Marion Davies Conceding an end to his political hopes, Hearst became involved in an affair with popular film actress and comedienne Marion Davies (1897–1961), and from about 1919, he lived openly with her in California. The affair dominated Davies' life. Millicent separated from her husband in the mid-1920s after tiring of his longtime affair with Davies, but the couple remained legally married until Hearst's death. Millicent built an independent life for herself in New York City as a leading philanthropist, was active in society, and created the Free Milk Fund for the poor in 1921. After the death of Patricia Lake, Davies' supposed niece, it was speculated that Lake was in fact Hearst's daughter by Davies. SNAPSHOT | BIO | EARLY LIFE | PUBLISHING BUSINESS | EXPANSION INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS | PERSONAL LIFE | MARION DAVIES CALIFORNIA PROPERTY | ST. DONAT’S CASTLE | THE FAMILY CLUB CRITICISM | IN FICTION | OTHER WORKS William Randolph Hearst in 1906