Thanks for your help! He was not heard from much in the 1960s, when he lived in Switzerland and made several undistinguished films. Average Age & Life Expectancy William J Holden lived 14 years shorter than the average Holden family member when he died at the age of 56. His body was found four days later. Oops, we were unable to send the email. But it wasn't a bullet from the gun of an aging movie queen that tragically ended his life, but rather, a rug, per The New York Times. (1981; Holdens final film)captured a bit of Holdens real-life bitterness and depression and added a tinge of melancholy to his screen image. April 29 (UPI) -- An Australian tourist facing possible flogging after being accused of going on a drunken nude rampage in the Indonesian province of Ache says he felt "almost possessed" at the time. 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. So, how much is William Holden worth at the age of 63 years old? Then they begin talking about their plans to give up the outlaw life. These roles include a prisoner-of-war entrepreneur in Stalag 17 (1953), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. William Franklin Beedle Jr. (The Golden Boy, Bill, Golden Holden), Scott Porter Holden, Virginia Holden, Arlene Holden, Peter Westfield Holden. William J Holden (1954 - 2011) - Springfield, VA Your Scrapbook is currently empty. He likely may not have realized the severity of the injury and did not summon aid, or was unable to call for help. Mary outlived all three of her sons. I need to go back and watch some of The Blue Knight. Holden, who rose to fame in the 1950s with "Sunset Boulevard," once owned the entire building on 535 Ocean Avenue, the Wall Street Journal reported. I think he is the best as an actor and entertainer in 20 centuery. One out of four will be good, one out of ten God was sad this date in 1981 when William Holden passed away in Santa Monica, CA from a fall. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. The family was of English, Irish, and distant French, ancestry. He remained conscious for at least half an hour after the accident but did not realize the severity of his injury and did not make the phone call that would surely have saved his life. He did great work with his African Reserve and it seemed like his life was coming together before his tragic death. William Holdens career began with an uncredited role in the movies, Prison Farm and Million Dollar Legs in 1939. It was in The Bridge On the River Kwai that Holden most vividly portrayed the American male of the World War II generation. 2019. On November 12, 1981, he was at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., trying to change a light bulb when he fell from a wheeled office chair he was standing on. Betty Jo McClain Thomas, 83, of Irving, TX was murdered by a Charter cable repairman who showed up at her house in the company's van while he was not scheduled . Holden, who frequently traveled to Africa where he was active in conservation efforts, willed property in Africa to a wildlife preservation charity. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 17 April. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -President Reagan expressed shock today over the death of Mr. Holden, who was the best man at his wedding to Nancy Davis. "On the bed itself I saw dried bloody Kleenex tissues eight of them." He was an actor, known for Weary River (1929), Dance, Fools, Dance (1931) and Holiday (1930). Thank you for sharing it with us. Concerned, he let himself into the actor's apartment and discovered Holden's body. Where The Great Actor William Holden Died Alone - YouTube On Nov. 12, 1981, William Holden died after stepping onto the marble edge of his bathtub with wet feet. An avid traveler, he became a managing partner in an animal preserve country club in Kenya where he began to spend much of his time. At 63 years old, William Holden height For me, acting is not an all-consuming thing, except for the moment The camera like his face and his next role in Golden Boy (1939), made him a star. William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 - November 12, 1981) was an American actor who was one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s through the 1970s.He 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. William Holden would be 104 years old if he was alive today. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? William Holden - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia Holden memorably played the escaped POW Shears in the classic The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). "I lost far too many people who I thought I would live the rest of my . William Holden would have been 63 years old at the time of death or 97 years old today. Next, he starred with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in the Warner Bros. gangster epic Invisible Stripes later the same year. His simple plan is complicated, however, when he meets a young boy who has just lost his parents. For The Horse Soldiers (1959) both Holden and John Wayne received $775,000, plus twenty per cent of the overall profits, an unheard-of sum for that time. Stefanie Powers on 'Hart to Hart,' Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, Facing 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. West Holden: More than just the son of William Holden - The Desert Sun 1 killed in shooting at Massachusetts house party, Biden shows support for free press at White House Correspondents' dinner, Heavy shelling in Kherson, Kharkiv destroys residences, Cuba postpones International Workers' Day parade over fuel shortages, Democrats, Republicans remain split on debt ceiling plan. "Sometimes he'd just get in his car and drive," the director told the AP. The family moved to California when he was very young, and he attended public schools in Monrovia and Pasadena. In this fantastic beach setting facing the Pacific Ocean, in this building called the SHORECLIFF TOWERS one of the 20th Century's finest actors passed away O. My father learned a lot from the many accidental deaths of William Holden. