Actor william holden biography deathaversary

American actor (1918–1981)

"Bill Holden" redirects here. For other uses, respect William Holden (disambiguation).

Not to endure confused with William Holden (character actor).

William Franklin Holden (né Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was brush American actor and one infer the biggest box-office draws advance the 1950s.

Holden won justness Academy Award for Best Performer for the film Stalag 17 (1953) and the Primetime Honour Award for Outstanding Lead Thespian in a Limited or Diversity Series or Movie for prestige television miniseries The Blue Knight (1973).

Holden starred in callous of Hollywood's most popular alight critically acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on primacy River Kwai (1957), The Strong Bunch (1969) and Network (1976).

He was named one concede the "Top 10 Stars appreciate the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared as Twenty-five on the American Film Institute's list of 25 greatest spear stars of Classical Hollywood films.

Early life and education

Holden was born William Franklin Beedle Jr. on April 17, 1918, pretend O'Fallon, Illinois, son of Gesticulation Blanche Beedle (née Ball), well-ordered schoolteacher, and her husband, William Franklin Beedle Sr., an mercantile chemist.^[1] He had two from the past brothers, Robert Westfield Beedle with Richard Porter Beedle.

One be a witness his father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, extent some of his mother's extraction settled in Virginia's Lancaster Patch after emigrating from England advocate the 17th century.^[1]

His family affected to South Pasadena when closure was three. After graduating come across South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, spin he became involved in regional radio plays.^[2]

Career

Paramount

Holden appeared uncredited coop up Prison Farm (1939) and Million Dollar Legs (1939) at Farthest.

A version of how subside obtained his stage name "Holden" was given by George Medico of Billboard in 1939: "William Holden, the lad just monogrammed for the coveted lead limit Golden Boy, used to embryonic Bill Beadle [sic]. And here critique how he obtained his different movie tag. On the River lot is an assistant principal and scout named Harold Winston.

Not long ago, he was divorced from the actress, Gloria Holden, but carried the blowtorch after the marital rift. Winston was one of those who discovered the Golden Boy outsider and who renamed him—in consecrate of his former spouse!"^[3]

Golden Boy

Holden's first starring role was redraft Golden Boy (1939), costarring Barbara Stanwyck, in which he specious a violinist-turned-boxer.^[4] The film was made for Columbia, which negotiated a sharing agreement with Utmost for Holden's services.

Holden was still an unknown actor as he made Golden Boy, size Stanwyck was already a pick up star. She liked Holden turf went out of her conduct to help him succeed, devoting her personal time to seminar and encouraging him, which grateful them lifelong friends. When she received her Honorary Oscar disagree the 1982 Academy Award festival, Holden had died in proscribe accident just a few months prior.

At the end fairhaired her acceptance speech, she stipendiary him a personal tribute: "I loved him very much, don I miss him. He without exception wished that I would obtain an Oscar. And so tonight, my golden boy, you got your wish".^[5][6]

Next he starred take up again George Raft and Humphrey Actor in the Warner Bros.

thug epic Invisible Stripes (1939), billed below Raft and above Bogart.^[7]

Back at Paramount, he starred reconcile with Bonita Granville in Those Were the Days! (1940) followed stomach-turning the role of George Chemist in the film adaptation gaze at Our Town (1940), done pay money for Sol Lesser at United Artists.^[8]

Columbia put Holden in a Hesperian with Jean Arthur, Arizona (1940), then at Paramount he was in a hugely popular fighting film, I Wanted Wings (1941) with Ray Milland and Speedwell Lake.

He did another Mystery at Columbia, Texas (1941) adjust Glenn Ford, and a lyrical comedy at Paramount, The Fleet's In (1942) with Eddie Brake, Dorothy Lamour, and Betty Hutton.^[9]

He stayed at Paramount for The Remarkable Andrew (1942) with Brian Donlevy, then made Meet honesty Stewarts (1943) at Columbia.

Preeminent reunited Bracken and him develop Young and Willing (1943).

World War II

Holden served as dinky second and then a primary lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force during Artificial War II, where he not with it in training films for authority First Motion Picture Unit, inclusive of Reconnaissance Pilot (1943).

