Editing Spencer Tracy (section)

===Katharine Hepburn===
{{Main articles|Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy}}
[[File:Without Love promo image.jpg|thumb|upright|Tracy's relationship with his frequent co-star [[Katharine Hepburn]] lasted from 1941 until his death. He never divorced his wife, [[Louise Tracy]]. Promotional image for ''[[Without Love (film)|Without Love]]'' (1945).]]

While making ''Woman of the Year'' in September 1941, Tracy began what was to become a lifelong relationship with [[Katharine Hepburn]]. The actress became devoted to him,<ref>Hepburn (1991) p. 389, "His interests and demands came first"; p. 393: "I wanted him to be happy—safe—comfortable. I liked to wait on him—listen to him—feed him—work for him. I tried not to disturb him&nbsp;... I was happy to do this"; Bacall (2005), p. 488: "Her sole aim was to please him, which she unfailingly did"; Curtis (2011) p. 749, "[Hepburn continued] being all that she could be for him."</ref> and their relationship lasted until his death 26 years later.<ref name=KramerHeeley/> Tracy never returned to live in the family home, although he visited regularly.<ref>{{Cite episode |transcript=Tribute to Katharine Hepburn |title=Tribute to Katharine Hepburn |last=King |first=Larry (host) |author-link=Larry King |access-date=2023-07-07 |series=[[Larry King Live]] |network=[[CNN]] |date=June 30, 2003 |transcript-url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0306/30/lkl.00.html |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0306/30/lkl.00.html}} See comment from Susie Tracy: "there came a point where he did not live in the house anymore ... But I saw him every weekend and he always came to the ranch".</ref><ref>Berg (2004) p. 171; Kanin (1971) pp. 81–82.</ref>

The MGM moguls were careful to protect their stars from controversy,<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 356.</ref> and Tracy wished to conceal his relationship with Hepburn from his wife,<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 583.</ref> so it was hidden from the public. The couple did not live together until the final years of Tracy's life,<ref name="Curtis 2011 p. 814">Curtis (2011) p. 814.</ref> when they shared a cottage on George Cukor's estate in Beverly Hills.<ref name=KramerHeeley/> In Hollywood, however, the intimate nature of the Tracy-Hepburn partnership was an open secret.<ref>Curtis (2011) pp. 481, 508, 543, 548, 556, 627.</ref> [[Angela Lansbury]], who worked with the pair on ''[[State of the Union (film)|State of the Union]]'', later said: "We all knew, but nobody ever said anything. In those days it wasn't discussed."<ref name=KramerHeeley/><ref>Curtis (2011) p. 556.</ref> Tracy was not someone to express his emotions,<ref>Hepburn (1991) p. 396, wrote: "I have no idea how Spence felt about me&nbsp;... He wouldn't talk about it and I didn't talk about it." Curtis (2011), p. 748, quotes Sally Erskine saying "I thought he showed love&nbsp;... I [just] don't think he ever said anything". see also p. 497.</ref> but Tracy's friend, actress [[Betsy Drake]] believed that he "was ''utterly'' dependent upon Hepburn".<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 747.</ref> Tracy's infidelity apparently continued, however,<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 635. Tracy's friend [[William Self (actor)|William Self]] is quoted as saying: "once in a while Carroll and Spence would talk about some affair he was having or thinking of having while he was very involved with Hepburn",</ref> and he reportedly had an affair with [[Gene Tierney]] during the making of ''[[Plymouth Adventure]]'' in 1952.<ref>Curtis (2011) pp.&nbsp;626–627.</ref>

Neither Tracy nor his wife ever pursued a divorce, despite their estrangement. He told [[Joan Fontaine]], "I can get a divorce whenever I want to, but my wife and Kate like things just as they are."<ref>Curtis (2011) p. 612.</ref> Louise, meanwhile, reportedly commented, "I will be Mrs. Spencer Tracy until the day I die."<ref name="Curtis 2011 p. 546"/> Hepburn did not interfere and never fought for marriage.<ref>Hepburn (1991) p. 405.</ref>