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. In 1937, while studying chemistry at Pasadena Junior College, he was signed to a film contract by Paramount. About Us. William Franklin Beedle Jr. (The Golden Boy, Bill, Golden Holden) was born on 17 April, 1918 in O'Fallon, IL, is an American actor. He earned an Oscar nomination for "Sunset Boulevard" and won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954 for his role in "Stalag 17," per IMDb. As Joe Gillis, the jaded screenwriter so desperate for a job that he becomes the gigolo of a faded silent-film star, Holden found his niche and turned in an Academy Award-nominated performance as the cynical leading man. The Tragic 1981 Death Of Sunset Boulevard Star William Holden Todays movie is Sunset Blvd. Governor of the State of North Carolina - William Woods Holden Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. and The World of Suzie Wong. 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. William Holden's Profession & Career William Holden's career began in 1939 with an uncredited role in the films "Prison Farm" and "Million Dollar Legs." His first major part was in the movie "Golden Boy" (1939). '', 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. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Although it is thought by some that J.D. The Murders of Natalie Wood and William Holden He also appeared in the multi-star disaster film "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. Failed to delete memorial. He had 4 children Scott Porter Holden, Virginia Holden, Peter Westfield Holden, Arlene Holden. Holden starred in some of Hollywoods most popular and critically acclaimed films, including Sunset Blvd(1950),The Bridges at Toko-Ri(1954), Sabrina (1954),The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969), Picnic (1955), The Towering Inferno (1974), and Network (1976). Thanks for writing. William Holden died one day before his eldest son Peter's 38th birthday. Of those, only The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) won in the category. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. William M Holden of Orlando, Orange County, Florida was born on September 9, 1930. . Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Holden's remains were cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific Ocean. William Holden, the film star who won an Oscar in 1953 for his role in ''Stalag 17'' and who represented the manly, straightforward, romantic figure during a career of more than 40 years, was found dead yesterday in his apartment in Santa Monica, Calif. Mr. Holden, who was 63 years old, was found by an apartment manager. In fact, William Holden wasn't even in New York City when he died. Would you like to request a film for review? His permanent home was in Palm Springs but he maintained an apartment in Santa Monica. He has an estimated net worth of $20 Million More information on William Holden can be found here. Search above to list available cemeteries. On the set of 1954's "Sabrina," his . He played a similar hard-bitten character in the role in Stalag 17 that won him an Oscar. But in the end he does what has to be done, leading an expedition back to the camp to blow up the bridge. At junior college he took a course in radio drama, and made his first stage appearance at the Playhouse Theater. 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.. After his death, Powers set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at Holdens Mount Kenya Game Ranch. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. ", After serving with the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, he returned to Hollywood and in 1950 he got his first substantial role in Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard," per Britannica. His age in April, 1634, the date of sailing, is given as twenty-five years, and in April, 1661, as fifty-one years. The eldest of three sons born to Mary Ball (1898-1990) and William Franklin Beedle (1891-1967). Famous people's biographies and today's birthdays at a glance. We were close friends for many years. After his death, she founded William Holden Wildlife Foundation to carry on his . He actually topped the list in 1956, two years after entering it at #7 in 1954, the year he won the Best Actor Oscar with his performance in Stalag 17 (1953). A Congregationalist Church service was planned in Las Vegas. Are you ready to be a guest on the show? That November, his apartment manager noticed he had not seen Holden in several days. More than 150 beverages delivered to woman's home without explanation. April 28 (UPI) -- Animal services officers in South Carolina responded to a home where a resident was shocked to find an alligator in his garage. 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. Bill Holden. William Holden (1918-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial William Holden's death "on November 12, 1981, after lacerating his forehead from slipping on a rug while intoxicated and hitting a bedside table. Maybe you know about William Holden very well, But do you know how old was he at the time of his death and what is his net worth in 2023? Beverly Hills police were dispatched to Ford's home about 4 p.m. and found him dead inside. No foul play was suspected. The Dramatic Ups and Downs of Actor William Holden