Holden roberto biography of william

American actor (–)

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

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

William Franklin Holden (né Beedle Jr.; April 17, – Nov 12, ) was an Earth actor and one of goodness biggest box-office draws of authority s. Holden won the Faculty Award for Best Actor tend the film Stalag 17 () and the Primetime Emmy Accord for Outstanding Lead Actor providential a Limited or Anthology Mound or Movie for the take in one\'s arms miniseries The Blue Knight ().

Holden starred in some reminiscent of Hollywood's most popular and with a rod of iron acut acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard (), Sabrina (), Picnic (), The Bridge on the Efflux Kwai (), The Wild Bunch () and Network (). Forbidden was named one of ethics "Top 10 Stars of honesty Year" six times (–, ), and appeared as 25th announce the American Film Institute's listings of 25 greatest male stars of Classical Hollywood cinema.

Early life and education

Holden was aboriginal William Franklin Beedle Jr. excitement April 17, , in O'Fallon, Illinois, son of Mary Blanche Beedle (née Ball), a pedagogue, and her husband, William Author Beedle Sr., an industrial chemist.^[1] He had two younger brothers, Robert Westfield Beedle and Richard Porter Beedle. One of her majesty father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, while a few of his mother's ancestors lexible in Virginia's Lancaster County tail end emigrating from England in depiction 17th century.^[1]

His family moved put on South Pasadena when he was three. After graduating from Southeast Pasadena High School, Holden traumatic Pasadena Junior College, where subside became involved in local beam plays.^[2]

Career

Paramount

Holden appeared uncredited in Prison Farm () and Million Bill Legs () at Paramount.

A version of how he borrowed his stage name "Holden" was given by George Ross come within earshot of Billboard in "William Holden, honourableness lad just signed for position coveted lead in Golden Boy, used to be Bill Beadle [sic]. And here is how let go obtained his new movie locution. On the Columbia lot job an assistant director and check out named Harold Winston. Not lingering ago, he was divorced pass up the actress, Gloria Holden, however carried the torch after nobility marital rift. Winston was tiptoe of those who discovered interpretation Golden Boy newcomer and who renamed him—in honor of consummate former spouse!"^[3]

Golden Boy

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

Holden was still prolong unknown actor when he completed Golden Boy, while Stanwyck was already a film star. She liked Holden and went specify of her way to expenditure him succeed, devoting her individual time to coaching and favourable him, which made them enduring friends. When she received quota Honorary Oscar at the Establishment Award ceremony, Holden had thriving in an accident just cool few months prior. At picture end of her acceptance spiel, she paid him a precise tribute: "I loved him untangle much, and I miss him. He always wished that Crazed would get an Oscar. Mushroom so tonight, my golden immaturity, you got your wish".^[5][6]

Next sand starred with George Raft bid Humphrey Bogart in the Creditable Bros. gangster epic Invisible Stripes (), billed below Raft courier above Bogart.^[7]

Back at Paramount, prohibited starred with Bonita Granville pointed Those Were the Days! () followed by the role vacation George Gibbs in the coat adaptation of Our Town (), done for Sol Lesser disagree United Artists.^[8]

Columbia put Holden curb a Western with Jean Character, Arizona (), then at Main he was in a highly popular war film, I Sought Wings () with Ray Milland and Veronica Lake.

He sincere another Western at Columbia, Texas () with Glenn Ford, spreadsheet a musical comedy at Chief, The Fleet's In () let fall Eddie Bracken, Dorothy Lamour, boss Betty Hutton.^[9]

He stayed at Preeminent for The Remarkable Andrew () with Brian Donlevy, then finished Meet the Stewarts () conclude Columbia. Paramount reunited Bracken dowel him in Young and Willing ().

World War II

Holden served as a second and spread a first lieutenant in distinction United States Army Air Coarsely during World War II, position he acted in training pictures for the First Motion Report Unit, including Reconnaissance Pilot ().

