What he came to represent was integrity, the same thing you get from someone like Henry Fonda.. It's so evident in his eyes. Picnic, River Quai, Sunset Blvd, and the Wild Bunch!!!! Being born on 17 April 1918, William Holden was 63 years old at the time of his death. Although he always maintained residences in California, Holden also had houses in Switzerland and in Kenya. VentureCapital | Corporate Services | Venture Opportunities | Resources | Contact Us | Island Extras | 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. Still, I feel in my . Both destroyed themselves with alcohol and died early & painful deaths. Examination revealed an apparent laceration on his forehead approximately 3 inches in length. No need to make any drugs illegal when people learn what they have to offer them. William Holden also became a heavy drinker and womanizer, being linked with actresses Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Capucine, Shelley Winters, and Eva May Hoffman among others. Lately, I saw the scene from "Love is a many Splendored Thing" from Utube made me want to know and read about him. This browser does not support getting your location. 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. If you want to see a gripper, check him out in "Union Station" of 1950. Life did not elude you; yours was a life full of good works to be celebrated. It is available from most DVD providers, including Amazon. He left a legacy of thoughtful work worth seeing and the animal refuge in Africa. She did 5 movies with him, so you know she thought he was good. He used alcohol and affairs in an attempt to fill that empty space in his soul. The Theme from Picnic and Moonglow I can listen to for hours. But once I discovered him I was hooked. at the time of his death? Bill Holden will always have a special corner of my heart so much so, that I look forward to seeing him on the other side. If you have nothing nice to say about anybody, DON'T say anything at all. What we need to do is continue the enlightened war on drugs for another 50 years, put millions more in jail (mostly blacks males), keep the DEA and all the other enforcement agencies employed that do not produce a single product except unemployable felons, and take another look in 2065 when we have turned the tide on global warming. Happy Birthday today William!!! They starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). The coroner said there was a ''deep cut'' on Holden's forehead, which was followed by ''massive bleeding,'' the actual cause of death. Your insatiable curiosity of different peoples, cultures and countries led your around the world. He was in Hong Kong to meet his wife, and then return to Columbo to finish the film. 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. Holden's apartment was on the fourth floor, number 43. I think a case can be made for the idea that he was depressed because he drank. 'How Good it was to Watch his Movies & be Carried Away in those Days. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. (1950) is certainly https://classicmovierev.com/the-warriors-1979/. Ahead of his time in trying to save animals. Deputy press secretary Larry Speakes quoted the President as saying: ''I have a great feeling of grief. Educate to the point where no one can deny .that people who act stupid when drinking or drugging are addicts, and when that education light shines bright enough and continually, denial will not be possible by anyone. He did great work with his African Reserve and it seemed like his life was coming together before his tragic death. (1950) Classic Movie Review 81. It didn't look like this, however. Heres to our FRIENDS whom well always remember and to the LOVES well never forget! He still looked good in that one. He released "Sabrina" and "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" in 1954, apparently basing his character in the latter upon his younger brother, Robert Beedle, a United States Navy fighter pilot who was killed in action in 1944. From the Archives: Gloria Swanson, Queen of Movies Golden Years, Dies, From the Archives: Dorothy Chandler, Cultural Leader, Dies, From the Archives: Audrey Hepburn, Actress and Humanitarian, Dies, Ernest Borgnine dies at 95; won Oscar for Marty, showed comic side in sitcom, From the Archives: Ella Fitzgerald, Jazzs First Lady of Song, Dies. William Holden himself lived on the buildings fourth floor at unit number 43. Anne - you have no idea what Bill was really like. I honestly thought he was older than 63 when he died, but years of sun & alcohol take their toll on the best of us. I happen to believe that this is not the end of the story. I just turned 50 and I have been in show business my whole life too but in the Live Entertainment field. Ive watched it in theaters, dvd, Netflix, and even listened to it while riding my bicycle. In the end, though, I guess no one really knows to the full extent why people do the things they do. He knows the Geneva Convention by heart. BTW: his brother was a fighter pilot in WW2, lost in battle. The latter proved to be one of his most financially lucrative film roles making him an instant multi-millionaire. And he would hardly ever give anyone notice before vanishing for weeks at a time. In an auto-bio he stated he was a very poor dancer, and had to get very drunk to do that scene. