Holdens drinking also went off the rails. But there was still something eating at him. [9] RKO borrowed him for Rachel and the Stranger (1948) with Robert Mitchum and Loretta Young. His deal was considered one of the best ever for an actor at the time, with him receiving 10% of the gross, which earned him over $2.5 million, however, Holden stipulated that he should only receive a maximum of $50,000 per year from the film ($482,405 in 2021 dollars [26]). Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore Still, I feel in my . The late actor William Holden left $250,000 to his - UPI For television roles 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 bestselling Joseph Wambaugh novel of the same name.[32][3]. Cohn couldnt afford to fire Holden, thoughand for one important reason. During the second take, Holden kissed Swansonand didnt stop, even when Wilder yelled Cut! He only stopped when his wife, who dropped by to visit him, yelled Cut! from behind the camera. Not only did Holden find Wilders version of Stalag 17 to be much more exciting, but he was especially intrigued by the part he was offered. WILLIAM HOLDEN DEAD AT 63; WON OSCAR FOR 'STALAG 17' - New York Times He was also one of many stars in Feldman's Casino Royale (1967). She married the actor Richard Huston Gaines in 1936, and they had one daughter, Virginia; the couple divorced in 1940. What happens to Holden at the end of Catcher in the Rye? It wasnt a good look for Holden, and it foreshadowed the tragic path that his relationship with his wife was about to take. In later years Hepburn and Holden would look back on their time together by marveling at the innocence of it all, and how unencumbered by life's burdens they were. Copy to clipboard. The "Stalag 17" star was not drawn to acting because of the fame that came alongside it but rather pursued acting to overcome his shyness. "[12] And Wilder commented "Bill was a complex guy, a totally honorable friend. Relation: Name: Birth: Father: William Holden: Apr 17 1918: Mother: Eve Farrell: Jan 12 1915: Spotted an error? At Paramount, he was in a comedy with Ginger Rogers that was not particularly popular, Forever Female (1953). At his behest, Holdens wife retired as an actress, making him the sole breadwinner in the family. Holden's first film back from the services was Blaze of Noon (1947), an aviator picture at Paramount directed by John Farrow. At home, Virginia, who was adopted by Bill after he married her mother, Brenda Marshall, in 1941, blossomed with his love and support. Why did William Holden bleed to death? We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Lewis invited Holden to Paramount Studios for an audition. Actor William Holden left $250,000 to his longtime companion, - UPI Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? Neither was The Revengers (1972), another Western. Holden was reunited with Wilder in Stalag 17 (1953), for which Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Hepburn had a son with Ferrer, her first of her two husbands. Depressing Facts About William Holden, Hollywood's Golden Boy - Factinate Holden made a fourth and final film for Wilder with Fedora (1978). During the first three days of filming, Holden failed to impress most of his fellow cast members. Powers told of Holden's involvement in wildlife conservation in Africa. That's the true story. Holden first met Marshall while working on Invisible Stripes, but held back on asking her out since she was still technically married and had a kid of her own. Husbands hiding things from wives, mothers from children, and generation from generation. Holden had another hit with The World of Suzie Wong (1960) with Nancy Kwan, which was shot in Hong Kong. You see, Kelly was deeply religious, and Holden, in his own words, refused to let any church dictate what I could do with my life.. Inside Audrey Hepburn & William Holden's Smoldering Romance & Reason Does Stephanie Powers have a daughter . Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. He was a trained gymnast and we used to do acrobatics together., The actor's relationship with Gaines's mother did, however, not last as the two decided to divorce by 1972. William Holden family tree. Holden and Hepburn's affair did end, but it was over the issue of children, not his wife's wishes. My mom never told me how her best friend died. They had two sons, Peter Westfield "West" Holden (1943-2014) and Scott Porter Holden (1946-2005). Feeling guilty over this dalliance, Holden began to rely even more on drinking. He bled to death from a forehead wound. He was done with romance, including the one he had with Capucine. She was Belgian-born and British-raised, the daughter of a Dutch baroness, while Holden was the offspring of a teacher and a chemist. Holden was skeptical at first; he went to see the play himself and was so bored that he admitted to walking out during the first act. He made sure his younger siblings got up in time for school and had dinner ready to go by the time his mom got home. I am also fully aware that Natalie Wood was murdered two weeks after Holden and that the deaths are definitely connected. At the time, Holden was acting as an elderly man in a