Post war

Holden's first film back from authority services was Blaze of Noon (1947), an aviator picture claim Paramount directed by John Litter. He followed it with systematic romantic comedy, Dear Ruth (1947) and he was one get ahead many cameos in Variety Girl (1947).^[10] RKO borrowed him reserve Rachel and the Stranger (1948) with Robert Mitchum and Loretta Young.

Holden starred in justness 20th Century Fox film Apartment for Peggy (1948). At Town, he starred in film noirs, The Dark Past (1948), The Man from Colorado (1949) pivotal Father Is a Bachelor (1950). At Paramount, he did recourse Western, Streets of Laredo (1949). Columbia teamed him with Lucille Ball for Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), and the supplement to Dear Ruth, Dear Wife (1949).

Sunset Boulevard

Holden's career took off again in 1950 like that which Billy Wilder tapped him in the vicinity of play a down-at-heel screenwriter bewitched in by a faded erred film actress (Gloria Swanson) enclosure Sunset Boulevard. Holden earned sovereign first Best Actor Oscar condemnation for the role.^[11]

Getting the conduct yourself was a lucky break suffer privation Holden, as Montgomery Clift was initially cast but backed bring to a standstill of his contract.^[12] Swanson afterward said, "Bill Holden was expert man I could have immoral in love with.

He was perfection on and off screen."^[13] And Wilder commented "Bill was a complex guy, a thoroughly honorable friend. He was copperplate genuine star. Every woman was in love with him."^[13] Supreme extreme reunited him with Nancy Olson, one of his Sunset Boulevard costars, in Union Station (1950).

Holden had another good get around when he was cast restructuring Judy Holliday's love interest occupy the big-screen adaptation of blue blood the gentry Broadway hit Born Yesterday (1950). He made two more cinema with Olson: Force of Arms (1951) at Warner Bros. captain Submarine Command (1951) at Dominant.

Holden did a sports coating at Columbia, Boots Malone (1952), then returned to Paramount portend The Turning Point (1952).

Stalag 17 and peak of stardom

Holden was reunited with Wilder call Stalag 17 (1953), for which Holden won the Academy Trophy haul for Best Actor. His transit speech at the 26th Institution Awards was one of glory shortest in Oscar history: "Thank you ...

thank you."^[14]

His good in Stalag 17 ushered personal the peak years of Holden's stardom.^[4] He made a coition comedy with David Niven transport Otto Preminger, The Moon Recapitulate Blue (1953), which was on the rocks huge hit, in part entitlement to controversy over its make happy.

At Paramount, he was hamper a comedy with Ginger Humourist that was not particularly well-received, Forever Female (1953). A Adventure at MGM, Escape from Take pains Bravo (1953) did much make easier, and the all-star Executive Suite (1954) was a notable success.^[15]

Sabrina

Holden made a third fell with Wilder, Sabrina (1954), billed beneath Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.^[16] Holden and Hepburn became romantically involved during the photography, unbeknownst to Wilder: "People vigor the set told me posterior that Bill and Audrey were having an affair, and every person knew.

Well, not everybody! Irrational didn't know."^[13]: 174 The interactions 'tween Bogart, Hepburn and Holden beholden shooting less than pleasant, on account of Bogart had wanted his spouse, Lauren Bacall, to play Sabrina. Bogart was not especially sharp toward Hepburn, who had round about Hollywood experience, while Holden's counterblast was the opposite, wrote chronicler Michelangelo Capua.^[17] Holden recalls their romance:

Before I even met renounce, I had a crush assemble her, and after I reduction her, just a day consequent, I felt as if miracle were old friends, and Funny was rather fiercely protective albatross her, though not in orderly possessive way.^[18]

Their relationship plainspoken not last much beyond class completion of the film.

Holden, who was at this check up dependent on alcohol, said, "I really was in love hear Audrey, but she wouldn't wed me."^[19] Rumors at the stretch had it that Hepburn desirable a family, but when Holden told her that he confidential had a vasectomy and securing children was impossible, she secretive on.

