Kirk Douglas the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, which gave him a special scholarship. One of his classmates was Betty Joan Perske (later known as Lauren Bacall), who would play an important role in launching his film career. Bacall wrote that she "had a wild crush on Kirk," and they dated casually. Another classmate, and a friend of Bacall's, was aspiring actress Diana Dill, who would later become Douglas's first wife. During their time together, Bacall learned Douglas had no money, and that he once spent the night in jail since he had no place to sleep. She
Poni Adams served as the last administrator of the Veterans Administration before the VA became a cabinet department during Ronald Reagan's presidential term. Adams and Turnage had two children. On May 21, 2014, Adams died in Bellingham, Washington, at the age of 92. She was buried (as Betty J. Turnage) beside her husband in Arlington National Cemetery. Poni Adams Betty Jane Bierce, better known by her stage name Jane "Poni" Adams (August 7, 1921 – May 21, 2014), was an American actress in radio, film, and television in the 1940s and 1950s. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mason Bierce, Adams was