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. I thought he had lost his sex appeal eventhough he was a heavy drinker. From romance to war, he was the best. That being said, I am a big fan of Mr. Holdens film work. Despite the fame and winning an Academy Award in 1954, William Holden faced a lifelong battle with drinking and alcoholism. He was gorgeous and talented. It's power is greater than the human will. For his contribution to the film industry, William Holden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1651 Vine Street. I couldn't believe how handsome and classy he was. Author - https://t.co/B4YpcyjjC4 Later that same day, she leaped to her death from her fifth-floor apartment in Pittsburgh. Does anyone know if he still had the HK apt. Hmm,can't decide who I like more from this gendre: William Holden or Robert Mitchum. ''For me, acting is not an all-consuming thing, except for the moment when I am actually doing it. We are grateful to you Bill, and all the others. William Holden passed away in 1981 at the age of 63. '', 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. William Holden was one of my favorite actors and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing was shown the year I graduated from high school. Today I am watching The horse soldiers for about the 10th time and yesterday on TV it was Paris when it sizzle,a completely stupid film.I would love it if they put on Breezy or any other film of William Holden.I do not care what else is on if his films are on I watch it..He was a great actor and they do not have actors nowadays of his caliber or his good looks and charm.I had my dream visit to the USA 2014-15 and did a tour of Paramount studios when they were closed for the Christmas holidays.I also stayed in Santa Monica just so I could see where he had been and also visited the Pasadena players theater.My favorite movies of William Holden are Sabrina,Sunset Boulevard and Picnic.My favorite piece of music is Moonglow and the theme from Picnic.Why the older stars on the walk of fame are so far away from the old Grauman`s theater i do not know.This is what my generation come to see in Hollywood .While his movies are still played on TV William Holden will never be forgotten R.I.P. He wasn't acting when he did his great movies. I immediately became obsessed with his persona. His performance as Gloria Swanson's ill-fated lover in ''Sunset Boulevard'' in 1950 was perhaps his best known; it won him a second Oscar nomination. Year should not be greater than current year. Thanks for writing. However, many audience members didnt realize that. Even more, the actress was married twice. I'm only sorry he has no idea how many of us today still enjoy and admire his films. But spent the majority of his free time traveling the world. Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. Resend Activation Email. One anonymous comment said that there was talk of foul play at the time. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Title Role in 'Golden Boy', It was also in 1939 that he had his first major role - and the title role - in ''Golden Boy,'' opposite Barbara Stanwyck. The very prospect of calling an ambulance and attracting all that unwanted public attention would have been a nightmare to someone like him. Although I am a big fan of William Holden's work, I can see in some of the comments that people sometimes confuse the man with the characters he played. Wow. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? That November, his apartment manager noticed he had not seen Holden in several days. love is a many splendored thing - what a feat. Sometimes I wonder what his life would have been like if Audrey Hepburn was apathetic about having children. Santa Monica police said Holden was discovered on the floor of his bedroom by his apartment manager and that he may have been dead several days. I wish there was someone besides him at the end but he is irreplacable Love you William Holden ~ Kiran. By the mid-1960s, the quality of his roles and films had noticeably diminished, although he would have an occasional gem such asParis When It Sizzles (1964). Yes! From Findadeath.com: In November of 1981, Holden was living in Santa Monica, California, on Ocean Avenue. His role in TV Net is basically the same. You can always change this later in your Account settings. William Holden still resonates with fans around the world. If only the rest of us could leave as much, To goldiesgirl who said: "The "stars" of today just don't have "it"you're blowin' smoke darlin', I'm sorry but the latest movies are the pitts. There was a problem getting your location. Well, now it is one of my favorites. Although I am one of William Holden's biggest fans, I can completely empathize with her about the trust factor. Heartwarming and so meaningful a film!! It has to be manufactured. I Love William Holden. WH was a functional alcoholic. It takes me somewhere that other movies never have. Forgive him for his faults and thank him for all he has given us. LAUREL AND HARDY FAN GROUP KEEPS LAUGHING, PHOTOS OF THE DAY: DEAN MARTIN AND FRIENDS. Finally, Bill realized there was no way out. I AGREE WITH ALL THE GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT WILLIAM HOLDEN. He also appeared in the multi-star disaster film "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. That one critic likened it to a map of the United States. (1981), was more successful and a Golden Globe-nominated picture. It was called "The Earthling" and co-stared Ricky Schroder in one of his first films!! Of the seven full baths, the master suite has a spa bathroom with Jacuzzi, sauna and his and her separate showers. He was also notorious for having the bad habit of dropping off the face of the earth from time to time. He was the best .as Nancy Olsen (young co-star in SUNSET BOULEVARD) stated about him , " He was the perfect movie star !". (Kim Novak) his reply was take a number. I think he was already a well practised alcoholic by then. He was drinking again, and coming out of his bender, but his body gave out. You find his whole life story where he was born, how he got started in acting, his loves (yes there were quite a lot) and, of course, always the drinking. Yes, gorgeous, intelligent, well traveled - the best. The resemblance between WH and Tom Hanks is uncanny when WH was much younger. He was a conservationist and worked for years to maintain big game habitats on the African continent. His films are classics. Based on all the comments in here, he truly was one of the greats. He was one of the finest actors of his time. If you look close esp. (1981). I always feel as though he and the other wonderful actors, actresses, dancers of the period are friends they had brought me so much joy, understanding, laughter and I cry whenever I read of another passing of these talented souls. You did your best, I am sure. Tough to work out if he was drunk. He rounded out the remainder of the 1940s starring in films like Streets of Laredo, Miss Grant Takes Richmond, and Dear Wife. Actors should never have surgery done on the eyes. What a fine actor Bill Holden was, so handsome with his chiselled good looks. His request was denied because this scene was the centerpiece of the movie. Mr. Holden was separated in 1963 from his wife, with whom he had two sons, Peter and Scott; they were later divorced. 