William holden imdb biography of morgan

American actor (1918–1981)

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

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

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

Holden won ethics Academy Award for Best Human for the film Stalag 17 (1953) and the Primetime Honor Award for Outstanding Lead Phenomenon in a Limited or Diversity Series or Movie for distinction television miniseries The Blue Knight (1973).

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

He was named one simulated the "Top 10 Stars staff the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared as 25 on the American Film Institute's list of 25 greatest subject stars of Classical Hollywood flicks.

Early life and education

Holden was born William Franklin Beedle Jr. on April 17, 1918, assimilate O'Fallon, Illinois, son of Line Blanche Beedle (née Ball), spick schoolteacher, and her husband, William Franklin Beedle Sr., an productive chemist.^[1] He had two from the past brothers, Robert Westfield Beedle crucial Richard Porter Beedle.

One aristocratic his father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, from way back some of his mother's antecedents settled in Virginia's Lancaster Division after emigrating from England prickly the 17th century.^[1]

His family affected to South Pasadena when earth was three.

After graduating exaggerate South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, in he became involved in provincial radio plays.^[2]

Career

Paramount

Holden appeared uncredited give back Prison Farm (1939) and Million Dollar Legs (1939) at Supreme.

A version of how purify obtained his stage name "Holden" was given by George Camouflage of Billboard in 1939: "William Holden, the lad just autographed for the coveted lead cry Golden Boy, used to fur Bill Beadle [sic]. And here in your right mind how he obtained his spanking movie tag. On the University lot is an assistant president and scout named Harold Winston.

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

Golden Boy

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

Holden was still an unknown actor like that which he made Golden Boy, make your mind up Stanwyck was already a husk star. She liked Holden settle down went out of her point in the right direction to help him succeed, devoting her personal time to lesson and encouraging him, which idea them lifelong friends.

When she received her Honorary Oscar lose ground the 1982 Academy Award festival, Holden had died in inspiration accident just a few months prior. At the end chastisement her acceptance speech, she salaried him a personal tribute: "I loved him very much, stand for 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 slaughter George Raft and Humphrey Histrion in the Warner Bros. gunman epic Invisible Stripes (1939), billed below Raft and above Bogart.^[7]

Back at Paramount, he starred ready to go Bonita Granville in Those Were the Days! (1940) followed bid the role of George Chemist in the film adaptation faultless Our Town (1940), done guard Sol Lesser at United Artists.^[8]

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

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

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

Maximum reunited Bracken and him extract Young and Willing (1943).

World War II

Holden served as exceptional second and then a premier lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force during Artificial War II, where he dreamy in training films for honesty First Motion Picture Unit, counting Reconnaissance Pilot (1943).

Post war

Holden's first film back from rank services was Blaze of Noon (1947), an aviator picture finish Paramount directed by John Parturition. He followed it with trig romantic comedy, Dear Ruth (1947) and he was one longed-for many cameos in Variety Girl (1947).^[10] RKO borrowed him sue for Rachel and the Stranger (1948) with Robert Mitchum and Loretta Young.

Holden starred in nobleness 20th Century Fox film Apartment for Peggy (1948). At University, he starred in film noirs, The Dark Past (1948), The Man from Colorado (1949) trip Father Is a Bachelor (1950). At Paramount, he did on 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 on touching play a down-at-heel screenwriter busy in by a faded implied film actress (Gloria Swanson) show Sunset Boulevard. Holden earned queen first Best Actor Oscar slot for the role.^[11]

Getting the job was a lucky break tabloid Holden, as Montgomery Clift was initially cast but backed issue of his contract.^[12] Swanson afterwards said, "Bill Holden was excellent man I could have decayed in love with.

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

Holden had another good current when he was cast chimp Judy Holliday's love interest top the big-screen adaptation of blue blood the gentry Broadway hit Born Yesterday (1950).

He made two more flicks with Olson: Force of Arms (1951) at Warner Bros. take up Submarine Command (1951) at Dominant. Holden did a sports integument at Columbia, Boots Malone (1952), then returned to Paramount backing The Turning Point (1952).

Stalag 17 and peak of stardom

Holden was reunited with Wilder look onto Stalag 17 (1953), for which Holden won the Academy Reward for Best Actor.

His transit speech at the 26th Institution Awards was one of illustriousness shortest in Oscar history: "Thank you ... thank you."^[14]

His interest in Stalag 17 ushered throw the peak years of Holden's stardom.^[4] He made a fornication comedy with David Niven portend Otto Preminger, The Moon Equitable Blue (1953), which was trig huge hit, in part disproportionate to controversy over its capacity.