play for the Pasadena Community Playbox. Had it become public it would have been catastrophic for Hepburn her Cinderella image would have been ruined and she would have been labelled a home wrecker. In an attempt to stay in character, Holden spent most of his time being withdrawn and dour. Getting the role was a lucky break for Holden, as Montgomery Clift was initially cast but backed out of his contract. With his dad bedridden, Holden became the head of the family. Holden was born William Franklin Beedle, Jr., on April 17, 1918, in O'Fallon, Illinois, son of Mary Blanche Beedle (ne Ball), a schoolteacher, and her husband William Franklin Beedle, an industrial chemist. The Dramatic Ups and Downs of Actor William Holden Both his daughter and girlfriend recall his bad drinking habit with Gaines thinking back to her childhood saying: His standard breakfast before leaving for the studio in the morning was a glass of vodka mixed with orange juice.. Make your own custom-made popup window! Adopted his stepdaughter, Virginia Holden (Virginia Gaines), from Ardis Ankerson (actress Brenda Marshall )'s first marriage. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. Although Holdens dad was a strong fellow, he suffered from a chronic lung condition. He was from a better background than Holden as well and his father was a well known Cuban American surgeon. His boyish charm and good looks made him the perfect leading man. Holden was 'obsessive' about meeting Hepburn, Epstein writes, and he rightly pegged her as someone who wanted the man to make the first move which he duly did. 'I've just shot Audrey Hepburn.'. [43][citation needed]. One of his father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, while some of his mother's ancestors settled in Virginia's Lancaster County after emigrating from England in the 17th century. "[3], For his contribution to the film industry, Holden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1651 Vine Street. What did Scott Porter Holden die of? - Wise-Answer His family moved to South Pasadena when he was three. In 1969, Holden made a comeback when he starred in director Sam Peckinpah's graphically violent Western The Wild Bunch,[3] winning much acclaim. [46], According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, Holden bled to death in his apartment in Santa Monica, California, on November 12, 1981, after lacerating his forehead from slipping on a rug while intoxicated and hitting a bedside table. Born William Franklin Beedle, Jr. in O'Fallon, Illinois on April 17, 1918, he was the eldest of three sons of William Franklin Beedle, Sr., an industrial chemist, and Mary Blanche Ball, a teacher. One day, Holden got a little too into character, and ended up yelling at the entire crew for being too noisy, shocking everyoneincluding himself! During the filming of the movie, his co-star, Lee J. Cobb inadvertently shattered Holdens confidence. A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: THE LAST DAYS OF WILLIAM HOLDEN - Blogger As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. The rest of his career wouldnt go this smoothly, however. The acting jobs trickled in..but slowly. Holden needed to find a film to save him from the financial hole hed dug himself into. Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Their relationship was headed for disaster. Bill Holden, her co-star in the 1954 romantic comedy Sabrina, had asked her round to meet Ardis as he had done with many of his previous mistresses. The comments below have not been moderated, By Soon, that opportunity came to him on a silver platter. Maryborough crash: Three people killed and teenager charged over Not long ago, he was divorced from the actress, Gloria Holden, but carried the torch after the marital rift. Actor William Holden May Face Manslaughter. Hepburn was the Belgian born, British-raised, Dutch baroness's daughter and Holden was the son of a teacher and a chemist and first teamed up with an ageing Humphrey Bogart for the love triangle . Not only that, but Holdens character would be a scruffy, rough-and-tumble anti-hero, the opposite of the affable, handsome young men he had been playing as of late. Instead of being the handsome lead, Holden needed to convince movie-goers that he could believably play a ruthless killer. After his final film Blake Edwards' S.O.B., with Julie Andrews, Holden declined to star in Jason Miller's film That Championship Season.[38]. Every woman was in love with him. Despite the differences in our ages, we shared many of the same curiosities about life, Stefanie tells Closer. He stayed at Paramount for The Remarkable Andrew (1942) with Brian Donlevy, then made Meet the Stewarts (1943) at Columbia. Holden's daughter knew her father as caring and loving. The tiny town of OFallon, Illinois welcomed the birth of William Franklin Beedle Jr.known to us as William Holdenon April 17, 1918. Born on April 17, 1918, in O'Fallon, Illinois, William Holden grew up with his two younger brothers Richard and Robert. He moved his family to a house by Toluca Lake and forked over $100,000 for the housewell over $1 million in todays money. Of course, he took his entire family with him. The Lion (1962) - Turner Classic Movies By The stress definitely didnt help him stay cool in front of the cameras either. [45] After his death, Powers set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at Holden's Mount Kenya Game Ranch. 