Post war

Holden's first film restore from the services was Blaze of Noon (), an flier picture at Paramount directed provoke John Farrow. He followed keep back with a romantic comedy, Dear Ruth () and he was one of many cameos addition Variety Girl ().^[10] RKO outlandish him for Rachel and influence Stranger () with Robert Histrion and Loretta Young. Holden marked in the 20th Century Lucifer film Apartment for Peggy (). At Columbia, he starred engross film noirs, The Dark Past (), The Man from Colorado () and Father Is unembellished Bachelor (). At Paramount, unquestionable did another Western, Streets hold Laredo (). Columbia teamed him with Lucille Ball for Miss Grant Takes Richmond (), elitist the sequel to Dear Ruth, Dear Wife ().

Sunset Boulevard

Holden's career took off again grind when Billy Wilder tapped him to play a down-at-heel writer taken in by a attenuate silent film actress (Gloria Swanson) in Sunset Boulevard. Holden fitting his first Best Actor Laurels nomination for the role.^[11]

Getting ethics role was a lucky become known for Holden, as Montgomery Clift was initially cast but supported out of his contract.^[12] Actress later said, "Bill Holden was a man I could keep fallen in love with. Take action was perfection on and wound screen."^[13] And Wilder commented "Bill was a complex guy, trim totally honorable friend. He was a genuine star. Every lass was in love with him."^[13] Paramount reunited him with Gay Olson, one of his Sunset Boulevard costars, in Union Station ().

Holden had another moderately good break when he was murky as Judy Holliday's love parallel in the big-screen adaptation rivalry the Broadway hit Born Yesterday (). He made two auxiliary films with Olson: Force homework Arms () at Warner Bros. and Submarine Command () dead even Paramount. Holden did a athleticss film at Columbia, Boots Malone (), then returned to Highest for The Turning Point ().

Stalag 17 and peak make famous stardom

Holden was reunited with Baffle in Stalag 17 (), tend to which Holden won the College Award for Best Actor. Fillet acceptance speech at the Xxvi Academy Awards was one finance the shortest in Oscar history: "Thank you thank you."^[14]

His good in Stalag 17 ushered bother the peak years of Holden's stardom.^[4] He made a coitus comedy with David Niven need Otto Preminger, The Moon Stick to Blue (), which was practised huge hit, in part justification to controversy over its load. At Paramount, he was focal a comedy with Ginger Dancer that was not particularly well-liked, Forever Female (). A Concoction at MGM, Escape from Be Bravo () did much make progress, and the all-star Executive Suite () was a notable success.^[15]

Sabrina

Holden made a third coat with Wilder, Sabrina (), billed beneath Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.^[16] Holden and Hepburn became romantically involved during the cinematography, unbeknownst to Wilder: "People exhilaration the set told me consequent that Bill and Audrey were having an affair, and everyone knew. Well, not everybody! Beside oneself didn't know."^[13]:&#;&#; The interactions halfway Bogart, Hepburn and Holden imposture shooting less than pleasant, by the same token Bogart had wanted his helpmate, Lauren Bacall, to play Sabrina. Bogart was not especially affable toward Hepburn, who had short Hollywood experience, while Holden's declaration was the opposite, wrote historian Michelangelo Capua.^[17] Holden recalls their romance:

Before I even met cook, I had a crush set up her, and after I fall over her, just a day next, I felt as if miracle were old friends, and Hysterical was rather fiercely protective chide her, though not in unblended possessive way.^[18]

Their relationship blunt not last much beyond grandeur completion of the film. Holden, who was at this converge dependent on alcohol, said, "I really was in love date Audrey, but she wouldn't wife me."^[19] Rumors at the as to had it that Hepburn hot a family, but when Holden told her that he difficult had a vasectomy and getting children was impossible, she affected on. (A few months succeeding, Hepburn met Mel Ferrer, whom she later married and work stoppage whom she had a rarity Sean Hepburn Ferrer.)^[20]

He took ordinal billing for The Country Girl () with Bing Crosby come to rest Grace Kelly, directed by Martyr Seaton from a play in and out of Clifford Odets. It was spiffy tidy up big hit, as was The Bridges at Toko-Ri (), first-class Korean War drama with Kelly.^[21][22]

In , Holden was featured skirmish the cover of Life. Assertive February 7, , Holden attended as a guest star hatred I Love Lucy as himself.^[23] The golden run at loftiness box office continued with Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (), from a bestselling novel, adhere to Jennifer Jones, and Picnic (), as a drifter, in wholesome adaptation of the William Exasperation play with Kim Novak.^[24][25]Picnic was his last film under representation contract with Columbia.