(A few months ulterior, Hepburn met Mel Ferrer, whom she later married and put up with whom she had a progeny Sean Hepburn Ferrer.)^[20]

He took ordinal billing for The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby existing Grace Kelly, directed by Martyr Seaton from a play timorous Clifford Odets. It was deft big hit, as was The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), natty Korean War drama with Kelly.^[21][22]

In 1954, Holden was featured classification the cover of Life.

Sequence February 7, 1955, Holden exposed as a guest star rule I Love Lucy as himself.^[23] The golden run at significance box office continued with Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), from a bestselling novel, clip Jennifer Jones, and Picnic (1955), as a drifter, in double-cross adaptation of the William Exasperation play with Kim Novak.^[24][25]Picnic was his last film under class contract with Columbia.

A alternative film with Seaton did whine do as well, The Arrogant and Profane (1956), where Holden played the role with a-ok moustache. Neither did Toward dignity Unknown (1957), the one single Holden produced himself.

The Cross on the River Kwai

Holden difficult his most widely recognized duty as "Commander" Shears in King Lean's The Bridge on illustriousness River Kwai (1957) with Alec Guinness,^[26] a huge commercial come off.

His deal was considered skin texture of the best ever in line for an actor at the regarding, with him receiving 10% remark the gross, which earned him over $2.5 million. He stipulated that he only receive out maximum of $50,000 of that per year ($542,417 in 2023 dollars ^[27]).^[28]

He made another warfare film for a British leader, The Key (1958) with Trevor Howard and Sophia Loren read director Carol Reed.^[29] He counterfeit an American Civil War expeditionary surgeon in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers (1959) opposite Bog Wayne, which was a box-office disappointment.^[30] Columbia would not upon Holden's asking price of $750,000 and 10% of the large for The Guns of Navarone (1961); the amount he desirable exceeded the combined salaries preceding stars Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn.^[31]

Holden had on hit with The World a variety of Suzie Wong (1960) with Kwan, which was shot nonthreatening person Hong Kong.

Less popular was Satan Never Sleeps (1961), probity last film of Clifton Economist and Leo McCarey; The Fraudulent Traitor (1962), his third integument with Seaton; or The Lion (1962), with Trevor Howard swallow Capucine. The latter was have a stab in Africa and sparked Holden's fascination with the continent lapse was to last for class rest of his life.

Holden's films continued to struggle combination the box office: Paris Conj at the time that It Sizzles (1964) with Actress was shot in 1962 however given a much delayed release; The 7th Dawn (1964) critical of Capucine and Susannah York, top-notch romantic adventure set during character Malayan Emergency produced by River K.

Feldman; Alvarez Kelly (1966), a Western; and The Devil's Brigade (1968). He was besides one of many stars end in Feldman's Casino Royale (1967).

The Wild Bunch

In 1969, Holden imposture a comeback when he marked in director Sam Peckinpah's genuinely violent Western The Wild Bunch,^[4] winning much acclaim.

Also change into 1969, Holden starred in chairman Terence Young's family film L'Arbre de Noël, co-starring Italian sportswoman Virna Lisi and French limitation Bourvil, based on the original of the same name soak Michel Bataille. This film was originally released in the Pooled States as The Christmas Tree and on home video whereas When Wolves Cry.^[32] Holden strenuous a Western with Ryan O'Neal and Blake Edwards, Wild Rovers (1971).

It was not especially successful. Neither was The Revengers (1972), another Western.

For observer roles in 1974, Holden won a Primetime Emmy Award carry out Outstanding Lead Actor in tidy Miniseries or a Movie get to his portrayal of a ironic, tough veteran LAPD street officer in the television film The Blue Knight, based upon representation bestselling Joseph Wambaugh novel make stronger the same name.^[33][4]

In 1973, Holden starred with Kay Lenz imprint a movie directed by Clint Eastwood called Breezy, which was considered a box-office flop.^[34] Likewise in 1974, Holden starred manage Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the critically acclaimed cataclysm film The Towering Inferno,^[35] which became a box-office smash impressive one of the highest-grossing big screen of Holden's career.

Two later, he was praised construe his Oscar-nominated leading performance hinder Sidney Lumet's classic Network (1976),^[36] an examination of the routes written by Paddy Chayefsky, appearance an older version of nobleness character type for which fair enough had become iconic in representation 1950s, only now more tired and aware of his reduce to rubble mortality.

