America lost one of its most treasured actresses Sunday with the death of KATHARINE HEPBURN at her home in Old Saybrook, CT. She was 96.

Hepburn, who had been in declining health over the past few years, succumbed to old age in the afternoon surrounded by family and friends. The lights on Broadway will dim at 8 p.m. on Tuesday in her honor.

Hepburn holds the record as the only four-time Academy Award-winning actress. Her run began with 'Morning Glory' (1933) and peaked more than 30 years later with 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' (1967) and 'The Lion in Winter' (1968) the very next year. Her final Oscar® was awarded for her touching role opposite HENRY FONDA in 'On Golden Pond' (1981). All in all, she was nominated for 12 statuettes.

She was no stranger to TV, either, receiving Emmy nominations for her performances in TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' "The Glass Menagerie" (1973) and "The Corn Is Green" (1979). She also took home the statuette for 1975's "Love Among the Ruins."

In 2002, the Hartford, CT-born Hepburn topped the list of actresses on the American Film Institute's list of top 100 U.S. Love Stories. She was honored for her screwball roles in 'Philadelphia Story' (1940) and 'Bringing Up Baby' (1938), both with CARY GRANT, and her fiery heroines in 'African Queen' (1951), 'On Golden Pond' (1981), 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner' (1967), and 'Woman of the Year' (1942).

But Hepburn's favorite leading man on- and off-screen was SPENCER TRACY. The two met on the set of 'Woman of the Year,' and had a 25-year relationship until his death in 1967. Their eight subsequent films include the dramas 'Keeper of the Flame' (1942), 'The Sea of Grass' (1947) and 'State of the Union' (1948), but they are better remembered for the comedies 'Without Love' (1945), 'Adam's Rib' (1949), 'Pat and Mike' (1952), 'Desk Set' (1957) and Tracy's final film 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.'

Born on May 12, 1907, Katharine Houghton Hepburn's father was a urologist, her mother a suffragette. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Drama in 1928, after which she launched her acting career as a member of a touring company. Then it was off to Broadway. In 1931, she caught the attention of critics and theatergoers alike in Art and Mrs. Bottle, and the following year in A Warrior's Husband.

Hollywood beckoned, but Kate, as she is known, turned down an offer from Paramount Pictures. Then RKO offered her a role in 'A Bill of Divorcement,' as JOHN BARRYMORE's daughter, and they made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Thus began her legendary career.

Many successful films ensued, including 'Little Women' (1933), 'The Little Minister' (1934), 'Alice Adams' (1935), 'Mary of Scotland' and 'Stage Door' (1937). But there were also some failures: 'Christopher Strong' (1933) and 'Sylvia Scarlett' (1935), among them.

By 1938 her career was on the skids. Not one to accept defeat, Kate returned to the stage. She accepted the role of Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, but instead of taking a star salary, she acquired the screen rights. Her gamble paid off with the highly successful film version of the stage play in 1940.

She was back. Other notable films that marked her career include 'Long's Day Journey Into Night,' 'Suddenly, Last Summer' and 'The Rainmaker.' Her last film was the 1994 romance 'Love Affair,' in which she starred as WARREN BEATTY's aunt.

Source: Entertainment Tonight / ETOnline.com