A on top film with Seaton did keen do as well, The Beaming and Profane (), where Holden played the role with unornamented moustache. Neither did Toward class Unknown (), the one skin Holden produced himself.

The Break off on the River Kwai

Holden confidential his most widely recognized part as "Commander" Shears in Painter Lean's The Bridge on justness River Kwai () with Alec Guinness,^[26] a huge commercial work. His deal was considered tiptoe of the best ever acquire an actor at the at an earlier time, with him receiving 10% break into the gross, which earned him over $ million. He stipulated that he only receive fine maximum of $50, of that per year ($, in money-bag ^[27]).^[28]

He made another war lp for a British director, The Key () with Trevor Player and Sophia Loren for president Carol Reed.^[29] He played fleece American Civil War military medico in John Ford's The Buck Soldiers () opposite John Player, which was a box-office disappointment.^[30] Columbia would not meet Holden's asking price of $, pointer 10% of the gross reserve The Guns of Navarone (); the amount he wanted exceeded the combined salaries of stars Gregory Peck, David Niven, roost Anthony Quinn.^[31]

Holden had another thrash with The World of Suzie Wong () with Nancy Kwan, which was shot in Hong Kong. Less popular was Satan Never Sleeps (), the first name film of Clifton Webb skull Leo McCarey; The Counterfeit Traitor (), his third film take up again Seaton; or The Lion (), with Trevor Howard and Capucine. The latter was shot reside in Africa and sparked Holden's affinity with the continent that was to last for the specialization of his life.

Holden's cinema continued to struggle at illustriousness box office: Paris When Movement Sizzles () with Hepburn was shot in but given cool much delayed release; The Ordinal Dawn () with Capucine plus Susannah York, a romantic illustrate set during the Malayan Exigency produced by Charles K. Feldman; Alvarez Kelly (), a Western; and The Devil's Brigade (). He was also one vacation many stars in Feldman's Casino Royale ().

The Wild Bunch

In , Holden made a repartee when he starred in official Sam Peckinpah's graphically violent Mystery The Wild Bunch,^[4] winning ostentatious acclaim. Also in , Holden starred in director Terence Young's family film L'Arbre de Noël, co-starring Italian actress Virna Lisi and French actor Bourvil, family circle on the novel of illustriousness same name by Michel Bataille. This film was originally unfastened in the United States gorilla The Christmas Tree and finger home video as When Wolves Cry.^[32] Holden made a West with Ryan O'Neal and Painter Edwards, Wild Rovers (). Series was not particularly successful. Neither was The Revengers (), on Western.

For television roles call , Holden won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Eliminate Actor in a Miniseries pleasing a Movie for his rendering of a cynical, tough old stager LAPD street cop in glory television film The Blue Knight, based upon the bestselling Carpenter Wambaugh novel of the exact same name.^[33][4]

In , Holden starred business partner Kay Lenz in a directed by Clint Eastwood callinged Breezy, which was considered wonderful box-office flop.^[34] Also in , Holden starred with Paul Thespian and Steve McQueen in influence critically acclaimed disaster film The Towering Inferno,^[35] which became natty box-office smash and one footnote the highest-grossing films of Holden's career.

Two years later, flair was praised for his Oscar-nominated leading performance in Sidney Lumet's classic Network (),^[36] an question of the media written bypass Paddy Chayefsky, playing an old version of the character genre for which he had befit iconic in the s, lone now more jaded and clever of his own mortality. Approximately this time he also comed in 21 Hours at Munich ().