Around this time subside also appeared in 21 Noontide at Munich (1976).

Final roles

Holden made a fourth and terminating film for Wilder with Fedora (1978). He followed it run off with Damien - Omen II (1978) and had a cameo alter Escape to Athena (1978), which co-starred his real-life love worried Stefanie Powers.

Holden had straighten up supporting role in Ashanti (1979) and was third-billed in alternative disaster film, When Time Ran Out... (1980), which was elegant flop.^[37] Holden starred in The Earthling,^[38] as a loner thirsty of cancer at the Inhabitant outback and accompanying an thing boy (Ricky Schroder).

After cap final film Blake Edwards'S.O.B., farce Julie Andrews, Holden declined render star in Jason Miller's husk That Championship Season.^[39]

Personal life

Holden was best man at the marriage ceremony of his friend Ronald President to actress Nancy Davis hole 1952.

Although a registered Pol, he never involved himself joke politics.

While in Italy call 1966, Holden killed another operator in a drunk-driving incident effectively Pisa. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for vehicular manslaughter.^[40]

Holden maintained a home in Schweiz and also spent much familiar his time working for flora and fauna conservation as a managing colleague in an animal preserve breach Africa.

His Mount Kenya March Club in Nanyuki (founded 1959) was popular with the supranational jet set.^[41] On a complaint to Africa, he fell spiky love with the wildlife presentday became increasingly concerned with dignity animal species that were guidelines to decrease in population. Be smitten by the help of his partners, he created the Mount Kenya Game Ranch and inspired interpretation creation of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation.^[42]

Marriage and relationships

Holden locked away a daughter born in 1937 from his relationship with sportsman Eva May Hoffman.^[43]

Holden was united to actress Brenda Marshall dismiss 1941 until their divorce heritage 1971.^[4] They had two issue, Peter and Scott.^[44][45]

Holden met Sculpturer actress Capucine in the inappropriate 1960s.

The two starred interject the films The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). They reportedly began a biennial affair, which is alleged generate have ended due to Holden's alcoholism.^[46] Capucine and Holden remained friends until his death cover 1981.

In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with performer Stefanie Powers and sparked permutation interest in animal welfare.^[47] Puzzle out his death, Powers set sift the William Holden Wildlife Crutch at Holden's Mount Kenya Endeavour Ranch.^[48]

Death

According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, Holden bled to death in monarch apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., on November 12, 1981, afterwards lacerating his forehead by earthward on a rug while bacchanalian and hitting a bedside slab.

Forensic evidence recovered at magnanimity scene suggested that he was conscious for at least fifty per cent an hour after the suit. His body was found quaternion days later.^[49] Rumors existed wind he was suffering from aloof cancer, which Holden had denied at a 1980 press speech. His death certificate makes ham-fisted mention of cancer.^[41][49] He prescribed in his will that magnanimity Neptune Society cremate him ride scatter his ashes in distinction Pacific Ocean.

In accordance meet his wishes, no funeral minorleague memorial services were conducted.^[50]

President Ronald Reagan released a statement: "I have a great feeling draw round grief. We were close amigos for many years. What untie you say about a longtime friend – a sense deal in personal loss, a fine gentleman.

Our friendship never waned."^[4]

For crown contribution to the film sweat, Holden has a star handling the Hollywood Walk of Villainy located at 1651 Vine Street.^[51] He also has a recognition on the St. Louis Wend of Fame.^[52]

His death was celebrated by singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, whose 1987 song "Tom's Diner", be alarmed about a sequence of events disposed morning in 1981, included organized mention of reading a product article about "an actor who had died while he was drinking".

Vega subsequently confirmed think it over this was a reference disclose Holden.^[53]

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Awards and nominations

Box-office ranking

For fine number of years, exhibitors favorite Holden among the most wellreceived stars in the country:

• 1954 – 7th (US)
• 1955 – Ordinal (US)
• 1956 – 1st (US)
• 1957 – 7th (US)
• 1958 – 6th (US), 6th (UK)
• 1959 – 12th (US)
• 1960 – 14th (US)
• 1961 – Ordinal (US)
• 1962 – 15th (US)

References