biography

Born Henry Warren Beaty on March 30, 1937 in Richmond, Virginia, Beatty added a "t" to the family name and followed his sister Shirley MacLaine into show business. The son of a drama teacher (Kathyln MacLean Beaty) and a psychology and philosophy teacher (Ira O. Beaty). Beatty graduated from Washington Lee High School in Arlington and then studied drama with Stella Adler at Northwestern University.

Beatty got his start in the TV series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis". Unlike other notable actors, Beatty only acted in one Broadway show and then moved on to the silver screen. His first picture was "Splendor in the Grass" which also began his career long reputation for seducing his co-stars. Beatty is best known for his roles in "Bonny and Clyde", "McCabe & Mrs. Miller", and "Shampoo". It was in the film "Shampoo" that Beatty expanded his resume to include writing and producing. The movie "Heaven Can Wait" saw him with his first directing assignment. In 1981 with the film "Reds", Beatty caught the attention of the Oscar's and won his first for Best Director.

Beatty is a notoriously private individual and a democrate with hopes of taking his political ambitions one day to the top seat in the United States. In 1991, at the age of 54, Beatty ended his bachelor days by marrying Annette Benning, one of his co-stars. Since then Beatty and Benning have had four children (Kathlyn, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Isabel Ira Ashley, and Ella Corinne) and Beatty has taken on the role of father with as much dedication as he has throughout his career.