William Holden

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William Holden
Holden-portrait.jpg
Holden in a publicity photo, 1954
Born William Franklin Beedle, Jr.
(1918-04-17)April 17, 1918
O'Fallon, Illinois, U.S.
Died November 12, 1981(1981-11-12) (aged 63)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Cause of death Exsanguination following a fall
Education South Pasadena High School
Alma mater Pasadena Junior College
Occupation Actor, wildlife conservationist
Years active 1938–1981
Political party Republican[1]
Spouse(s) Brenda Marshall (m. 1941–1971)
Children 3
Awards Academy Award for Best Actor (1953)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor (1974)

William Holden (April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor. One of the most popular and well known movie stars of all time, Holden was one of the biggest box office draws of the 1950s. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953 for his role in Stalag 17, and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in the 1973 television film The Blue Knight.

Holden starred in some of the most popular and critically acclaimed films of all time, including such blockbusters as Sunset Boulevard, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Wild Bunch, The Towering Inferno, and Network. He was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared on the American Film Institute's AFI's 100 Years…100 Stars list as number 25.

Contents

Early life and career[edit]

Holden was born William Franklin Beedle, Jr. in O'Fallon, Illinois, the son of Mary Blanche (née Ball), a schoolteacher, and William Franklin Beedle, Sr., an industrial chemist.[2] He had two younger brothers, Robert and Richard. Holden's paternal great-grandmother, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England in 1817, while some of his mother's ancestors settled in Virginia's Lancaster County after emigrating from England in the 17th century.[2] His younger brother, Robert W. "Bobbie" Beedle, later became a U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was killed in action in World War II, over New Ireland, on January 5, 1944.

His family moved to South Pasadena when he was three. After graduating from South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, where he became involved in local radio plays. Contrary to legend and theatre publicity, he did not study at the Pasadena Playhouse, nor was he discovered in a play there. Rather, he was spotted by a talent scout from Paramount Pictures in 1937 while playing the part of an 80-year-old man, Marie Curie's father-in-law, in a play at the Playbox, a separate and private theatre owned by Pasadena Playhouse director Gilmor Brown. His first film role was in Prison Farm the following year.

With Lee J. Cobb in Holden's first film, Golden Boy (1939)
With George Raft in Invisible Stripes (1939)

Career[edit]

Holden's first starring role was in Golden Boy (1939), in which he played a violinist turned boxer. That was followed by the role of George Gibbs in the film adaptation of Our Town.[3]

With Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard (1950)

After Columbia Pictures picked up half of his contract, he alternated between starring in several minor pictures for Paramount and Columbia before serving as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, where he acted in training films for the First Motion Picture Unit. Beginning in 1950, his career took off when Billy Wilder tapped him to star as the down-at-the-heels screenwriter Joe Gillis, who is taken in by faded silent-screen star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in Sunset Boulevard, for which Holden earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination.[4]

William Holden and Chandran Rutnam while shooting The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Following this breakthrough film, his career quickly grew in stature as he played a series of roles that combined good looks with cynical detachment, including a prisoner-of-war entrepreneur in Stalag 17 (1953), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, a pressured young engineer/family man in Executive Suite (1954), an acerbic stage director in The Country Girl (1954), a conflicted jet pilot in the Korean War film The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), a carefree playboy in Sabrina (1954), a wandering college football star in Picnic (1955), a dashing war correspondent in Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955), his most widely recognized role as an ill-fated prisoner in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), a World War II tug boat captain in The Key (1958), and an American Civil War military surgeon in The Horse Soldiers (1959), which also starred John Wayne.

With Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina (1954)

He also played a number of sunnier roles in light comedy, such as the handsome architect pursuing virginal Maggie McNamara in the controversial Production Code-breaking The Moon Is Blue (1953), as Judy Holliday's tutor in Born Yesterday (1950), as a playwright captivated by Ginger Rogers' character in Forever Female (1953) and as Humphrey Bogart's younger brother, a playboy, in Sabrina (1954), which also starred Audrey Hepburn. In 1954, Holden was featured on the cover of Life.

On February 7, 1955, he appeared as a guest star on I Love Lucy as himself. His career peaked in 1957 with the enormous success of The Bridge on the River Kwai, but Holden spent the next several years starring in a number of films that rarely succeeded commercially or critically.[5] By the mid-1960s, the quality of his roles and films had noticeably diminished.

Later career[edit]

1960s

In 1969, Holden made a comeback when he starred in director Sam Peckinpah's graphically violent Western The Wild Bunch, winning much acclaim. Also in 1969, Holden starred in director Terence Young's family film L'Arbre de Noël, co-starring Italian actress Virna Lisi, based on the novel of the same name by Michel Bataille. This film was originally released in the United States as The Christmas Tree and on home video as When Wolves Cry.[6]

Five years later, he starred with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the critically acclaimed disaster film The Towering Inferno, which became a box office smash and one of the highest grossing films of Holden's career. He was also praised for his Oscar-nominated leading performance in Sidney Lumet's classic Network (1976), a prescient examination of television written by Paddy Chayefsky, playing an older version of the character type he had become iconic for in the 1950s, only now more jaded and aware of his own mortality.

