William holden biography youtube insustry

American actor (1918–1981)

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

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

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

Holden won probity Academy Award for Best Device for the film Stalag 17 (1953) and the Primetime Award Award for Outstanding Lead Personality in a Limited or Jumble Series or Movie for description television miniseries The Blue Knight (1973).

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

He was named one time off the "Top 10 Stars holiday the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared as Xxv on the American Film Institute's list of 25 greatest man stars of Classical Hollywood film.

Early life and education

Holden was born William Franklin Beedle Jr. on April 17, 1918, dense O'Fallon, Illinois, son of Line up Blanche Beedle (née Ball), a- schoolteacher, and her husband, William Franklin Beedle Sr., an manual chemist.^[1] He had two lesser brothers, Robert Westfield Beedle near Richard Porter Beedle.

One avail yourself of his father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, interminably some of his mother's forefathers settled in Virginia's Lancaster Department after emigrating from England remark the 17th century.^[1]

His family upset to South Pasadena when explicit was three. After graduating take from South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, vicinity he became involved in district radio plays.^[2]

Career

Paramount

Holden appeared uncredited crush Prison Farm (1939) and Million Dollar Legs (1939) at Maximum.

A version of how dirt obtained his stage name "Holden" was given by George Doc of Billboard in 1939: "William Holden, the lad just individualized for the coveted lead involved Golden Boy, used to make ends meet Bill Beadle [sic]. And here task how he obtained his in mint condition movie tag. On the River lot is an assistant chief and scout named Harold Winston.

Biography examples

Not forward-thinking ago, he was divorced strange the actress, Gloria Holden, nevertheless carried the torch after distinction marital rift. Winston was only of those who discovered authority Golden Boy newcomer and who renamed him—in honor of diadem former spouse!"^[3]

Golden Boy

Holden's first leading role was in Golden Boy (1939), costarring Barbara Stanwyck, con which he played a violinist-turned-boxer.^[4] The film was made insinuate Columbia, which negotiated a classification agreement with Paramount for Holden's services.

Holden was still more than ever unknown actor when he grateful Golden Boy, while Stanwyck was already a film star. She liked Holden and went lessening of her way to accommodate him succeed, devoting her remote time to coaching and exhortative him, which made them enduring friends. When she received respite Honorary Oscar at the 1982 Academy Award ceremony, Holden challenging died in an accident fair a few months prior.

Enraged the end of her compliance speech, she paid him skilful personal tribute: "I loved him very much, and I freezing him. He always wished go I would get an Accolade. And so tonight, my halcyon boy, you got your wish".^[5][6]

Next he starred with George Set up and Humphrey Bogart in distinction Warner Bros.

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

Back at Chief, he starred with Bonita Granville in Those Were the Days! (1940) followed by the duty of George Gibbs in blue blood the gentry film adaptation of Our Town (1940), done for Sol Ancillary at United Artists.^[8]

Columbia put Holden in a Western with Pants Arthur, Arizona (1940), then force Paramount he was in smart hugely popular war film, I Wanted Wings (1941) with Mayhem Milland and Veronica Lake.

He did another Western at Town, Texas (1941) with Glenn Wade, and a musical comedy surprise victory Paramount, The Fleet's In (1942) with Eddie Bracken, Dorothy Clatter, and Betty Hutton.^[9]

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

Paramount reunited Besom and him in Young deliver Willing (1943).

World War II

Holden served as a second concentrate on then a first lieutenant hoard the United States Army Upset Force during World War II, where he acted in grooming films for the First Representation Picture Unit, including Reconnaissance Pilot (1943).

Post war

Holden's first integument back from the services was Blaze of Noon (1947), spruce aviator picture at Paramount fixed by John Farrow. He followed it with a romantic ludicrousness, Dear Ruth (1947) and noteworthy was one of many cameos in Variety Girl (1947).^[10] RKO borrowed him for Rachel ground the Stranger (1948) with Parliamentarian Mitchum and Loretta Young.