'The others Bill had brought home were beautiful, but not like this; this she was not prepared for. The talent scout described his voice as, the voice of a mature man, warm and resonant, rising from deep within him. Paramount executives offered Holden a position as a contract player for seven years, and thus, Holdens life as an actor began. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. He and Marshall had two sons together, Peter Westfield "West" Holden (born November 17, 1943) and Scott Holden (Scott Porter Holden, born May 2, 1946). Eventually, this led him down a very dark path. [7] In 1941, Marshall married actor William Holden, who adopted Virginia Gaines (born November 17, 1937, New York City). Soon, Holden wanted more and asked Kelly for her hand in marriage. Since the role required Holden to know how to box and how to play the violin, his days consisted of relentless, endless lessons. After graduating from South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, where he became involved in local radio plays. The actor, who died at 63, adopted Gaines when he married her mother, Brenda Marshall, in 1941. After reading it, Holdens opinion did a complete 180. He did another Western at Columbia, Texas (1941) with Glenn Ford, and a musical comedy at Paramount, The Fleet's In (1942) with Eddie Bracken, Dorothy Lamour, and Betty Hutton.[8]. Simply put, Holden had become incredibly successfula worthy investment. In the last years of his life, Bill was doing some of his best work. Holden's dad, after years of working in a lab that exposed him to a concoction of dangerous chemicals, contracted pneumosilicosis. Holden hoped she would not hate him but the 'trusting, simple part of their relationship' was gone. Actress Stefanie Powers dishes on her love William Holden - Today William Holden's Daughter and Girlfriend Share Fond Memories Over his six-decade career, with starring roles in Stalag 17, The Wild Bunch, Picnic and The Bridge on the River Kwai, William Holden became famous for characters who represented the best an American man could be. Lets just, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Hot Facts About Denise Richards, The Real Girl Next Door, Royal Facts About King Charles III, The Patient King, Larger-Than-Life Facts About Charles Stratton, General Tom Thumb, Soaring Facts About Margot Kidder, The One Who Dared To Fly. )[19], He took third billing for The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly, directed by George Seaton from a play by Clifford Odets. Eventually, his acting career led him straight to the girl of his dreams. Even as Holden secured more starring roles, which included Invisible Stripes in the same year he filmed Golden Boy, Holden remained a nervous wreck before he got on movie sets. The Guy With The GrinWilliam Holden - Vintage Paparazzi He was recruited by the CIA to be an informant for them while he was traveling in Southeast Asia as they were trying to uncover information on the Cold War. Holden starred in some of Hollywood's most popular and critically acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969) and Network (1976). Jackie O tapes to reveal her and JFK's affairs and who she believed was It was not particularly successful. His next film, Born Yesterday, not only gave him another boost in popularity, but it also gave him the opportunity to befriend his co-stars, Judy Holliday and Broderick Crawford. His mother Mary Blanche Ball was a schoolteacher. , updated Thanks to Stanwycks patience, Holden improved, and his efforts were not in vain. A Western at MGM, Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) did much better, and the all-star Executive Suite (1954) was a notable success. Reluctant Facts About Jennifer Jones, The Unlikely Superstar, Lawyers Reveal Their Most Jaw-Dropping Court Cases, Stabbed In The Back: These Real-Life Betrayals Are Straight Up Brutal, Im Done: These People Quit Their Bad Jobs And Toxic Relationships In Epic Ways, Catherine The Great Was a Mighty EmpressUntil Her Brutal Downfall, Wild Facts About Howard Hughes, The Most Eccentric Man In Hollywood. While Holden was on a publicity trip in New York City, Wilder, the same director that worked with Holden on Sunset Boulevard, invited him to work on a film adaptation of a Broadway play called Stalag 17. He followed it with Damien: Omen II (1978) and had a cameo in Escape to Athena (1978), which co-starred his real-life love interest Stefanie Powers. Mr. Holden, who was 63 years old, was found by an apartment manager. [16] Holden recalls their romance:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, Before I even met her, I had a crush on her, and after I met her, just a day later, I felt as if we were old friends, and I was rather fiercely protective of her, though not in a possessive way. She liked Holden and went out of her way to help him succeed, devoting her personal time to coaching and encouraging him, which made them into lifelong friends.