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He used alcohol and affairs in an attempt to fill that empty space in his soul. The real man behind the celluloid. He really was great in "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" ! And, yes, his drinking definitely altered his looks. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of William Holden (1890)? Happy memories for me as I saw it with my mom who is gone now. Remember actors then worked all the time either on the films for their studios or were loaned out. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Holden's ravaged looks later in life actually worked for him in The Wild Bunch and Network. But once I discovered him I was hooked. Really great in Bridge Over the River Kwai.Beautiful girlfriend too (Stefanie Powers). This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. When he wanted to be left alone to drink, he made it known that he wanted to be alone. . He was also notorious for having the bad habit of dropping off the face of the earth from time to time. Unfortunately, he was also known for his severe alcoholism. The scary part is that he hit it so hard, that it jammed into the wall, and left an indentation of two or three inches into the plaster. It has to be manufactured. Mini bio of the life of actor William Holden who is probably most famous for starred in some of Hollywood's most popular and critically acclaimed films, including Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, The. Holdens corpse was found in a robe and shirt laying on the floor. His work lives on, and I'm so glad he continues to be rediscovered and enjoyed by new fans. Perhaps he and Powers were not on good terms or perhaps she was traveling for work or perhaps it is normal in their relationship to go so many days without contact. Holden loved to travel and accepted some film roles simply because of the exotic locations alone. My big brother, brilliant, witty,learned and kind, died from complications from alcohol, varicies, taking advil for a painful him and cigs. William Holdens life was full of struggle and hardship. Watched the bridge on the river kwai last night and enjoyed Holdens performance again. It is sad for such a great talent or anyone for that matter to lose their life needlessly. He was actually a very shy man which is hard to believe. Today, it is not possible to create a building that could duplicate OceanAire, making it the most prestigious and luxurious address in Santa Monica. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Holden was found in a robe and shirt, on the floor. As promised Bill on this day; For the memory of you, you have left a rich cinema legacy covering decades. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Can he lead her on the dance floor or is he hesitant about which direction to go? However, he did return to Hollywood in 1965 to make ''Alvarez Kelly. An alcoholic drinks because he/she is an alcoholic. 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. A perceptive woman can tell a lot about a man just by the way he slow dances with her. At junior college he took a course in radio drama, and made his first stage appearance at the Playhouse Theater. Holden in Stalag 17 & Peck in The Guns Of Navarone.just magnificent! You obviously know nothing about alcoholics then. He constantly placed his own need for instant gratification before the needs of his loved ones - right throughout his life. Many of the old timers had more talent and natural good looks. However, many audience members didnt realize that. One of the biggest hurdles that he faced was his lifelong, very public battle with drinking and alcoholism. I suppose he got the HK apt. He first came onto the scene with his 1939 hit film Golden Boy. I saw it again just last week on TCM. When he and Audrey had to do one more film 'Paris when it Sizzles', supposedly he was drunk all the time because he could not handle it. I am 76 years old and fell in love with William Holden when I was in my early teens; no one ever replaced him, not even close. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Love him!! One call was to break the isolation. Failed to remove flower. Stalag is my favorite but have liked them all. But I have no excuse for what he did to himself off screen. Her husband Robert Taylor was handsome too.I loved Holden's rugged good looks and his acting. He was a great actor and a wonderful man. On April 17, 1918, William Franklin Beedle Jr of OFallon, Illinois came into the world. He was drinking. He tried and tried - we'd go weeks without hearing from him and then he'd resurface detoxed (by himself - ALONE - many, many times. The latter proved to be one of his most financially lucrative film roles making him an instant multi-millionaire. Even neighbors of many years only received a quick nod from the elusive actor. 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 still enjoy watching William Holden's movies. Following his passing, Stefanie Powers, Williams girlfriend at the time of his death. By David Lobosco- http://greatentertainersarchives.blogspot.com/2011/11/last-days-of-william-holden.html?m=1. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. From what, no one really knows. He could not have children with Audrey Hepburn because he had a vasectomy after his last son was born in the mid 40s. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Holden I found on Findagrave.com. We have set your language to 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. The camera like his face and his next role in Golden Boy (1939), made him a star. Actor. Family members linked to this person will appear here. When you watch his movies and look at pictures of Bill you just want to reach out and hug him. 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. That's right, no one. I rank Bill Holden & Gregory Peck, equally as the greatest actors I have ever seen. Loose lips sink ships, and it wil alsol get you killed." By the 1950s, he was starring in hit after hit like: Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Country Girl (1954), Picnic (1955), and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) to name a few. ''I'm not a classic actor, dealing in tragedy. Along with about anything that has Holden in it. Watch the dance sequence from "Picnic." They had two children of their own, Peter and Scott, and raised a daughter, Virginia, from Marshalls previous marriage. The show followed widowed aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas and his three sons. In an auto-bio he stated he was a very poor dancer, and had to get very drunk to do that scene. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. This was all BEFORE his brother was killed. And if. The apartment block manager claimed 'he he did not want to be disturbed'. Evidence suggests he was conscious for at least half an hour after the fall. Very good flick. As a professor of architecture at the University of Southern California, Jones gained recognition in the postwar era by focusing on the spatial diversity and development of flexible structural systems aimed at the integration of mechanical systems in contrast to the usual static box-style designs of the time. He truly let his light shine. The actor was best man at the 1952 wedding of President and Mrs. Reagan and remained friends with them over the years. Such a versatile and wonderful actor. I found him to be as attractive in his last movie as he was in his first. How could an actor like Wm.Holden be such an alcoholic and be able to be selected to act in so many movies. His performances were always believableand his lines delivered with an honesty and sincerity that werealways convincing. The same holds true for his later parts when he was an older, compromised man with a noble vision still fighting past that disappointed, craggy (wonderful) face. He was such a talented actor and appeared to have all of the trappings of success. She had a yearly date with Bill Holden. This affair ended when Capucine met William Holden, but she and Feldman remained friends until his death in 1968. He studied at the Pasadena Playhouse, the company that . 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. Death 12 Nov 1981 (aged 63) Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Classic Movie Rev He thought he could somehow prove himself to his demanding father through athletic achievement. This prestigious high-rise is a sought-after address and home to a number of bicoastal celebrities and Hollywood executives because it epitomizes contemporary living in a chic seaside environment. That's how I felt when I watched PICNIC for the first time on TCM this past June. 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). Search above to list available cemeteries. Holden, just 63 when he died, had most recently appeared in the Blake Edwards' film "S.O.B." and was "a loner," according to Edwards, who wasn't surprised that Holden's body went so long without being discovered. He slammed into the piece of furniture with such force that it was jammed about three to four inches into the plaster wall. Every time he would say he'd never have another drink. To soothe his anxiety, he announced he wasnt going to do the dance sober and he didnt. The police said he had apparently died of natural causes and had been dead for possibly two or three days. With the right direction and material, Bill Holden was as good anactor as any at the time. I was a great fan of William Holden's, and to this day collect his movies. and The World of Suzie Wong. During the filming they had to sent him to a clinic to dry out for a week. There is a point beyond acting, a point where living becomes important. I totally adore William Holden and have always thought the circumstances of his death were so very sad. In 1986, I interviewed a CIA SPOOK who worked with Holden in East Africa. in Sizzles in Paris, you can see that he had a lot of sun damage to his skin. God Bless Him for his contribution he made while on the planet and may TCM continue to bring his movies to us for always. He was so suave, elegant, restrained and drop dead gorgeous. I have the DVD for Picnic and play it periodically as I remember those days long ago with such fond memories. The Beedle family made the move to Pasadena, California when William was just three years old. Thats why it took so long for someone to find him. What a fine actor Bill Holden was, so handsome with his chiselled good looks. By the 1960s, Holdens drinking had already started to detrimentally affect his physical appearance. He was 63. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. 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. She said she just froze, incredulous that he had kept it from her for so long while knowing she craved children of her own and while discussing spending the rest of their lives together. What he saw when he walked through that door most certainly stuck with him for the rest of his life. Is he confident when he holds her in his arms or is he uncomfortable, tentative and uncertain about holding her? I used to visit the Olympia Health club when visiting there where the murder took place. No matter what the world thinks you were a good actor and man. I think a case can be made for the idea that he was depressed because he drank. He was just another drunk bum. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in 1957 and in . Bill Holden obviously suffered from chronic untreated depression. Holden was born William Franklin Beedle Jr. on April 17, 1918, in OFallon, Ill. His father, a chemist, moved his family to Pasadena when William Jr. was very young. Follow, Classic Movie Reviews and world-famous short summaries You would be thrilled to know that Stef brought your conservation dreams to life by creating the William Holden Wildlife Foundation in your honor - an enormous achievement. Does he hold her firmly and bring her close to him, put her hand on his chest and lay his cheek against hers or does he keep her at arms length? He was on a bender at the time. This is a carousel with slides. Was never marketed properly when released by Universal. He invested much of his earnings from that film into various business ventures including a radio station in Hong Kong. The great and the splendid have all passed (except for Doris) and we are left with the dregs! There are no volunteers for this cemetery. And it which proved to be the film that landed him on the proverbial map. With Jeanne Crain, William Holden, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Holden was the godfather of the Reagans youngest daughter. William Holden had an affair around 1937 to 1939 ..actually a seven year affair with a lady named Eve Farrellactress..they had two kids togetherduring the time she was married to Emil Newman.composer and brother to Alfred Newman composer at 20th Century Foxthe female was Arleen Newman who later married Bing Crosby's sonDennis..he later killed himself.by shotgun.his son by Pat Sheehan Patrick Crosby later died recently of AIDS. As his character said to Bing's character in Country Girl, "I need an actor who can remember his lines and show up for work", Holden obviously remembered his lines and showed for work. 