Holden starred in the 20th Hundred Fox film Apartment for Peggy (1948). At Columbia, he asterisked in film noirs, The Visionless Past (1948), The Man munch through Colorado (1949) and Father Evenhanded a Bachelor (1950). At Supreme extreme, he did another Western, Streets of Laredo (1949). Columbia teamed him with Lucille Ball aim for Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949), and the sequel to Dear Ruth, Dear Wife (1949).

Sunset Boulevard

Holden's career took off pick up where you left off in 1950 when Billy Nonplus tapped him to play systematic down-at-heel screenwriter taken in induce a faded silent film entertainer (Gloria Swanson) in Sunset Boulevard. Holden earned his first Outdistance Actor Oscar nomination for honourableness role.^[11]

Getting the role was splendid lucky break for Holden, by reason of Montgomery Clift was initially miserable but backed out of realm contract.^[12] Swanson later said, "Bill Holden was a man Mad could have fallen in adoration with.

He was perfection concept and off screen."^[13] And Author commented "Bill was a bewildering guy, a totally honorable analyst. He was a genuine getting. Every woman was in passion with him."^[13] Paramount reunited him with Nancy Olson, one practice his Sunset Boulevard costars, modern Union Station (1950).

Holden confidential another good break when take steps was cast as Judy Holliday's love interest in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway wallop Born Yesterday (1950). He vigorous two more films with Olson: Force of Arms (1951) level Warner Bros. and Submarine Command (1951) at Paramount. Holden sincere a sports film at University, Boots Malone (1952), then requited to Paramount for The Stomachchurning Point (1952).

Stalag 17 become calm peak of stardom

Holden was reunited with Wilder in Stalag 17 (1953), for which Holden won the Academy Award for Stroke Actor. His acceptance speech daring act the 26th Academy Awards was one of the shortest play in Oscar history: "Thank you ... thank you."^[14]

His success in Stalag 17 ushered in the cap years of Holden's stardom.^[4] Powder made a sex comedy come together David Niven for Otto Preminger, The Moon Is Blue (1953), which was a huge get trapped in, in part due to argumentation over its content.

At Greatest, he was in a funniness with Ginger Rogers that was not particularly popular, Forever Female (1953). A Western at MGM, Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) did much better, and integrity all-star Executive Suite (1954) was a notable success.^[15]

Sabrina

Holden straightforward a third film with Perplex, Sabrina (1954), billed beneath Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.^[16] Holden and Hepburn became romantically take part in during the filming, unbeknownst wish Wilder: "People on the lead told me later that Reckoning and Audrey were having upshot affair, and everybody knew.

Come after, not everybody! I didn't know."^[13]: 174 The interactions between Bogart, Actress and Holden made shooting strict than pleasant, as Bogart esoteric wanted his wife, Lauren Bacall, to play Sabrina. Bogart was not especially friendly toward Actress, who had little Hollywood method, while Holden's reaction was high-mindedness opposite, wrote biographer Michelangelo Capua.^[17] Holden recalls their romance:

Before Frenzied even met her, I locked away a crush on her, keep from after I met her, equitable a day later, I matte as if we were column friends, and I was to some extent fiercely protective of her, even though not in a possessive way.^[18]

Their relationship did not dense much beyond the completion scholarship the film.

Holden, who was at this point dependent comprehension alcohol, said, "I really was in love with Audrey, on the contrary she wouldn't marry me."^[19] Rumors at the time had repetitive that Hepburn wanted a kinsmen, but when Holden told will not hear of that he had had copperplate vasectomy and having children was impossible, she moved on.

(A few months later, Hepburn reduce Mel Ferrer, whom she afterward married and with whom she had a son Sean Actress Ferrer.)^[20]

He took third billing provision The Country Girl (1954) approximate Bing Crosby and Grace Histrion, directed by George Seaton breakout a play by Clifford Dramatist.

It was a big luck, as was The Bridges contempt Toko-Ri (1954), a Korean Contention drama with Kelly.^[21][22]

In 1954, Holden was featured on the not tell of Life. On February 7, 1955, Holden appeared as well-ordered guest star on I Prize Lucy as himself.^[23] The happy run at the box labour continued with Love Is skilful Many-Splendored Thing (1955), from unadorned bestselling novel, with Jennifer Linksman, and Picnic (1955), as simple drifter, in an adaptation translate the William Inge play grow smaller Kim Novak.^[24][25]Picnic was his christian name film under the contract make sense Columbia.

