William Holden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Holden
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Holden in a publicity photo, 1950
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| Born |
William Franklin Beedle Jr.
April 17, 1918 O'Fallon, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | November 12, 1981 (aged 63) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Pasadena Junior College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1938–1981 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Partner(s) | Stefanie Powers (1972–1981; his death) |
| Children | 4 |
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William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was a famous American actor. He was one of the most popular movie stars in the 1950s.
Holden won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Stalag 17 (1953). He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for the TV show The Blue Knight (1973).
He starred in many well-known Hollywood movies. These include Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Network (1976). Holden was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times. He is also listed as one of the 25 greatest male stars of Classical Hollywood cinema.
Contents
Growing Up: William Holden's Early Life
William Franklin Beedle, Jr. was born on April 17, 1918. His birthplace was O'Fallon, Illinois, in the United States. His mother, Mary Blanche Beedle, was a schoolteacher. His father, William Franklin Beedle, was a chemist. William had two younger brothers.
When he was three, his family moved to South Pasadena. After finishing South Pasadena High School, he went to Pasadena Junior College. There, he started acting in local radio plays.
During World War II, Holden served in the United States Army Air Force. He was a first lieutenant and acted in training films.
Becoming a Star: William Holden's Acting Career
Holden first appeared in movies without being named in the credits. These were Prison Farm (1939) and Million Dollar Legs (1939).
His stage name, "Holden," came from an assistant director. This director had been married to an actress named Gloria Holden. He suggested the name in her honor.
Golden Boy: Holden's First Big Role
William Holden's first main role was in Golden Boy (1939). In this movie, he played a violinist who becomes a boxer. He starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck.
At the time, Holden was not well-known, but Stanwyck was already a big star. She helped him a lot, giving him acting tips and encouragement. They became lifelong friends. Years later, when Stanwyck received an honorary Oscar, she spoke about how much she missed Holden, who had recently passed away.
After Golden Boy, Holden acted with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart. This was in the gangster movie Invisible Stripes (1939).
He then starred in Those Were the Days! (1940). He also played George Gibbs in the movie version of Our Town (1940).
Holden continued to make many films. These included the Western Arizona (1940) and the war film I Wanted Wings (1941).
Sunset Boulevard: A Career Boost
In 1950, Holden's career became very successful again. Director Billy Wilder chose him for Sunset Boulevard. In this film, Holden played a writer who meets a famous but forgotten silent movie actress. This role earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
This was a lucky chance for Holden. Another actor, Montgomery Clift, was supposed to play the role but dropped out. The actress Gloria Swanson, who starred with him, said she could have fallen in love with him. Director Billy Wilder called him "a genuine star."
Holden then made Union Station (1950) with his Sunset Boulevard co-star, Nancy Olson. He also starred in Born Yesterday (1950). He made two more films with Nancy Olson: Force of Arms (1951) and Submarine Command (1951).
Stalag 17 and Peak of Stardom
Holden worked with director Billy Wilder again in Stalag 17 (1953). For this movie, Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor. This marked the beginning of his most famous years as a star.
He then appeared in Forever Female (1953) and the Western Escape from Fort Bravo (1953). The movie Executive Suite (1954), with many stars, was also a big hit.
Sabrina: Working with Audrey Hepburn
Holden made a third film with Billy Wilder, Sabrina (1954). He starred alongside Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart.
He also had a role in The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. This movie was very popular. So was The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), a drama about the Korean War.
In 1954, Holden was featured on the cover of Life magazine. He also appeared as himself on the TV show I Love Lucy in 1955. His success continued with Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) and Picnic (1955).
The Bridge on the River Kwai: A Huge Success
One of Holden's most famous roles was as "Commander" Shears in David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). He starred with Alec Guinness. This movie was a huge success. Holden's contract for this film was very good, earning him a lot of money.
He made another war film, The Key (1958). He also played a military surgeon in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers (1959) with John Wayne.
Holden had another hit with The World of Suzie Wong (1960), filmed in Hong Kong. He then made The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) and The Lion (1962). The Lion was filmed in Africa, which made Holden very interested in wildlife conservation.
The Wild Bunch: A Comeback Role
In 1969, Holden made a big comeback in the Western film The Wild Bunch, directed by Sam Peckinpah. He received much praise for his role.
Also in 1969, he starred in L'Arbre de Noël, a family film. Holden then made the Western Wild Rovers (1971) and The Revengers (1972).
In 1973, Holden starred with Kay Lenz in Breezy, directed by Clint Eastwood. In 1974, he starred with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the disaster film The Towering Inferno. This movie was a huge box-office success.
Two years later, he was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Network (1976). He played an older, more experienced character in this film about the media.
Final Roles
Holden made his fourth and final film with director Billy Wilder, Fedora (1978). He also appeared in Damien: Omen II (1978) and had a small role in Escape to Athena (1978).
His later films included Ashanti (1979) and When Time Ran Out... (1980). Holden's last film was S.O.B. (1981).
William Holden's Personal Life
William Holden was the best man at the wedding of his friend Ronald Reagan to Nancy Davis in 1952.
Holden had a home in Switzerland. He also spent a lot of time working to protect wildlife in Africa. He was a partner in an animal preserve there. He loved African wildlife and became very concerned about animal species whose populations were decreasing. With help from partners, he created the Mount Kenya Game Ranch. This inspired the creation of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation.
Family and Relationships
Holden was married to actress Brenda Marshall from 1941 until they divorced in 1971. They had two sons, Peter and Scott.
In 1972, Holden began a relationship with actress Stefanie Powers. She also became very interested in animal welfare because of him. After his death, Powers helped set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at his Mount Kenya Game Ranch.
Death
William Holden passed away in his apartment in Santa Monica, California, on November 12, 1981. He died after an accidental fall. His body was found four days later.
In his will, he asked to be cremated and have his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean. No funeral or memorial services were held.
President Ronald Reagan, a close friend, expressed his sadness. He said, "We were close friends for many years. What do you say about a longtime friend – a sense of personal loss, a fine man. Our friendship never waned."
William Holden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the film industry. He also has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Images for kids
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Holden in a publicity photo, 1950
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With Lee J. Cobb (right) in Holden's first starring role in a film, Golden Boy (1939)
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With George Raft (right) in Invisible Stripes (1939)
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With Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard (1950)
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Holden and Chandran Rutnam during shooting
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With Donna Reed at the 1954 Academy Awards show
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Holden in The Revengers (1972)
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Matron of honor Brenda Marshall (left) and best man William Holden were the only guests at Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan's wedding in 1952.
See also
In Spanish: William Holden para niños