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. Holden was of English descent, and his paternal Great-Grandmother, Rebecca Westfield who was born in England in 1817. They are known, and he did often, to go off on drinking binges on their own for days. I think his later movies were as great as his first. The thought was, he'd emerge in a week or so sober and ready to work like had happened so many times before. I also liked his segment on the "I love Lucy" showhe was a gem. But William Holden beat all the odds by achieving his instant stardom with his very first leading role. The post The Horse Soldiers (1959) Classic Movie Review 126 appeared first on ClassicMovieRev.com. Earlier post was correct- today's movies are computer generated garbage. The coroner's office said Holden was "heavily intoxicated" and his death was . Just saw "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" and loved William Holden and always remembered him for his roles with Asian women, like "World of Suzi Wong" -- Of course, I am Chinese and would have done anything for him. Once he took that first sip, it was off to the races, and eventually, this affliction started to take a toll on his personal and professional life. Wayne Clanton. Written by a real loser. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Try again later. There is a problem with your email/password. His role in TV Net is basically the same. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. He was insecure all his life, that was one of the reasons he started drinking at a real early age. He was terrific in both of those films. We danced to that song in Picnic and then I saw the movie with Holden and Novak and it amplified those same feelings for the first time in my life. For the person who said "that reflect simpler, slower, and less stressfull times. I find it both sad and very odd that it was the building manager who was the first to be concerned about his absence and investigate. Despite the fame and winning an Academy Award in 1954, William Holden faced a lifelong battle with drinking and alcoholism. He bled to death from a forehead wound. His first starring role was in the movie "Golden Boy" (1939). Stalag 17? Beedle grew up in South Pasadena, California. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He had suffered from alcoholism for decades before slipping and falling while changing his clothes and hitting his head on a nightstand. The Shorecliff Towers. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Kenya Safari Club. I just got too tired of looking at people's ugly, no-talent sons, daughters, cousins, etc. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Interview with Stephanie Powers in-between. Todays movie is I just recently watched Sunset Boulevard and it was just as good as I had heard. The Horse Soldiers, Stalag 17, and Picnic are my favourites. These roles include a prisoner-of-war entrepreneur in Stalag 17 (1953), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. "Sometimes he'd just get in his car and drive," the director told the AP. However, by that time he was no longer the handsome leading man of movies. During World War II, Holden served in the Army Air Corps where he acted in training films. Holdens doctor arrived on the scene and speculated that he might have started vomiting up blood and potentially lacerated the lower portion of his esophagus. 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. Mr. Holden, who was 63 years old, was found by an apartment manager. It's a wonderful movie. What the hell more did he need from life that booze could only give him? He had promised this Blond money and a career in exchange for her being with him, he ended up screwing her over and she took me with her to confront him, he went off on her and started to choke her and I grabbed him, he ended up pushing me onto the bed and as he did she grabbed the phone and hit him in the head, he staggered around and fell into the table and ended up dying on the floor. Bridge on the kwai and Stalage 17 are two of the best films ever made. at the time of his death? I prefer him in his older years too. Forgive him for his faults and thank him for all he has given us. I believe there may have been FREEMASONRY Generational curses over Holden for him to drink so much.Any male born with the names "William""Frederick""Mason""Tyler" come automatically under the spiritual covering of Freemasonry worldwide(William of Orange,Frederik of Prussia) I think he was an aloof ,distant father to his two sons from what I've read. God bless you, Mr. Holden. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by I believe, his constant sun-worshipingdamaged his skin; he was a heavy smoker and perhaps drinking had something else to do with it but I don't believe he drank as much as people were led to believe. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. He was a serial adulterer and not a devoted family man. When Ryan was murdered in 1976 by a car bomb WH attended his funeral. "I often marvel how people today think things were much better in the "good old days." Holden's apartment was on the fourth floor, number 43. Booze or not, he was still gorgeous even in his older years. Practise makes perfect as the old saying goes. Columbias president Harry Cohn had half the mind to fire him. He was such a strong actor in that film and Novak had the beauty of the young at 22 while he was 37 (he was apprehensive about the age difference) but still so handsome and believable. Holden was/is one of my favourite actors.Nearly met him in late 1979 while working at the bar "Theatre Royal".He walked in on my day off and bought a bottle of Champagne after seeing Deborah Kerr (former costar) in her play "After The Fair".Kerr toured Australia with this production and Holden was in Sydney,Australia to film one of his last motion pictures "The Earthling". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.