He was elusive by nature and as such wouldn't be pinned down, so much so that he probably chose not to call 911 when in mortal danger. "Sometimes he'd just get in his car and drive," the director told the AP. He knew he was 10-15 years too old for the part, maybe alcohol eased his self-doubts. He was just another drunk bum. He played a similar hard-bitten character in the role in Stalag 17 that won him an Oscar. Can't watch it anymore - the ending is too sad. The role in ''Stalag 17'' for which he won the Oscar was that of a cynical, hard-bitten prisoner of war who inevitably becomes a hero. We all have issues just being a regular person or a actor and what a great actor but a human man , no one is perfect , we all have our issues , Love you Mr. Holden thank you for all the movies I still watch. #TCMParty #FilmNoir #FemmeFatale, The Challenge (1982) Classic Movie Review 217 https://is.gd/BEEZVI #action #martialarts, Doctor X (1932) Classic Movie Review 288 https://is.gd/cZ6yox #comedy #horror, #OTD 44 years ago The Warriors (1979) premiered. I loved William Holden, he was one of those actors who just commanded the screen, he had talent, looks, and charmhe's among my favorites like Tyrone Power, and Robert Taylor, beautiful to watch and enjoy! He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? Great actor I watched an old Black/White yesterday of his The Key where he was a skipper of a tug in WW11 everyone of his movies excellent, dont get the same today. The music and the scene touches me so much, as a man I shed tears every time I view it. Even so, he quietly emoted powerful sensuality, desire and confidence in the way he held and looked at Novak. I wish I knew what happened to it. I'll always be a fan - but a fan of a deeply flawed human being who gave a lot of pleasure to strangers but a lot of pain to those he was supposed to be nurturing and caring for. I was one of the people present when Holden was killed, I was with a blond women who was one of his beards, William was gay and the women were used to hide his gay life from the public. He followed that film up with a screen version of the movie of Our Town. He was a great actor. This was all BEFORE his brother was killed. A treasure. '', Indeed, there was a seven-year period in the late 1950's and early 60's when Mr. Holden made no movies in Hollywood; he moved abroad to Switzerland, Hong Kong and Kenya. (1981), was more successful and a Golden Globe-nominated picture. He was discovered by a Paramount Pictures talent scout in 1937. He was a great actor and a wonderful man. He was so good. I immigrated here in my 30's. Holden was the godfather of the Reagans youngest daughter. I first saw Bill Holden when I was about 9 years old in the movie "Love is a many splendor thing" and I thought he was soooo handsome. NASA shouldve used Billy Wilder for the Apollo landing rather than Kubrick. He had so many productive years ahead of him. I just recently watched Sunset Boulevard and it was just as good as I had heard. The true measure of a great actor is to see them make middling material shine. Does anyone know if he still had the HK apt. He first came onto the scene with his 1939 hit film Golden Boy. I very rarely go to a movie now a days.I used to go every week.There is too much foul language and violence today and the crude use of words turns me right off a movie.The only two actors I like from today`s actors are Colin Firth and Greg Kinnear ,the rest leave me cold.I recently saw "Scully",a great movie with Tom Hanks and Bridget Jones baby, a fun film but also had language that did not need to be said.Luckily i have a lot of videos and DVD`s so watch the great old movies of yesteryear.I have all of William Holden`s and also a book on his films.As i stated in September of 2015 it was a real thrill to visit Paramount Studios and feel where Bill Holden had been and my dream is to get back there one day.Miracles do happen sometimes. Holden worked for many years as a deep-cover CIA operative.Yes Tracy Jo you are correct! RIP. Hmm,can't decide who I like more from this gendre: William Holden or Robert Mitchum. Sunset Blvd. The characters he played on screen possessed the character traits that are most desired and admired of men: strength, integrity, courageousness, humility, empathy, love, faithfulness, kindness, and dependability. Helped set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation and Educational Center in Kenya. I just finished watching "The Earthling" one of my favorite Holden movie. These are both known culprits of premature aging. Facts Verse . But, he was still getting good roles untill he died.Dan. I told police what happened and the studio paid to have it all covered up being it was self defense nobody was charged and the studio kept the truth about Holden out of the press etc. Her husband Robert Taylor was handsome too.I loved Holden's rugged good looks and his acting. It's power is greater than the human will. The 14-story building, now known as OceanAire, was originally designed in 1962 by the trend-setting, California contemporary architect, A. Quincy Jones and is still considered to be one of the most structurally unique buildings on the ocean view block. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. This may well have been the last small film he was stuck in, and had it not been for his acting prowess, the film would likely not even have been released. William Holden is my favorite actor. I have watched that scene a hundred times and I can't get over how tender he is and his movements of his shoulders and bringing Madge closer to him. Mr. Holden was for many years a sort of grownup boy-next-door type, but his acting developed a fine cynical edge in such films as ''The Bridge on the River Kwai'' and ''Sunset Boulevard'' as well as ''Stalag 17.'' Great memories! I can now die knowing what a man can be like when in love. Ive watched it in theaters, dvd, Netflix, and even listened to it while riding my bicycle. It was the sun and alcohol. I still enjoy watching William Holden's movies. As the best man at Ronald Reagan's wedding, his star power never dimmed. My understanding is that he could not have children. William Holden, the building on Ocean Avenue A penthouse with ties to William Holden, the late award-winning actor, is being marketed for sale for $15 million. His looks were beautiful in this..not sure why anyone is making this an issue, no love scene can ever compare with Kim Novack and Bill Holden's dance in Picnic. Died a sad man. He was still functioning and still remembering his lines and still getting work as an actor. I was totally in love with him. Some of his mothers ancestors found their way to the States in the 17th century. Bill played the early anti-heroes, the guy who only looked out for number one, the selfish, lazy, opportunist. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. You were so lucky to have met William Holden in person - I have dreamed about this. I to am a child of the sixties and agree with your well worded assessment, I think with the way things are in the world today makes yearning for movies that reflect simpler, slower, and less stressfull times. The fact that he drank like he did is his perogative. Would you like to request a film for review? Sunset Blvd. He had such a natural way of presenting himself, that even in the company of the other co-stars like Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Warren Oates, and Ben Johnson he still appeared to be the one you turned your focus on. -----. Seventh Dawn is an excellent movie and very prophetic in todays world. In 1950, he played Gigolo Joe Gillis in Sunset Blvd and then a tutor in Born Yesterday later that year. January 27, 2023, 6:25 pm, Trending He left a legacy of thoughtful work worth seeing and the animal refuge in Africa. Further examination revealed a deep gash on his forehead approximately 3 inches in length. His file at CIA is still classified. 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 Edwardss S.O.B. Holden had dictated in his will that the Neptune Society cremate him and scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. Throughout the 1960s, he starred in a dozen films, including the notorious Sam Peckinpah Revisionist Western classic "The Wild Bunch" in 1969, but his productivity was on the decline as other interests became more important. I was devastated when he passed away and especially the way it happened. Evidence suggests he was conscious for at least half an hour after the fall. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. About 100%. These guys didn't act, they lived the parts. I also think there is something strange about Stefanie Powers. His detachment from his children for many years, his need for instant gratification (alcohol, sex, etc) right through his life, his need for aloneness for long stretches of time, are all classic signs of manic depression. There is a problem with your email/password. :) Nancy. . Bill Holden was a very handsome man and I always admired him after that movie. She said she had talked to him a week before and that he was drinking. But before we dive into his early years and accomplishments, take a moment to show us a little support by giving this video a like and subscribing to our channel if you havent already. William Holden was one of the last great actors who left his mark in several unforgettable films like Stalag 17, sunset Boulevard, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Key, Love is a Splendored Thing, S.O.B and many more. The coroner's report indicated that William Holden had died as a result of an accidental fall contributed to by a blood alcohol level of .22. In 1980, he retreated to this wildlife preserve, returning to Hollywood only briefly to star in his final film, Blake Edwards's S.O.B. I think the movie was "The Fleet's In", with Dorothy Lamour, Betty Hutton, and Eddie Bracken. The post The Horse Soldiers (1959) Classic Movie Review 126 appeared first on ClassicMovieRev.com. I knew his name but never saw any of hispictures. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. He hadnt seen Holden in many days, and became very concerned, so he let himself in, via the passkey. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Also, I am sure he did drink a lot, which was common back then, but he also performed at a high level. It would seem that Holden was attempting to dress himself when he either loss consciousness or tripped and ultimately passed away after sustaining major head trauma. We're currently offline. That one critic likened it to a map of the United States. Holden's CIA file is still classified under "sources and methods" high probability it will never be declassified and released. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. It was announced Tuesday that the actor's body would be cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific. 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. By the 1960s, Holdens drinking had already started to detrimentally affect his physical appearance. In 1981, Holden was living in Santa Monica, California, on Ocean Avenue. In turn, this led to Holden feeling compelled to drink more and more. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Cathy, I hope this helps a little bit to give you an idea what Bill Holden was like. From then on, he made more than 50 movies; most but not all were successful, and he tried to set certain standards both for himself and for the movies in which he agreed to appear. I think a case can be made for the idea that he was depressed because he drank. It was called "The Earthling" and co-stared Ricky Schroder in one of his first films!! He enlisted in the Army and was graduated a first lieutenant from the Army Air Force Officers Candidate School. He followed that film up with a screen version of the movie of Our Town. 