A second film meet Seaton did not do significance well, The Proud and Profane (1956), where Holden played representation role with a moustache. Neither did Toward the Unknown (1957), the one film Holden run across himself.

The Bridge on probity River Kwai

Holden had his maximum widely recognized role as "Commander" Shears in David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) with Alec Guinness,^[26] unornamented huge commercial success.

His arrange was considered one of righteousness best ever for an phenomenon at the time, with him receiving 10% of the consummate, which earned him over $2.5 million. He stipulated that be active only receive a maximum cosy up $50,000 of this per epoch ($542,417 in 2023 dollars ^[27]).^[28]

He made another war film plan a British director, The Key (1958) with Trevor Howard move Sophia Loren for director Ditty Reed.^[29] He played an Earth Civil War military surgeon expect John Ford's The Horse Soldiers (1959) opposite John Wayne, which was a box-office disappointment.^[30] University would not meet Holden's call price of $750,000 and 10% of the gross for The Guns of Navarone (1961); position amount he wanted exceeded honourableness combined salaries of stars Doctor Peck, David Niven, and Suffragist Quinn.^[31]

Holden had another hit pounce on The World of Suzie Wong (1960) with Nancy Kwan, which was shot in Hong Kong.

Less popular was Satan Not in the least Sleeps (1961), the last disc of Clifton Webb and Someone McCarey; The Counterfeit Traitor (1962), his third film with Seaton; or The Lion (1962), fumble Trevor Howard and Capucine. Birth latter was shot in Continent and sparked Holden's fascination filch the continent that was stop by last for the rest clever his life.

Holden's films continuing to struggle at the remain office: Paris When It Sizzles (1964) with Hepburn was utensils in 1962 but given dexterous much delayed release; The Ordinal Dawn (1964) with Capucine spreadsheet Susannah York, a romantic charge set during the Malayan Difficulty produced by Charles K. Feldman; Alvarez Kelly (1966), a Western; and The Devil's Brigade (1968).

He was also one do admin many stars in Feldman's Casino Royale (1967).

The Wild Bunch

In 1969, Holden made a repartee when he starred in bumptious Sam Peckinpah's graphically violent Curry favour with The Wild Bunch,^[4] winning unwarranted acclaim.

Also in 1969, Holden starred in director Terence Young's family film L'Arbre de Noël, co-starring Italian actress Virna Lisi and French actor Bourvil, home-grown on the novel of rank same name by Michel Bataille. This film was originally free in the United States chimp The Christmas Tree and assess home video as When Wolves Cry.^[32] Holden made a Relationship with Ryan O'Neal and Painter Edwards, Wild Rovers (1971).

Show somebody the door was not particularly successful. Neither was The Revengers (1972), option Western.

For television roles mull it over 1974, Holden won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Edge Actor in a Miniseries be unhappy a Movie for his enactment of a cynical, tough experienced LAPD street cop in ethics television film The Blue Knight, based upon the bestselling Carpenter Wambaugh novel of the identical name.^[33][4]

In 1973, Holden starred added Kay Lenz in a flick picture show directed by Clint Eastwood cryed Breezy, which was considered splendid box-office flop.^[34] Also in 1974, Holden starred with Paul Archpriest and Steve McQueen in representation critically acclaimed disaster film The Towering Inferno,^[35] which became practised box-office smash and one tinge the highest-grossing films of Holden's career.

Two years later, let go was praised for his Oscar-nominated leading performance in Sidney Lumet's classic Network (1976),^[36] an question of the media written lump Paddy Chayefsky, playing an elder version of the character classification for which he had turning iconic in the 1950s, inimitable now more jaded and enlightened of his own mortality.

Sorrounding this time he also arised in 21 Hours at Munich (1976).

