Humphrey Bogart: Life, Health, Wealth & Relationships

Few Hollywood legends come wrapped in as many tall tales as Humphrey Bogart. Between the exaggerated drinking stories, the invented last words, and the inflated net worth figures, the man behind the fedora often gets lost in the myth.

Born: December 25, 1899 · Died: January 14, 1957 · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) · Spouse: Lauren Bacall (m. 1945–1957) · Cause of Death: Esophageal cancer · Famous Movies: Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep

Eight key facts in one place — a biographical snapshot that shows the man behind the legend.

Was Humphrey Bogart a heavy drinker and smoker?

Yes — by every account, Bogart smoked and drank heavily for decades. He reportedly smoked up to three packs of cigarettes a day, according to Wikipedia. He was also a heavy drinker, a habit that ran alongside his smoking for most of his adult life.

How did Bogart lose his teeth?

Bogart lost several teeth in a boating accident during the filming of The African Queen in 1951. The accident happened while shooting on location in Africa, and the damage was significant enough to affect his appearance in later films.

What was Humphrey Bogart’s cause of death?

Bogart was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 1955, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. He underwent surgery on March 1, 1956, to remove his esophagus, two lymph nodes, and a rib, as documented by Wikipedia. After the cancer metastasized, he had additional surgery in November 1956. He died on January 14, 1957, at age 57, in Los Angeles — The New York Times reported his death the next day, noting he had been suffering from esophageal cancer for more than two years.

The pattern: Bogart’s smoking habit was not a minor vice — it was a central factor in his death. For anyone who assumed the “heavy smoker” label was just Hollywood exaggeration, the medical record is unambiguous.

Did Lauren Bacall really love Humphrey Bogart?

All available evidence points to a deep, genuine love between Bogart and Bacall. They married in 1945, according to Wikipedia, and remained together until his death in 1957. Bacall was instrumental in persuading Bogart to see a doctor in January 1956 — a visit that led to his cancer diagnosis.

Was Bogart faithful to Bacall?

This is one of the areas where the record is less clear. No credible source has confirmed infidelity on Bogart’s part, but the question lingers because of the Hollywood rumor mill. What is known: Bacall and Bogart maintained a strong public and private partnership throughout his illness.

What did Lauren Bacall put in Humphrey Bogart’s casket?

Bacall reportedly placed a gold cigarette lighter in Bogart’s casket as a personal tribute. The gesture was a nod to his lifelong smoking habit — a bittersweet acknowledgment of the man she loved, even knowing that habit had contributed to his death.

What were Humphrey Bogart’s last words to Lauren Bacall?

Bogart’s final words to Bacall are widely reported as “Goodbye, kid. Hurry back,” according to Mental Floss. Phrase Finder confirms the line as “Goodbye Kid. Hurry back.” A popular attribution — “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis” — is identified as false by Phrase Finder, which traces that line to Nicolas Freeling’s 1975 novel What Are the Bugles Blowing For?, not to Bogart himself. Another reported line, “Goodbye, Spence,” spoken to Spencer Tracy shortly before death, has some validity according to Phrase Finder.

Did Lauren Bacall remarry after Bogart’s death?

Yes. Bacall married actor Jason Robards in 1961, four years after Bogart’s death. That marriage lasted until 1969 and produced one child.

How rich was Humphrey Bogart when he died?

The popular image of Bogart as a wealthy Hollywood star doesn’t match the probate record. According to Wikipedia, Bogart’s estate had a gross value of $910,146 and a net value of $737,668. A widely repeated claim that he left a $5 million fortune is not supported by the estate figures and appears to be an inflation or estimate claim rather than a probate figure.

Bogart earned a high income from his films, but he spent freely — on his yacht, his home, and his lifestyle. By the time of his death, the estate was modest by Hollywood standards, especially when adjusted for inflation.

Why did Bogart dislike Audrey Hepburn?

Bogart reportedly found Hepburn’s acting style too affected, according to industry accounts. He described her as “too theatrical” in his private comments. The exact reason remains unclear, and the dislike was not mutual — Hepburn publicly admired Bogart and spoke warmly of him in interviews.

The catch: this is one of those Hollywood feuds that was probably more of a mild irritation than a genuine conflict. There’s no record of a public blow-up or sustained animosity.

What are Humphrey Bogart’s most famous movies?

Bogart starred in over 75 films during his career, according to Wikipedia. His most iconic films include Casablanca (1942), The Maltese Falcon (1941), and The Big Sleep (1946), all recognized by the Humphrey Bogart Estate as defining works of his career. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The African Queen (1951), a performance that cemented his status as a leading man.

What is Humphrey Bogart’s height?

Bogart stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters) — average for the era, but his screen presence made him seem larger.

How many movies did Humphrey Bogart make?

Bogart appeared in more than 75 films across his career, spanning from the 1930s to the 1950s. He became the defining face of film noir, a genre he helped shape with his hard-boiled, morally complex characters.

For fans discovering Bogart today, the filmography is deep: start with Casablanca, then The Maltese Falcon, then The Big Sleep. The Ava Gardner: Life, Marriages, Cause of Death and Movies article and Richard Burton: Cause of Death and Legacy offer similar deep dives into other Golden Age stars.

“Goodbye, kid. Hurry back.”

— Humphrey Bogart’s last words to Lauren Bacall, reported by Mental Floss

She placed a gold cigarette lighter in his casket — a tribute to the man and his habit.

— Lauren Bacall, on her tribute to Bogart

The gap between the Bogart of legend and the Bogart of fact is wider than most fans realize. For anyone who grew up on the myth of the chain-smoking, hard-drinking, wealthy icon, the reality is more human: a heavy smoker who died of cancer at 57, a husband who loved his wife deeply, and a man whose estate was far more modest than the rumors suggest. The implication for readers is clear: the internet’s version of Bogart needs a fact-check — and the real story is worth knowing.