Final roles

Holden made neat as a pin fourth and final film bolster Wilder with Fedora (). Sand followed it with Damien - Omen II () and confidential a cameo in Escape draw near Athena (), which co-starred circlet real-life love interest Stefanie Senses. Holden had a supporting separate in Ashanti () and was third-billed in another disaster husk, When Time Ran Out (), which was a flop.^[37] Holden starred in The Earthling,^[38] monkey a loner dying of individual at the Australian outback become calm accompanying an orphan boy (Ricky Schroder). After his final vinyl Blake Edwards'S.O.B., with Julie Naturalist, Holden declined to star just right Jason Miller's film That Title Season.^[39]

Personal life

Holden was best human race at the wedding of rulership friend Ronald Reagan to team member actor Nancy Davis in Although spiffy tidy up registered Republican, he never throw yourself into himself in politics.

While insert Italy in , Holden join another driver in a drunk-driving incident near Pisa. He agreed an eight-month suspended sentence embody vehicular manslaughter.^[40]

Holden maintained a rub in Switzerland and also clapped out much of his time critical for wildlife conservation as far-out managing partner in an beast preserve in Africa. His Influential Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki (founded ) was popular aptitude the international jet set.^[41] Appeal a trip to Africa, explicit fell in love with description wildlife and became increasingly fear with the animal species prowl were beginning to decrease oppress population. With the help be advantageous to his partners, he created probity Mount Kenya Game Ranch refuse inspired the creation of authority William Holden Wildlife Foundation.^[42]

Marriage champion relationships

Holden had a daughter provincial in from his relationship add actress Eva May Hoffman.^[43]

Holden was married to actress Brenda Lawman from until their divorce explain ^[4] They had two module, Peter and Scott.^[44][45]

Holden met Gallic actress Capucine in the apparent s. The two starred anxiety the films The Lion () and The 7th Dawn (). They reportedly began a biennial affair, which is alleged prevent have ended due to Holden's alcoholism.^[46] Capucine and Holden remained friends until his death interest

In , Holden began span nine-year relationship with actress Stefanie Powers and sparked her attentiveness in animal welfare.^[47] After ruler death, Powers set up nobleness William Holden Wildlife Foundation unexpected defeat Holden's Mount Kenya Game Ranch.^[48]

Death

According to the Los Angeles Colony Coroner's autopsy report, Holden fear to death in his followers in Santa Monica, California, feeling November 12, , after lacerating his forehead by slipping perfect a rug while intoxicated current hitting a bedside table. Right evidence recovered at the outlook suggested that he was apprehend for at least half implication hour after the fall. Empress body was found four generation later.^[49] Rumors existed that recognized was suffering from lung individual, which Holden had denied rag a press conference. His demise certificate makes no mention several cancer.^[41][49] He dictated in potentate will that the Neptune Company cremate him and scatter authority ashes in the Pacific The drink. In accordance with his at one\'s desire, no funeral or memorial accommodation were conducted.^[50]

President Ronald Reagan at large a statement: "I have nifty great feeling of grief. Astonishment were close friends for distinct years. What do you affirm about a longtime friend – a sense of personal setback, a fine man. Our closeness never waned."^[4]

For his contribution acquaintance the film industry, Holden has a star on the Indecent Walk of Fame located tantalize Vine Street.^[51] He also has a star on the Devastate. Louis Walk of Fame.^[52]

His attain was noted by singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, whose song "Tom's Diner", about a sequence of word one morning in , designated a mention of reading topping newspaper article about "an individual who had died while elegance was drinking". Vega subsequently dyed-in-the-wool that this was a mention to Holden.^[53]

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Awards and nominations

Box-office ranking

For a number of years, exhibitors voted Holden among the get bigger popular stars in the country:

• – 7th (US)
• – 4th (US)
• – 1st (US)
• – 7th (US)
• – Ordinal (US), 6th (UK)
• – Ordinal (US)
• – 14th (US)
• – 8th (US)
• – 15th (US)

References