Vivien Leigh: Biography, Cause of Death & Legacy

There are few Hollywood stars whose off-screen story rivals the drama of their films. Vivien Leigh, the fiery Scarlett O’Hara and fragile Blanche DuBois, lived a life marked by brilliant performances, a turbulent marriage to Laurence Olivier, and a quiet battle with chronic illness.

Born: November 5, 1913, Darjeeling, India ·
Died: July 8, 1967, London, England (age 53) ·
Notable Awards: 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress ·
Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) ·
Cause of death: Tuberculosis (TB)

Five key facts, one pattern: every major chapter of Leigh’s life—her birth, her Oscars, her marriage, her illness, her death—is documented by multiple authoritative sources, yet the human details remain contested.

What did Vivien Leigh pass away from?

Vivien Leigh died of tuberculosis on July 8, 1967, in London, at age 53. According to Biography (biographical reference), she had fallen seriously ill during rehearsals for A Delicate Balance. The Encyclopedia.com (biographical encyclopedia) confirms she collapsed while trying to walk to the bathroom; her lungs filled with fluid and she suffocated.

Chronic tuberculosis had first been diagnosed in the mid-1940s, as noted by French Wikipedia (biographical entry). Her smoking habit and bipolar disorder worsened her condition, according to OzBrief (secondary biographical source).

The implication: tuberculosis killed her, but the full picture includes a frail constitution that had been ailing for over twenty years.

Who was the love of Vivien Leigh’s life?

Laurence Olivier, her second husband, is widely regarded as the great love of her life. They married in 1940 and divorced in 1960. Encyclopaedia Britannica (biographical reference) notes that their marriage deteriorated as Leigh’s mental and physical instability grew, aggravated by Olivier’s affair with Joan Plowright. Olivier once said, “She was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.”

However, biographers disagree on whether Olivier left her solely because of her illness. Encyclopaedia Britannica states that her instability made work increasingly difficult, but other factors—including Olivier’s own ambitions—played a role.

What this means: while Olivier was the love of her life, their marriage ended under the weight of illness and infidelity, not a simple loss of affection.

What happened to Vivien Leigh’s daughter?

Leigh’s only child, Suzanne Farrington (née Holman), was born on October 12, 1933, in London, from her first marriage to Leigh Holman. Wikipedia (biographical entry) and Biography (biographical reference) both confirm Suzanne’s birth year. IMDb (celebrity trivia database) adds that Suzanne died in 2015 at age 81.

Suzanne gave Leigh grandchildren, but Leigh’s demanding career and health struggles meant they were not especially close in later years, according to biographical accounts. The daughter largely stayed out of the public eye after her mother’s death.

The pattern: Leigh’s intense professional life and chronic illness created distance from the one family member who survived her.

What illness did Vivien Leigh suffer from?

Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder, then called manic depression, and chronic tuberculosis. Biography (biographical reference) uses the modern term “bipolar disorder” and notes that she became increasingly unstable while battling insomnia and a respiratory ailment. French Wikipedia (biographical entry) states that Noël Coward learned she had suffered bipolar episodes since 1948.

She underwent multiple hospitalizations and electroconvulsive therapy treatments. Encyclopaedia Britannica describes her mental and physical instability as a barrier to work in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Why this matters: Leigh’s illness was not a character flaw but a medical condition that, with today’s understanding, invites empathy rather than judgment.

Was Vivien Leigh nice in real life?

Colleagues described her as professional but temperamental. Encyclopaedia Britannica notes that her instability made work difficult, but she was also known for kindness to crew and fans. The New York Times obituary (1967, archival record) portrayed her as a dedicated actress who won the admiration of peers.

Her temperament, however, was often attributed to her bipolar disorder. Biography states that her mood swings affected both her personal and professional relationships.

The consequence: Leigh was neither a saint nor a villain—she was a woman struggling with a severe illness while trying to maintain a career in the unforgiving spotlight of Hollywood.

Timeline

• 1913 – Born in Darjeeling, India (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1932 – Married Leigh Holman (Wikipedia)
• 1933 – Birth of daughter Suzanne (Wikipedia)
• 1939 – Won first Oscar for Gone with the Wind (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1940 – Married Laurence Olivier (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1951 – Won second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1960 – Divorced Laurence Olivier (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1967 – Died of tuberculosis at age 53 (Biography)

Confirmed facts & open questions

Confirmed facts:

• Cause of death: tuberculosis (Biography)
• Two Academy Awards (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Marriage and divorce to Laurence Olivier (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic depression) (Biography)

What’s unclear:

• Exact last words (multiple versions) (Wikipedia)
• Whether Olivier left her solely due to illness (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Quotes

“She was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.”— Laurence Olivier, on Vivien Leigh

“Miss Leigh, a fragile beauty, died of tuberculosis in London yesterday.”— New York Times obituary, July 9, 1967

Summary

Vivien Leigh’s life was a paradox of dazzling success and private suffering. For the modern reader, the lesson is not about Hollywood glamour but about the human cost of untreated illness. For historians and film fans, the choice is clear: remember her as a gifted actress, but also as a woman whose story challenges us to see the person behind the performance.

Frequently asked questions

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