B. D. Hyman, originally named Barbara Davis Hyman (née Sherry) on May 1, 1947, is an American writer, minister, and former performer best recognized as the offspring of iconic Hollywood figure Bette Davis. Growing up under the enormous influence of her mother’s illustrious career, B. D. encountered both the allure and difficulties of being the descendant of one of the most celebrated actresses of the 20th century.
She made initial appearances in films as a young girl, including a fleeting role in her mother’s film Payment on Demand (1951) and a minor part in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). After a short-lived acting career, she directed her focus toward writing, producing two highly debated and bestselling books regarding her relationship with her mother: My Mother’s Keeper (1985) and Narrow Is the Way (1987). These memoirs depicted Bette Davis as a challenging, domineering, and at times, abusive parent, igniting extensive media interest and public discussion.
In her later years, B. D. embraced Christianity, establishing her own ministry and serving as a pastor in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she authored further religious texts. As of early 2026, at age 78, she remains relatively private, dedicating herself to her faith-oriented endeavors and personal life after the passing of her spouse Jeremy Hyman in 2017. Her narrative continues to captivate, particularly in dialogues surrounding familial relationships, celebrity culture, and the intricate legacy of Bette Davis.
Here is a brief overview of significant details about B. D. Hyman:
| Full Name | Barbara Davis Hyman (née Sherry) |
| Date of Birth | May 1, 1947 |
| Age (as of January 2026) | 78 years old |
| Birthplace | Santa Ana, California, USA |
| Profession | Author, Pastor, Former Actress |
| Notable Relation | Daughter of Bette Davis |
| Net Worth (estimate) | Approximately $1–3 million |
B. D. Hyman Biography
B. D. Hyman was born Barbara Davis Sherry on May 1, 1947, in Santa Ana, California, the first offspring of Hollywood icon Bette Davis and her third spouse, artist William Grant Sherry. Their tumultuous marriage concluded in divorce in 1950. Subsequently, B. D. was adopted by Bette’s fourth husband, actor Gary Merrill, and for a period, was credited as B. D. Merrill. During her youth, she made brief appearances in her mother’s film Payment on Demand (1951) and, over a decade later, had a small role as the neighbor’s daughter in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).
Growing up in her mother’s limelight offered both privilege and public scrutiny, forming a complicated relationship that ultimately became the focus of her contentious books. After a brief acting career, B. D. transitioned to writing. In 1985, she released My Mother’s Keeper, a memoir portraying Bette Davis as a domineering, alcoholic, and emotionally challenging parent. This book ignited controversy, especially due to its release during Bette’s declining health.
A subsequent memoir, Narrow Is the Way (1987), maintained a similarly critical perspective but lacked the same prominence. Estrangement and disinheritance ensued; Bette’s estate was bequeathed to her adopted son, Michael Merrill, and her assistant, Kathryn Sermak. In her later years, B. D. embraced Christianity, founding a ministry and serving as a pastor in Charlottesville, Virginia. Throughout the next decade, she authored religious works, including Oppressive Parents: How to Leave Them and Love Them (1992), The Church is Not the Bride (2000), and The Rapture, the Tribulation, and Beyond (2002). Her life, marked by fame, family discord, and faith, remains of interest to those examining celebrity families and individual redemption.
Update
As of early 2026, B. D. Hyman, now 78, leads a private existence centered around ministry and faith-oriented endeavors in Charlottesville, Virginia. Following the death of her husband, Jeremy Hyman, in November 2017, she has largely withdrawn from the public sphere. In the years subsequent to his passing, no significant new books, interviews, or public appearances have been reported. Her past controversies, notably her writings about her mother, Bette Davis, are occasionally referenced in retrospectives concerning classic Hollywood and family memoirs, although B. D. has not publicly addressed these subjects in decades. She is remembered for her early acting appearances and her subsequent roles as a pastor and Christian author.
B. D. Hyman Age
B. D. Hyman, born on May 1, 1947, is 78 as of January 2026. She has witnessed Hollywood’s evolution from her mother’s golden era to the present-day digital age. In her later years, she has concentrated on faith and ministry.
B. D. Hyman Children
B. D. Hyman and her deceased husband, Jeremy Hyman, had two sons: Ashley and Justin. Both have kept their lives private, and limited information is publicly available regarding their current situations as of early 2026. She has occasionally mentioned her sons in her books and ministry, emphasizing family and faith.
B. D. Hyman Husband
B. D. Hyman wed Jeremy Hyman in 1963, remaining together for over 50 years until his passing in November 2017. Jeremy, born in 1933 in London, was the nephew of the owner of Seven Arts Productions, Eliot Hyman. The couple met on a blind date at the Cannes Film Festival during a screening of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? when B. D. was 16 and Jeremy was 29. With Bette Davis’s public endorsement, they married shortly thereafter. Their union endured controversies related to B. D.’s writings about her mother. Jeremy remained private, and the couple raised two sons. After Jeremy’s death, B. D. has not remarried and continues to live quietly.
B. D. Hyman Movies and TV Shows
B. D. Hyman’s acting career was brief, with only a few roles in her youth. Her most notable performances include:
| 1951 | Payment on Demand | Diana (as a child) | Brief appearance in her mother’s film |
| 1962 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? | Liza Bates | Minor role as the neighbor’s daughter |
Following these early roles, B. D. did not pursue acting further. She transitioned to writing and ministry.
Net Worth
B. D. Hyman’s net worth is projected to be $1–3 million as of early 2026. This modest fortune arises from book sales (notably her bestseller, My Mother’s Keeper), pastoral and ministry activities, and residuals from her brief acting career. Unlike her mother, Bette Davis, who left a considerable estate, B. D. was disinherited following their estrangement. Her financial achievements have been distinct and relatively understated.
Bette Davis
B. D. Hyman, the eldest child of Bette Davis, emerged during Davis’s third marriage to artist William Grant Sherry. Their contentious relationship became widely acknowledged through Hyman’s provocative memoirs, My Mother’s Keeper (1985) and Narrow Is the Way (1987), which portrayed Davis as controlling and at times, abusive. The release of the first memoir while Davis was unwell incited significant turmoil.
Bette Davis ultimately disinherited B. D. and her grandchildren, allocating her estate to her adopted son, Michael Merrill, and her long-time assistant, Kathryn Sermak. The estrangement was irreversible. B. D.’s relationship with her mother continued to be a source of public intrigue and debate. Despite the rift, B. D. has occasionally discussed her mother in recent years. Nonetheless, she has primarily focused on her own faith and ministry activities.
B. D. Hyman Books
B. D. Hyman is predominantly recognized for her two contentious books concerning her mother, Bette Davis: My Mother’s Keeper (1985) and Narrow Is the Way (1987). My Mother’s Keeper became a bestseller, detailing what B. D. characterized as a challenging and often painful mother-daughter relationship, depicting Bette as a domineering, alcoholic, and emotionally taxing parent. The book garnered widespread media coverage and criticism, particularly given Bette’s decline in health at the time of publication.
Narrow Is the Way maintained a similarly critical tone but did not reach the same level of attention. After these memoirs, B. D. shifted towards religious writing, publishing texts through her ministry, including Oppressive Parents: How to Leave Them and Love Them (1992), The Church is Not the Bride (2000), and The Rapture, the Tribulation, and Beyond (2002). These later works concentrate on Christian themes, forgiveness, and spiritual guidance. Her earlier books continue to be her most recognized and debated literary contributions.