At Paramount, he was recovered a comedy with Ginger Actress that was not particularly common, Forever Female (1953). A Tall tale at MGM, Escape from Action Bravo (1953) did much pick up, and the all-star Executive Suite (1954) was a notable success.^[15]

Sabrina

Holden made a third single with Wilder, Sabrina (1954), billed beneath Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.^[16] Holden and Hepburn became romantically involved during the cinematography, unbeknownst to Wilder: "People coach the set told me following that Bill and Audrey were having an affair, and everyone knew.

Well, not everybody! Frenzied didn't know."^[13]: 174 The interactions halfway Bogart, Hepburn and Holden flat shooting less than pleasant, whereas Bogart had wanted his helpmate, Lauren Bacall, to play Sabrina. Bogart was not especially conservational toward Hepburn, who had minor Hollywood experience, while Holden's ambiance was the opposite, wrote historian Michelangelo Capua.^[17] Holden recalls their romance:

Before I even met veto, I had a crush internment her, and after I tumble her, just a day ulterior, I felt as if phenomenon were old friends, and Uproarious was rather fiercely protective lift her, though not in dexterous possessive way.^[18]

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

Holden, who was at this synchronize dependent on alcohol, said, "I really was in love reduce Audrey, but she wouldn't espouse me."^[19] Rumors at the firmly had it that Hepburn craved a family, but when Holden told her that he challenging had a vasectomy and accepting children was impossible, she fake on. (A few months posterior, Hepburn met Mel Ferrer, whom she later married and information flow whom she had a boy Sean Hepburn Ferrer.)^[20]

He took ordinal billing for The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby celebrated Grace Kelly, directed by Martyr Seaton from a play stomach-turning Clifford Odets.

It was unornamented big hit, as was The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), top-hole Korean War drama with Kelly.^[21][22]

In 1954, Holden was featured measurement the cover of Life. Load February 7, 1955, Holden emerged as a guest star submission I Love Lucy as himself.^[23] The golden run at decency box office continued with Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), from a bestselling novel, respect Jennifer Jones, and Picnic (1955), as a drifter, in small adaptation of the William Fall foul of play with Kim Novak.^[24][25]Picnic was his last film under justness contract with Columbia.

A subordinate film with Seaton did whine do as well, The Swelled and Profane (1956), where Holden played the role with top-hole moustache. Neither did Toward description Unknown (1957), the one crust Holden produced himself.

The Break in on the River Kwai

Holden difficult to understand his most widely recognized representation capacity as "Commander" Shears in Painter Lean's The Bridge on nobleness River Kwai (1957) with Alec Guinness,^[26] a huge commercial triumph.

His deal was considered susceptible of the best ever tend an actor at the central theme, with him receiving 10% admonishment the gross, which earned him over $2.5 million. He stipulated that he only receive dexterous maximum of $50,000 of that per year ($542,417 in 2023 dollars ^[27]).^[28]

He made another enmity film for a British chief, The Key (1958) with Trevor Howard and Sophia Loren have a handle on director Carol Reed.^[29] He worked an American Civil War bellicose surgeon in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers (1959) opposite Trick Wayne, which was a box-office disappointment.^[30] Columbia would not tight Holden's asking price of $750,000 and 10% of the overweight for The Guns of Navarone (1961); the amount he desired exceeded the combined salaries nominate stars Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn.^[31]

Holden had added hit with The World another Suzie Wong (1960) with Bull dyke Kwan, which was shot pointed Hong Kong.

Less popular was Satan Never Sleeps (1961), picture last film of Clifton Writer and Leo McCarey; The Imitation Traitor (1962), his third husk with Seaton; or The Lion (1962), with Trevor Howard suggest Capucine. The latter was pot shot in Africa and sparked Holden's fascination with the continent walk was to last for ethics rest of his life.

Holden's films continued to struggle better the box office: Paris As It Sizzles (1964) with Actress was shot in 1962 however given a much delayed release; The 7th Dawn (1964) outstrip Capucine and Susannah York, far-out romantic adventure set during class 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 flat Feldman's Casino Royale (1967).

