Rainer returned to Los Angeles for solo performances of “Enoch Arden” at UCLA in 1981. Since her last film appearance in 1943, she was auditioned to play in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” to no avail. (Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times)
Rainer and her husband Robert Knittel, left, enjoy “Happy Birthday Hollywood” with Rosemarie and Robert Stack. (Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times)
In “The Gambler”, a movie adaption from a Fyodor Dostoyevsky story, Rainer plays a flamboyant dowager addicted to the roulette table. She starred with Michael Gambon and Dominic West. (Unknown Photographer / Four Film Distributors)
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Rainer is putting up makeup by Cecil Holland for her role as O-Lan, a Chinese peasant, in MGM’s 1937 film “The Good Earth.” Rainer had very little dialogue in “The Good Earth” but still won acclaim for her performance. (Los Angeles Times / Los Angeles Times)
In the 1938 film “The Great Waltz,” Rainer plays Poldi, the baker’s daughter, in the bakeshop sequence of the drama film depicting the life of Johann Strauss. (Unknown Photographer / Unknown Photographer)
Rainer reacts after becoming a citizen of the United States in 1938. That year, Rainer also left MGM films and Hollywood altogether. (Associated Press / Associated Press)
Rainer arrives with her escort Roddy McDowall, background, for the 70th Acadmey Awards in Los Angeles on March 23, 1998. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)
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In 2010, Rainer flew in from London, in spite of the volcano ash, to introduce “The Good Earth” at the Turner Classic movies festival. Rainer celebrated her 100th birthday in 2010, making her the oldest living Oscar winner. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
