Biography
Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, born on November 9, 1914, was an extraordinary Austro-Hungarian-born American actress and pioneering technology developer. Her life story unfolds as an exciting voyage through the glitz of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Highlighted by her ground-breaking contributions to technology during World War II. In this article, we delve into the Hedy Lamarr Biography, her Net Worth, Inventions, Family, Career, and more.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler |
| Birth Date | November 9, 1914 |
| Birthplace | Vienna, Austria |
| Death Date | January 19, 2000 |
| Cause of Death | Heart Disease |
| Nationality | Austro-Hungarian (later became American) |
| Profession | Actress, Technology Inventor |
| Hollywood Debut | “Algiers” (1938) |
| Net Worth | $5 Million approx |
| Notable Films | “Algiers,” “Samson and Delilah,” “Ecstasy,” “Boom Town” |
| Technological Contribution | Co-developed a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes during World War II |
| Awards and Honors | Hollywood Walk of Fame star (1960), Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award (1997) |
| Marriages and Divorces | Married six times, including marriages to Friedrich Mandl, Gene Markey, and John Loder |
| Children | Three children, including a daughter named Denise and a son named Anthony |
| Posthumous Honors | National Inventors Hall of Fame induction (2014), Google Doodles in 2015 and 2023 |
| Legacy | Recognized for her contributions to both the film industry and technology innovation |
Hedy Lamarr Net Worth
Hedy Lamarr, the legendary Hollywood actress and pioneering inventor, was reported to have a net worth of $5 million.
Hedy Lamarr’s inventions:
| Invention | Description |
|---|---|
| Improved Traffic Stoplight | Lamarr, despite having no formal training, worked on an improved traffic stoplight as one of her hobbies and ideas. |
| Dissolvable Tablet for Flavored Carbonated Drink | Another of Lamarr’s ideas involved a tablet that would dissolve in water to create a flavored carbonated drink. |
| Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum for Radio-Controlled Torpedoes | During WWII, Lamarr cooperated with composer George Antheil on her most significant creation. They created a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology to prevent radio-controlled torpedoes from being jammed, to improve the security and precision of military communications. In 1942, this was granted a patent (U.S. Patent 2,292,387). |
| Miniaturized Player Piano Mechanism | George Antheil’s contribution to their invention was the synchronization of a miniaturized player piano mechanism with radio signals, allowing for the implementation of frequency hopping. |
| Patent Granted | The patent, granted on August 11, 1942, under her married name Hedy Kiesler Markey, documented the frequency-hopping spread spectrum system. |
Awards and Tributes:
Lamarr received various honors for her services to film and technology. In 1960, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She and George Antheil earned the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 1997. In 2014, Lamarr was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, confirming her place as a technological innovator.
| Year | Award/Accolade |
|---|---|
| 1960 | Hollywood Walk of Fame star |
| 1939 | Most Promising New Actress of 1938 (Philadelphia Record film critic poll) |
| 1951 | 10th Best Actress (voted by British moviegoers for her performance in “Samson and Delilah”) |
| 1997 | Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award (jointly with George Antheil) |
| 1997 | Invention Convention’s BULBIE Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award (First woman to receive, “Oscars of inventing”) |
| 1998 | Viktor Kaplan Medal of the Austrian Association of Patent Holders and Inventors (Austria) |
| 2006 | Most Promising New Actress of 1938 (Philadelphia Record Film Critic poll) |
| 2013/2014 | Quantum telescope installed on the roof of the University of Vienna, named after Hedy Lamarr |
| 2014 | Posthumous induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology |
| 2014 | Burial of remaining ashes at Vienna Central Cemetery in Group 33 G, Tomb No. 80 |
| 2015 | Google Doodle on the 101st anniversary of her birth |
| 2023 | Hedy-Lamarr-Weg was founded in Vienna Meidling (12th District) |
| 2019 | Asteroid named after her: 32730 Lamarr |
Hedy Lamarr Films
| Year | Title | Role | Leading actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Money on the Street | Young Girl | Georg Alexander | Original title: Geld auf der Straße |
| 1931 | Storm in a Water Glass | Secretary | Paul Otto | Original title: Sturm im Wasserglas |
| 1931 | The Trunks of Mr. O.F. | Helene | Alfred Abel | Original title: Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. |
| 1932 | No Money Needed | Käthe Brandt | Heinz Rühmann | Original title: Man braucht kein Geld |
| 1933 | Ecstasy | Eva Hermann | Aribert Mog | Original title: Ekstase |
| 1938 | Algiers | Gaby | Charles Boyer | |
| 1939 | Lady of the Tropics | Manon deVargnes Carey | Robert Taylor | |
| 1940 | I Take This Woman | Georgi Gragore Decker | Spencer Tracy | |
| 1940 | Boom Town | Karen Vanmeer | Clark Gable | |
| 1940 | Comrade X | Golubka/ Theodore Yahupitz/ Lizvanetchka “Lizzie” | Clark Gable | |
| 1941 | Come Live with Me | Johnny Jones | James Stewart | |
| 1941 | Ziegfeld Girl | Sandra Kolter | James Stewart | |
| 1941 | H.M. Pulham, Esq. | Marvin Myles Ransome | Robert Young | |
| 1942 | Tortilla Flat | Dolores Ramirez | Spencer Tracy | |
| 1942 | Crossroads | Lucienne Talbot | William Powell | |
| 1942 | White Cargo | Tondelayo | Walter Pidgeon | |
| 1944 | The Heavenly Body | Vicky Whitley | William Powell | |
| 1944 | The Conspirators | Irene Von Mohr | Paul Henreid | |
| 1944 | Experiment Perilous | Allida Bederaux | George Brent | |
| 1945 | Her Highness and the Bellboy | Princess Veronica | Robert Walker | |
| 1946 | The Strange Woman | Jenny Hager | George Sanders | and Producer |
| 1947 | Dishonored Lady | Madeleine Damien | Dennis O’Keefe | and Producer |
| 1948 | Let’s Live a Little | Dr. J.O. Loring | Robert Cummings | and Producer |
| 1949 | Samson and Delilah | Delilah | Victor Mature | Her first film in Technicolor |
| 1950 | A Lady Without Passport | Marianne Lorress | John Hodiak | |
| 1950 | Copper Canyon | Lisa Roselle | Ray Milland | |
| 1951 | My Favorite Spy | Lily Dalbray | Bob Hope | |
| 1954 | Loves of Three Queens | Helen of Troy, Joséphine de Beauharnais, Genevieve of Brabant | Massimo Serato, Cesare Danova | Original title: L’amante di Paride |
| 1957 | The Story of Mankind | Joan of Arc | Ronald Colman | |
| 1958 | The Female Animal | Vanessa Windsor | George Nader |
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