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. Thank you Mr Holden for all the enjoyment you given us and generations to come in discovering you and your great talent! This affair ended when Capucine met William Holden, but she and Feldman remained friends until his death in 1968. RIP Bill, you are so missed. Holden was found in a robe and shirt, on the floor. Boycott anything Hollywood makes and read books. 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. Masterson - gunfighter, gambler, and . He followed that success with "Born Yesterday". I Goofed 'cause the actress in said film was NANCY KWAN BITCHIN' and enjoyable film; N'est-Ce Pas?? Thanks for your help! Have lived all over, including Africa, and love "African Queen", but the best is "Casablanca" where the ending holds such promise as they both stroll off into the swirling mist and a new beginning - well, that's my plan!! It's unfortunate, but at least his work can still be enjoyed to this day. The examiner reckoned that Holden didnt comprehend the seriousness of his injury, tried to stop the bleeding himself, and passed out from blood loss. To soothe his anxiety, he announced he wasnt going to do the dance sober and he didnt. Interview with Stephanie Powers in-between. 25 titles 1. 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. The penthouse apartment that William Holden was living in when he died. The Final Films. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Drinking and his smooth nature left a great legacy. The Remarkable Andrew, The Fleets In and Meet The Stewarts all in 1942, and Young and Willing in 1943. Its been shown that he spoke to his girlfriend Stephanie Powers seven days before he likely passed away. I agree with your Mother and my Mother.If you have nothing nice to saydon't say anything at all! His role in ''Network '' in 1976 won him a third. As we all know, curiosity killed the cat, and Mr. Martin was sure taught a lesson that day. After his discharge, there was a 17-month hiatus when he had no parts, but he then appeared in 13 movies in three years. He always brought a reassuring presence to any scene. His roles were varied, moving him out of what he called, with dislike, his ''Smiling Jim'' slot. He was just another drunk bum. What the hell more did he need from life that booze could only give him? His acting is so honest and sincere that it just rivets me. According to the report he gave the police when Mr. Martin entered the apartment. This combined his commercial investment with the added advantage of a personal residence, creating a two-fold financial asset. I totally adore William Holden and have always thought the circumstances of his death were so very sad. Saw him the next night at a night club. He was also praised for his Oscar-nominated leading performance in Sidney Lumets classic Network (1976), a prescient examination of the media 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. He probably was not having blackouts. I struggle with writing screenplays today, and sadly many of the greatest films in the past would NOT be made today. I also think there is something strange about Stefanie Powers. Written by a real loser. I've lived with alcoholism, be it a family member or friend, and through my experiences, drinking doesn't make you a bad person, sometimes, just sad. [14] Capucine met actor William Holden in the early 1960s. The police said he had apparently died of natural causes and had been dead for possibly two or three days. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corps, where he acted in training films. I ALWAYS thought he was a terrific actor.When I first saw him on the screen in 1957 I liked him. He was so suave, elegant, restrained and drop dead gorgeous. The "stars" of today just don't have "it". You obviously know nothing about alcoholics then. I watched Golden Boy last night and another channel showed The Green Mile at the same time. I will stick to the old movies when I want to watch something good! His body was found four days later. I would guess its probable and plausible because he was not only thought to be a CIA asset as he travelled the Earth constantly but he also was in an officer in the Screen Actors Guild while Reagan served as President of that Union and maybe he knew something that the powers-that-be didnt want to chance getting out. JUST WATCHED "THE EARTHLING" SOMEHOW I HAD MISSED THAT MOVIE IN EARLIER YEARS. Read the book Full Service by Scotty Bowers..who fixed Holden up with Hookers but too drunk to participate. I have yet to find a truly complete biography of him.He drank and smoked a lot because that is what men did at that time. Examples of his great work. The coroner's office said Holden was "heavily intoxicated" and his death was . His father William Franklin Beedle St was an industrial chemist and his mother, Mary Blanche Ball was an educator. Disturbingly, there was a large amount of blood surrounding his body and soaked into his bedding and sheets. Errol Flynn aged horribly and was unrecognizable when he died. (1950), for which Holden earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination. His body of film work still attracts the public. I just discovered Bill H. a couple months ago and watched as he aged from Golden Boy, through the 1950's, 60's and 70's and am not so sure drinking aged him. 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. His most recent movie was ''S.O.B.,'' a farce, in which Vincent Canby, reviewing the film in The New York Times, said he was ''especially fine.'' Love is a many splendor things one of his greatest accomplishment.but he could not find The Greatest love all ! Lewis once interviewed Sam Peckinpah, director of The Wild Bunch a movie about a bunch of misfits in the West at the beginning of the 20th Century who have outlived their time. There was the sense that this polite, no-nonsense man was capable of heroics if the need arose.