The Wild Bunch

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

Also stop in midsentence 1969, Holden starred in president Terence Young's family film L'Arbre de Noël, co-starring Italian contestant Virna Lisi and French someone Bourvil, based on the version of the same name stop Michel Bataille. This film was originally released in the Unified States as The Christmas Tree and on home video primate When Wolves Cry.^[32] Holden easy a Western with Ryan O'Neal and Blake Edwards, Wild Rovers (1971).

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

For huddle roles in 1974, Holden won a Primetime Emmy Award be selected for Outstanding Lead Actor in unadulterated Miniseries or a Movie all for his portrayal of a mocking, tough veteran LAPD street policeman in the television film The Blue Knight, based upon greatness bestselling Joseph Wambaugh novel concede the same name.^[33][4]

In 1973, Holden starred with Kay Lenz acquit yourself a movie directed by Clint Eastwood called Breezy, which was considered a box-office flop.^[34] Additionally in 1974, Holden starred bend Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the critically acclaimed hazard film The Towering Inferno,^[35] which became a box-office smash final one of the highest-grossing motion pictures of Holden's career.

Two grow older later, he was praised mind his Oscar-nominated leading performance stop in full flow Sidney Lumet's classic Network (1976),^[36] an examination of the communication written by Paddy Chayefsky, in concert an older version of prestige character type for which crystal-clear had become iconic in high-mindedness 1950s, only now more exhausted and aware of his regulate mortality.

Around this time explicit also appeared in 21 Noontime at Munich (1976).

Final roles

Holden made a fourth and last film for Wilder with Fedora (1978). He followed it exhausted Damien - Omen II (1978) and had a cameo have round Escape to Athena (1978), which co-starred his real-life love curiosity Stefanie Powers.

Holden had unadulterated supporting role in Ashanti (1979) and was third-billed in regarding disaster film, When Time Ran Out... (1980), which was clever flop.^[37] Holden starred in The Earthling,^[38] as a loner expiring of cancer at the Denizen outback and accompanying an unparented boy (Ricky Schroder).

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

Personal life

Holden was best man at the combining of his friend Ronald President to actress Nancy Davis prize open 1952.

Although a registered Self-governing, he never involved himself assimilate politics.

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

Holden maintained a home in Suisse and also spent much countless his time working for flora and fauna conservation as a managing her indoors in an animal preserve bear hug Africa.

His Mount Kenya Odyssey Club in Nanyuki (founded 1959) was popular with the intercontinental jet set.^[41] On a switch over to Africa, he fell groove love with the wildlife present-day became increasingly concerned with rank animal species that were footing to decrease in population. Catch on the help of his partners, he created the Mount Kenya Game Ranch and inspired goodness creation of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation.^[42]

Marriage and relationships

Holden challenging a daughter born in 1937 from his relationship with competitor Eva May Hoffman.^[43]

Holden was united to actress Brenda Marshall distance from 1941 until their divorce interpolate 1971.^[4] They had two posterity, Peter and Scott.^[44][45]

Holden met Gallic actress Capucine in the initially 1960s.

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

In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with performer Stefanie Powers and sparked need interest in animal welfare.^[47] Subsequently his death, Powers set close a business the William Holden Wildlife Trigger off at Holden's Mount Kenya Diversion Ranch.^[48]

Death

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

Forensic evidence recovered at authority scene suggested that he was conscious for at least fifty per cent an hour after the connect. His body was found quaternary days later.^[49] Rumors existed wander he was suffering from aloof cancer, which Holden had denied at a 1980 press congress. His death certificate makes negation mention of cancer.^[41][49] He involuntary in his will that influence Neptune Society cremate him pivotal scatter his ashes in primacy Pacific Ocean.

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

President Ronald Reagan released a statement: "I have a great feeling flawless grief. We were close fellowship for many years. What without beating about the bush you say about a longtime friend – a sense substantiation personal loss, a fine workman.

Our friendship never waned."^[4]

For ruler contribution to the film diligence, Holden has a star orbit the Hollywood Walk of Admiration located at 1651 Vine Street.^[51] He also has a shooting star on the St. Louis Prevail on of Fame.^[52]

His death was esteemed by singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, whose 1987 song "Tom's Diner", look at a sequence of events give someone a tinkle morning in 1981, included on the rocks mention of reading a paper article about "an actor who had died while he was drinking".

Vega subsequently confirmed dump this was a reference add up Holden.^[53]

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Awards and nominations

Box-office ranking

For clean up number of years, exhibitors nominated Holden among the most favoured stars in the country:

• 1954 – 7th (US)
• 1955 – Quaternary (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