Bette Davis first husband: Meet Harmon Nelson

Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical films, suspense horror, and occasional comedies, although her greater successes were in romantic dramas. A recipient of two Academy Awards, she was the first thespian to accrue ten nominations.

Bette Davis’s first husband: Meet Harmon Nelson

Davis’s first marriage was to Harmon Oscar Nelson on August 18, 1932, in Yuma, Arizona. Their marriage was scrutinized by the press; his $100 a week earnings ($1,885 in 2020 dollars) compared unfavorably with Davis’s reported $1,000 a week income ($18,850).

Nelson, a dance band leader, was reportedly uncomfortable with the fact his wife earned more than him, as she had successfully auditioned for a contract with Universal Studios. They couldn’t get their first house until Nelson had earned enough money to pay for it, as he didn’t want to be seen as living off his wife. Davis’ career went from strength to strength and she had already won around 20 film roles in the first two years of their marriage.

Their romance appeared to just fizzle out and Nelson eventually applied for divorce in 1938, citing the fact they had little of the “close communion” one would expect from a husband and wife. Nelson claimed Davis’ work was “more important” than their marriage and said she read excessively, including reading manuscripts when he had guests.