In 1974, Holden won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his portrayal of a cynical, tough veteran LAPD street cop in the television film The Blue Knight, based upon the best-selling Joseph Wambaugh novel of the same name.

In 1980, Holden appeared in The Earthling with popular child actor Ricky Schroder, playing a loner dying of cancer who goes to the Australian outback to end his days, meets a young boy whose parents have been killed in an accident, and teaches him how to survive. During his last years, Holden also appeared in his second Irwin Allen film, When Time Ran Out, a critical and commercial failure and heavily disliked by Holden himself; his final film, Blake Edwards's S.O.B., was more successful and a Golden Globe-nominated picture.

Personal life[edit]

While in Italy in 1966, Holden killed another driver in a drunk driving incident. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for vehicular manslaughter.[7]

Holden maintained a home in Switzerland and also spent much of his time working for wildlife conservation as a managing partner in an animal preserve in Africa. His Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki (founded 1959) became a mecca for the international jet set.[8]

Marriage and relationships[edit]

Matron of Honor Brenda Marshall and Best Man William Holden, sole guests at Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan's wedding.

Holden was married to actress Ardis Ankerson (stage name Brenda Marshall) from 1941 until their divorce (after many long separations) in 1971. They had two sons, Peter Westfield (born November 17, 1943) and Scott Porter (born May 2, 1946; died January 21, 2005, San Diego, California). He also adopted his wife's daughter, Virginia, from her first marriage.

Holden was best man at the marriage of his friend Ronald Reagan to Nancy Davis in 1952; however, he never involved himself in politics.

In 1954, during the filming of Sabrina some biographers allege that Holden and Audrey Hepburn became romantically involved, and she hoped to marry him and have children. It is rumored she broke off the relationship when Holden revealed he had undergone a vasectomy.[9] In 1964, Holden was again paired up with Hepburn in Paris When It Sizzles, but behind the scenes, the set was plagued with problems. Holden tried without success to rekindle a romance with the now-married Hepburn. This, combined with his alleged alcoholism, made the situation challenging for film production.

Holden met French actress Capucine in the early 1960s. The two starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). They began a two-year affair, which is alleged to have ended due to Holden's alcoholism,[10] Capucine and Holden remained friends until his death in 1981.[11]

In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with actress Stefanie Powers, which sparked her interest in animal welfare.[12] After his death, Powers set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at Holden's Mount Kenya Game Ranch.[13]

Death[edit]

According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, Holden was alone and intoxicated in his apartment in Santa Monica, California, on November 12, 1981, when he slipped on a rug, severely lacerated his forehead on a teak bedside table, and bled to death. Evidence suggests he was conscious for at least half an hour after the fall. It is probable that he may not have realized the severity of the injury and did not summon aid, or was unable to call for help. His body was found four days later.[8]

Holden had dictated in his will that the Neptune Society cremate him and scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. No funeral or memorial service was held, per his wishes.[14]

For his contribution to the film industry, William Holden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1651 Vine Street.[15]

In popular culture[edit]

In 2007, his stepdaughter, Virginia Holden Gaines, wrote a book, Growing Up with William Holden: A Memoir, reliving her memories of life with her father.

Filmography[edit]

