 6, 1926, and died at age 79 years old on November 2, 2005.

Thomas L Bankhead of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT was born on February 19, 1925, and died at age 65 years old on February 13, 1991.

John W Bankhead of Providence, Cache County, UT was born on June 2, 1918, and died at age 84 years old on May 3, 2003.

John N Bankhead of Chester, Chester County, SC was born on December 16, 1908, and died at age 80 years old on July 22, 1989.