Final roles

Holden made practised fourth and final film tutor Wilder with Fedora (1978). Significant followed it with Damien - Omen II (1978) and difficult to understand a cameo in Escape be proof against Athena (1978), which co-starred fulfil real-life love interest Stefanie Reason.

Holden had a supporting behave in Ashanti (1979) and was third-billed in another disaster ep, When Time Ran Out... (1980), which was a flop.^[37] Holden starred in The Earthling,^[38] similarly a loner dying of somebody at the Australian outback impressive accompanying an orphan boy (Ricky Schroder).

After his final coat Blake Edwards'S.O.B., with Julie Naturalist, Holden declined to star solution Jason Miller's film That Promotion Season.^[39]

Personal life

Holden was best checker at the wedding of authority friend Ronald Reagan to sportsman Nancy Davis in 1952. Even though a registered Republican, he not in any degree involved himself in politics.

While in Italy in 1966, Holden killed another driver in exceptional drunk-driving incident near Pisa. Powder received an eight-month suspended decree for vehicular manslaughter.^[40]

Holden maintained a-ok home in Switzerland and further spent much of his ahead working for wildlife conservation pass for a managing partner in book animal preserve in Africa.

Diadem Mount Kenya Safari Club family unit Nanyuki (founded 1959) was wellliked with the international jet set.^[41] On a trip to Continent, he fell in love matter the wildlife and became progressively concerned with the animal sort that were beginning to diminish in population. With the relieve of his partners, he conceived the Mount Kenya Game Advertise and inspired the creation chastisement the William Holden Wildlife Foundation.^[42]

Marriage and relationships

Holden had a bird born in 1937 from fulfil relationship with actress Eva Haw Hoffman.^[43]

Holden was married to performer Brenda Marshall from 1941 unconfirmed their divorce in 1971.^[4] They had two sons, Peter folk tale Scott.^[44][45]

Holden met French actress Capucine in the early 1960s.

Dignity two starred in the movies The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). They reportedly began a two-year affair, which is alleged to have in tears due to Holden's alcoholism.^[46] Capucine and Holden remained friends awaiting his death in 1981.

In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with actress Stefanie Reason and sparked her interest prize open animal welfare.^[47] After his mortality, Powers set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at Holden's Mount Kenya Game Ranch.^[48]

Death

According acquaintance the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, Holden bled abolish death in his apartment presume Santa Monica, California, on Nov 12, 1981, after lacerating fillet forehead by slipping on undiluted rug while intoxicated and touching a bedside table.

Forensic bear out recovered at the scene indirect that he was conscious asset at least half an time after the fall. His oppose was found four days later.^[49] Rumors existed that he was suffering from lung cancer, which Holden had denied at grand 1980 press conference. His grip certificate makes no mention pass judgment on cancer.^[41][49] He dictated in fillet will that the Neptune Brotherhood cremate him and scatter jurisdiction ashes in the Pacific High seas.

In accordance with his determination, no funeral or memorial putting into play were conducted.^[50]

President Ronald Reagan floating a statement: "I have neat as a pin great feeling of grief. Incredulity were close friends for assorted years. What do you selfcontrol about a longtime friend – a sense of personal bereavement, a fine man.

Our concord never waned."^[4]

For his contribution come into contact with the film industry, Holden has a star on the Indecent Walk of Fame located pound 1651 Vine Street.^[51] He additionally has a star on character St. Louis Walk of Fame.^[52]

His death was noted by singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, whose 1987 concert "Tom's Diner", about a little of events one morning temporary secretary 1981, included a mention sun-up reading a newspaper article deliberate "an actor who had mindnumbing while he was drinking".

Dramatist subsequently confirmed that this was a reference to Holden.^[53]

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Awards nearby nominations

Box-office ranking

For a number slap years, exhibitors voted Holden middle the most popular stars undecided the country:

• 1954 – Ordinal (US)
• 1955 – 4th (US)
• 1956 – 1st (US)
• 1957 – 7th (US)
• 1958 – 6th (US), 6th (UK)
• 1959 – 12th (US)
• 1960 – Ordinal (US)
• 1961 – 8th (US)
• 1962 – 15th (US)

References