During his lifetime (1900-67) Spencer Tracy was known as Hollywoods actors actor. Critics wrote that what Olivier was to theatre Tracy was to film. Over his career he was nominated for nine Academy Awards & won two. But there has been no substantial intimate biography of the man. From his earliest days in stock theatre Tracy was a publicists trial guarding his private life fiercely. Most of the people associated closely with him also shunned the fanzine limelight
- notably his wife his children & the great actress Katharine Hepburn with whom he had an affair that lasted over 26 years. Although his screen roles often depicted a happy twinkling Irishman Tracy was a periodic alcoholic & a not very agreeable drunk. But the studios managed to keep him out of the papers. With the help of Tracys daughter Susie & access to previously unseen papers James Curtis has now produced the definitive biography of a tortured complex & immensely talented man. The book contains 124 integrated photos many published for the first time.