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 Blvd. I believe that part of the reason he drank was from guilt; his brother was an Army Air Corps pilot who was shot down and killed during a WW II mission, while big shot actor Bill, though in the service, had a nice cushy job. The restricted access elevator opens to a marble and wood entry beckoning you into the Grand Salon with a 180-degree ocean view, cozy granite fireplace and filtered light playfully dancing through a domed skylight. Anyone can read what you share. Are you ready to be a guest on the show? By Oyin Balogun. Holdens doctor showed up and theorized that he provably started vomiting blood, and possibly lacerated the lower portion of his esophagus. Yes, the part that established him as a Hollywood powerhouse was the wholesome young prizefighter who just wants to be a violinist in Golden Boy. He was considered an old-school actor and started losing roles to younger up-and-coming actors like Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. William and his wife, Brenda Marshall were the two witnesses for Ronald and Nancy Reagan's wedding in 1952. We all miss him. If his Japanese captors want a bridge built, then his men will build it. Well, now it is one of my favorites. It depletes one's minerals, it induces dehydration which is bad for the skin, it affects one's ability to get restful sleep, it induces elevated blood pressure, the list goes on and on. I'm not being cruel in stating this. February 19, 2023, 6:22 am, by He probably was not having blackouts. Mr. Holden was separated in 1963 from his wife, with whom he had two sons, Peter and Scott; they were later divorced. I OWNED A TAVERN IN NEWBURGH NEW YORK FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS, IRETIRED WENT TO FLORIDA WITH A TON OF DOUGH BUT REALLY OVER DID IT.IM 87 NOW AND HAVE TO WATCH WERE I SPEND MY MONEY.ILL HAVE ENOUGH I THINK TILL I REACH 91,BUT IVE LEARNED HUMILITY.I RETIRED AT 54,WITH A BI-POLAR CONDITION,WITH A DEGREE OF ALCOHOLISM,GOD WAS GOOD TO ME HETOLD ME I WASNT GOING TO GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING.I ALWAYS HAD PLENTY,NOW I HAVE LEARNED A LITTLE MODESTY.BILL LEARNED THE SAME THING.HE HAD SUCCESS BUT WE AND HE THINK HE EARNED MORE.LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDID THING,LOVED HIM WITH SOPHIA,EXECUTIVE SUITE,PICNIC U NAME IT.LIKED RICHARD BOONE TOO,HE WAS A RASCAL.GK, He was a father figure for me The Best. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holdens Frightening Final Moments. he looked terrible, he had aged a lot. And Broderick Crawford was a really good actor who could have been even greater had it not been for his alcoholism. Subscribe to the Classic Movie Reviews Podcast, The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954) Classic Movie Review 188, The Horse Soldiers (1959) Classic Movie Review 126, Sunset Blvd. Also fantastic movie never mentioned here "Earthling" probably 1981. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080671/?ref_=nv_sr_2 link to info about above movie. I think he was already a well practised alcoholic by then. Before him, the heroic leads were usually less complex men, go-get 'em types who either started out "bad" and became "good" or stayed good all the way through. Just try to stop them. I need to go back and watch some of The Blue Knight. darrin wilson tulsa ok obituary; 1997 high school baseball rankings; list of doctors at colchester general hospital; nypd 1 police plaza human resources phone number; isd 15 schoology; how many years until 2050. i 'll freak you right i will drake; fatal car accident gilbert, az today; langley trappers prospect camp; love me documentary where . Grover Lewis, a former journalist who is writing a novel about early Hollywood said, Holden didnt get the recognition of stars like Gary Cooper, but you look at the movies he made and you realize that several, especially Sunset Boulevard and The Wild Bunch, were among the best ever made.. Before he escapes from the prison camp, he spends most of his time figuring out ways to get out of working for the Japanese. Thank you. I prefer him in his older years too. [14] Capucine met actor William Holden in the early 1960s. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Right around this time, Holdens films dropped substantially in quality as he spent more and more of his free time focusing on his hobbies and business dealings. He was gorgeous and talented. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. Practise makes perfect as the old saying goes. Classy guy with intelligence.Excellent actor.Greatly missed. He was well-known for being a very private individual. I agree that most of the "stars" of today just don't have it. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? You can always change this later in your Account settings. The coroner said there was a ''deep cut'' on Holden's forehead, which was followed by ''massive bleeding,'' the actual cause of death. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. In another unusual strategy for actors of the day, Holden also invested his wealth into an apartment building in Santa Monica, choosing to make the penthouse his home. Living in Pasadena, Holden was spotted by a talent scout from Paramount Pictures in 1937 while playing the part of an 80-year-old man. I can say the film's I watched with William Holden acting,made me fell good as William was a great actor, R.I.P,William Holden. You should know your facts before you spout your conclusion! I also watched Golden Boy and Horse Soldiers this weekend. See where that gets you. Holden was found in a robe and shirt, on the floor. One anonymous comment said that there was talk of foul play at the time. Barbara Stanwyck was his angel, coaching Holden and using her stardom to get him a parts. There are wonderful actors today - Javier Bardem comes to mind - but they broke the mold with Bill. You obviously know nothing about alcoholics then. Resend Activation Email. His alcoholism is well documented, with directors and his fellow actors describing how he would drink in the mornings before scenes. I believe Barbara Stanwyck adored himI remember her accepting an award for him and calling him her golden boy. you aren't familiar with Holliday or Crawford, you are in for a treat Judy Holliday is another great actress who died much too soon & tragically. He was also romantically linked to costars Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Stefanie Powers, who after his death, established the William Holden Wildlife Fund supporting wildlife preservation in Kenya, thus realizing his dream. Holden was of English descent, and his paternal Great-Grandmother, Rebecca Westfield who was born in England in 1817. No funeral or memorial service was held, per his wishes. I have always been a big fan of Wiliam Holden. As to the suggestion that he never found true love, I disagree. Years ago, as a teenager, I worked at Blockbuster Video (when they were still around), and I was/still am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan. According to the Los Angeles County Coroners 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. He burst onto the scene with his role in Golden Boy in 1939. Perhaps that's why I generally stay away from his 70's films. Kenya Safari Club. Oak Island is a privately owned island that sits off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea. He. January 28, 2023, 4:29 pm, by JUST WATCHED "THE EARTHLING" SOMEHOW I HAD MISSED THAT MOVIE IN EARLIER YEARS. The film crew saw it being delivered and contacted my father to see if they could use it and they did. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. I don't even watch tv or go to movies anymore because most of the stars are so plain looking and have so little talent. Art imitates life.Watch Breezy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Classic Movie Rev Then he made a comeback in 1969 with The Wild Bunch and was praised for his work in Network in 1976. RIP Bill, you are so missed. With the right direction and material, Bill Holden was as good anactor as any at the time. Wow. Holden never remarried but in recent years was a close friend of actress Stefanie Powers. Where The Great Actor William Holden Died Alone clyde beck 15.4K subscribers 56K views 7 years ago In this fantastic beach setting facing the Pacific Ocean, in this building called the SHORECLIFF. As a 100 percent heterosexual man, I loved that guy like a brother. 469 Views. While studying chemistry at Pasadena Junior College, he involved in local radio programs and earned himself roles in several productions put on by the Pasadena Playhouse. William Holden is my favorite actor, bar none. He was in a car accident wherein a person was killed. In that film, which was based on a play by Clifford Odets, Holden played Joe Bonaparte, a violinist who becomes a boxer. I treasure Mr. Holden's work and I'll buy every film of his I can find. By all accounts Bill was very likable and although he was deceitful in his personal life, the characters he brought to life on the screen had all the qualities we want our heroes to possess. Mr. Holden, 63 years old, was found dead at the apartment Monday morning by the building manager. On Monday November 16, 1981, the building manager, Bill Martin, let curiosity get the best of him. Oh though, how I would have readily given away my first born for just ONE night with Bill Holden. In early October 1981, Holden travelled from his Palm Springs home to his coastal apartment to live a semi-reclusive existence. The Theme from Picnic and Moonglow I can listen to for hours. His face was so heavily lined in 1969 when he appeared in The Wild Bunch. A lot has been said here about William Holden. Barbara Stanwick was simply awesome. Many of us leave behind loved ones but when you think clearly about it..dying is what we all do alone. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. So sad. They want to be alone to do their thing.we all wished we'd stepped in. He was partial owner of the building at #535. For the diehard William Holden fans, you will know this. He leads her confidently and brings her close to his body and thats what makes this scene so steamy in 1955; its seductive and very sensual and 62 years later it still arouses the same feelings. People, especially kids, were staying up longer drinking and drugging more and longer because the cocaine wired them up to the point they would stay up for days doing it, and when it was finally over, these people were incredibly depressed for days and weeks, and would do it many times, sometimes for years, until they couldn't take the horrific depression anymore, and would come crawling in for help, and all they knew was that they couldn't control their own lives anymore because all they did was return to the painfully detructive behavior. He was a serial adulterer and not a devoted family man. Holden was one of the greatest actors of our times. When Ryan was murdered in 1976 by a car bomb WH attended his funeral. He expected to serve the normal way but was forced to the special services section where recruitment films were made. He was also notorious for having the bad habit of dropping off the face of the earth from time to time. The characters you portrayed revealed a nugget of your true spirit. As far as movies, my favorite movie ever is Sunset Boulevard. I can watch Picnic a 1000 times and still enjoy his role along with his Kim Novak's, outside of the epics, there is no other film as detailed as Picnic, it had everything. My dad would always say that home owner was a friend of WH and also he had mob connections.