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1938 Prison Farm Prisoner Uncredited
1939 Million Dollar Legs Graduate who says "Thank You" Uncredited
1939 Golden Boy Joe Bonaparte
1939 Invisible Stripes Tim Taylor
1940 Our Town George Gibbs
1940 Those Were the Days! P.J. "Petey" Simmons
1940 Arizona Peter Muncie
1941 I Wanted Wings Al Ludlow
1941 Texas Dan Thomas
1942 The Fleet's In Casey Kirby
1942 The Remarkable Andrew Andrew Long
1942 Meet the Stewarts Michael Stewart
1943 Young and Willing Norman Reese
1943 Reconnaissance Pilot Himself Short film
1943 Wings Up Himself Short film
1947 Blaze of Noon Colin McDonald
1947 Dear Ruth Lt. William Seacroft
1947 Variety Girl Himself
1948 The Man from Colorado Capt. Del Stewart
1948 Rachel and the Stranger David Harvey
1948 Apartment for Peggy Jason Taylor
1948 The Dark Past Al Walker
1949 Streets of Laredo Jim Dawkins
1949 Miss Grant Takes Richmond Dick Richmond
1949 Dear Wife Bill Seacroft
1950 Father Is a Bachelor Johnny Rutledge
1950 Sunset Boulevard Joe Gillis Nominated: Academy Award for Best Actor
1950 Union Station Lt. William Calhoun
1950 Born Yesterday Paul Verrall
1951 Force of Arms Sgt. Joe "Pete" Peterson Alternative title: A Girl for Joe
1951 Submarine Command Lt. Cmdr. Ken White Alternative title: The Submarine Story
1952 Boots Malone Boots Malone
1952 The Turning Point Jerry McKibbon
1953 Stalag 17 Sgt. J.J. Sefton Won: Academy Award for Best Actor
1953 The Moon Is Blue Donald Gresham
1953 Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach Tourist Uncredited
1953 Forever Female Stanley Krown
1953 Escape from Fort Bravo Capt. Roper
1954 Executive Suite McDonald Walling
1954 Sabrina David Larrabee
1954 Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto Narrator Uncredited
1954 The Country Girl Bernie Dodd
1954 The Bridges at Toko-Ri Lt. Harry Brubaker
1955 Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing Mark Elliott
1955 Picnic Hal Carter Nominated: BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor
1956 The Proud and Profane Lt. Col. Colin Black
1956 Toward the Unknown Maj. Lincoln Bond
1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai Shears
1958 The Key Capt. David Ross
1959 The Horse Soldiers Major Henry Kendall
1960 The World of Suzie Wong Robert Lomax
1962 Satan Never Sleeps Father O'Banion
1962 The Counterfeit Traitor Eric Erickson
1962 The Lion Robert Hayward
1964 Paris When It Sizzles Richard Benson/Rick
1964 The 7th Dawn Major Ferris
1966 Alvarez Kelly Alvarez Kelly
1967 Casino Royale Ransome
1968 The Devil's Brigade Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick
1969 The Wild Bunch Pike Bishop
1969 The Christmas Tree Laurent Ségur Alternative title: L'arbre de Noël
1971 Wild Rovers Ross Bodine
1972 The Revengers John Benedict
1973 Breezy Frank Harmon
1974 Open Season Hal Wolkowski
1974 The Towering Inferno Jim Duncan
1976 Network Max Schumacher Nominated: Academy Award for Best Actor
BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
1978 Fedora Barry "Dutch" Detweiler
1978 Damien: Omen II Richard Thorn
1979 Escape to Athena Prisoner smoking a cigar in prison camp Uncredited
1979 Ashanti Jim Sandell
1980 When Time Ran Out Shelby Gilmore Alternative titles: The Day the World Ended
Earth's Final Fury
1980 The Earthling Patrick Foley
1981 S.O.B. Tim Culley
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954-1955 The Colgate Comedy Hour Himself 2 episodes
1955 Lux Video Theatre Intermission Guest Episode: "Love Letters"
1955 I Love Lucy Himself Episode: "Hollywood at Last"
1956 The Jack Benny Program Himself Episode: "William Holden/Frances Bergen Show"
1968-1974 The Dean Martin Show Himself 2 episodes
1973 The Devil's Daughter Television film
1973 The Blue Knight Bumper Morgan Television film
Won - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
1976 21 Hours at Munich Chief of Police Manfred Schreiber Television film
1978 Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend Narrator Television special
1980 Mysteries of the Sea Narrator Documentary

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Heymann, C. David (2009). Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story. New York: Simon & Shuster. p. 25. ISBN 1-416-55629-X. Retrieved 04–01–13. 
  2. ^ a b "Ancestry of William Holden." Genealogy.com. Retrieved: November 13, 2011.
  3. ^ Capua 2009, pp. 16–17.
  4. ^ Capua 2009, pp. 54–55.
  5. ^ "Film Ratings." IMDb. Retrieved: December 6, 2012.
  6. ^ Capua 2009, pp. 135–136, 141.
  7. ^ Brown, Andrew M. "When Alcoholics drink themselves to death." The Telegraph, April 7, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Bennett, Bruce. "William Holden's Unscripted Fall From Grace." New York Sun, July 2, 2008.
  9. ^ Phillips 2010, p. 160.
  10. ^ The Lion (hosted by Robert Osborne); air date: November 4, 2012 on Turner Classic Movies
  11. ^ Strodder 2000, p. 112.
  12. ^ Capua 2009, p. 165.
  13. ^ Bacon, Doris Klein. "For Love of Bill." People, Vol. 17, No. 21, May 31, 1982.
  14. ^ Capua 2009, p. 164
  15. ^ "Hollywood Star Walk: William Holden". latimes.com. Retrieved March 26, 2013. 

Bibliography[edit]

  • Capua, Michelangelo. William Holden: A Biography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland Press, 2010. ISBN 978-0-7864-4440-3.
  • Gaines, Virginia Holden. Growing Up with William Holden: A Memoir. Newark, Notts, UK: Strategems, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9741304-5-3.
  • Phillips, Gene D. Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2010. ISBN 0-8131-2570-7.
  • Quirk, Lawrence J. The Complete Films of William Holden. Sacramento, California: Citadel Press, 1986. ISBN 978-0-8065-0998-3.
  • Quirk, Lawrence J.The Films of William Holden. Sacramento, California: Citadel Press, 1973. ISBN 978-0-8065-0375-2.
  • Strodder, Chris. Swingin' Chicks Of the Sixties. San Rafael, California: Cedco Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 0-7683-2232-4.
  • Thomas, Bob. Golden Boy: The Untold Story of William Holden. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1983. ISBN 978-0-312-33697-4.

External links[edit]

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