Mary Philips, a convent-educated brunette, was an accomplished actress on the New York stage by the time she met actor Humphrey Bogart in 1924 and became his touring companion.
She had a profound impact on Bogie's career, encouraging him to approach his craft more seriously, and he considered her an inspirational influence.
The couple married at Mary's mother's home in Hartford, Connecticut, in April 1928, and co-starred in a play called "Skyrocket," although it received mixed reviews.
Bogie went on to focus on his film career, while Mary continued to perform on the East Coast, starring in plays like "The Tavern" and "A Touch of Brimstone," which earned her praise from the New York Times' Brooks Atkinson.
In a modern marriage agreement, both partners were allowed to have relationships outside of their union, and Mary continued to pursue her theatrical career, even failing to mention her marriage in publicity.
After a decade-long marriage, Mary and Bogie drifted apart, and their relationship came to an end on friendly terms. Mary went on to marry actor Kenneth MacKenna, a former friend of Bogie's from their days in New York.
Although Mary was a star of the stage, her screen career was less successful, with only a handful of supporting roles, including her personal favorite, as the stern nurse Helen Ferguson in "A Farewell to Arms" (1932).
As the 1940s began, Mary's good theatrical parts started to dry up, and Bogart's career eclipsed hers.
