For the person who said "that reflect simpler, slower, and less stressfull times. 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 file at CIA is still classified. Thumbs up for you, Mr. Holden ~ : ). Thanks for writing in. After returning to Hollywood, he alternated between Paramount and Columbia Pictures studio projects before his career was reborn when he was cast in "Sunset Boulevard" (1950) for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. Over the years Holdens rich but unpretentious voice became as distinctive as his increasingly craggy face. If you write screenplays that are Westerns, period pieces, serious drama--you will never get hired. That's why it took so long for someone to find him. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. ''That level means he was heavily intoxicated,'' Mr. Wilson said. I think WH may have been a manic depressive and that his dependency on alcohol was not his main problem. I just discovered William Holden in November of 2013. If you think a book written by someone who never knew the man will give you answers, I need to talk to you about a bridge I have available for purchase. https://classicmovierev.com/the-warriors-1979/. The real man behind the celluloid. Try again later. They are great actors. His last film appearance was in Blake Edwards' "S.O.B." Love him!! Indifferent directing, little known costars, minimal budget how does the actor do under such paltry circumstances? 8 blood-soaked tissues were found next to his body and so was a working telephone which he could have used to call for medical help. And, yes, his drinking definitely altered his looks. He was partial owner of the building at #535. A wonderful man! Breezy was a bit cheezy (tee hee) but I don't think any other older actor could have pulled off the role of Frank Harmon the way he did. Holdens performance in that film received with almost unanimous acclaim. Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. By the early to mid-1950s, he was starring in one hit film after another such as Sunset Boulevard in 1950, The Country Girl in 1954, and Picnic in 1955. He was such a handsome man but, according to that book, his life was far from happy. Now days sex has become the staple of how love or passion is measured.In the old films the smallest touch or gesture can be so passionate or romantic. '', Mr. Holden also had the gift of a light touch, which was displayed in such films as ''Born Yesterday'' and ''The Moon Is Blue.'' Still, I have a gut feeling that the truth about the death of the great star is so much stranger, darker, and more shocking. Drinking and his smooth nature left a great legacy. Didn't your mother teach you anything? Oops, we were unable to send the email. 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. The back story is that Holden told Harry Cohn he wanted this dance scene removed from the film because Bill said he was a lousy dancer. Bill carried those traits in his heart but could only translate them through the characters he played on screen. Hard to believe any director would hire him if it was an uncontrolable problem. After joining the Air Force in World War II and achieving the rank of lieutenant, Holden returned to the screen working in a variety of comedies, dramas, thrillers and Westerns, all with equal box office appeal. The music and the scene touches me so much, as a man I shed tears every time I view it. Tyrone, Robert Taylor and others. Interview with Stephanie Powers in-between. And Broderick Crawford was a really good actor who could have been even greater had it not been for his alcoholism. . An alcoholic drinks because he/she is an alcoholic. It was just a dance omg ..I think the pictures today with over the top sex scenes just don't get it. Selected by Esquire magazine in 1995 as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars" in film history, and nicknamed Hollywood's Golden Boy, William Holden illuminated the silver screen in 70 films for more than three decades. 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. Don't you think Stefanie has regrets over this? Happy memories for me as I saw it with my mom who is gone now. Alcoholics hold their drink better than an average person so it is not always obvious to us average people when an alcoholic has drink taken. The characters you portrayed revealed a nugget of your true spirit. Please reset your password. I think his aging is more from the sun damage than anything else. Booze or not, he was still gorgeous even in his older years. .Bill Holden was the real deal. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Are his children as good looking as he was? I always thought when I was growing up that William Holden was the most handsome and gorgeous man I've had ever seen. 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. He was one of the handsomest men on the screen, be it black and white and color. You were ahead of your time in your pursuit of wildlife conservation and environmental studies especially in Kenya. William Holden, whose handsome face and easy, masculine manner made him the quintessential American in many movies, was found dead Monday morning in his apartment in Santa Monica. 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. His face was so heavily lined in 1969 when he appeared in The Wild Bunch. Maybe because I long to find "my" William Holden. Five years later, he starred with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen in the critically acclaimed disaster film The Towering Inferno, which became a box office smash and one of the highest-grossing films of Holdens career. Facts Verse He was a chronic alcoholic so I'm afraid you are incorrect as he drank very heavily right through his life. From the report: All the lights were off, except for the television, so they used flashlights to get around. I wondered about his health but he was very involved building a hunting lodge in Africa and involved with Stephanie Powers. He WAS the good men in his movies! Watched the bridge on the river kwai last night and enjoyed Holdens performance again. "I'm not surprised that this could have happened." A system error has occurred. 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. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. The penthouse apartment that William Holden was living in when he died. My 14 year old asked for Stalag for Christmas this year. By Michael Ventura, Fri., Nov. 7, 2008. Holden loved to travel and accepted some film roles simply because of the exotic locations alone. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. ALL are great. There's really nothing mysterious about his life or his passing. If education was facing these people everywhere they looked, and success stories were all around them, the sooner they would seek help and realize they didn't have to live like that.No, I take that all back. The latter proved to be one of his most financially lucrative film roles making him an instant multi-millionaire. The post Stalag 17 (1953) Classic Movie Review 79 appeared first on ClassicMovieRev.com. If she was so close to him, as reported then where was she the 4 days he was lying there dead. He became one of the most popular male movie stars ever, respected by the critics and by directors. We lost an amazing actor and most importantly a great man. But in the end he does what has to be done, leading an expedition back to the camp to blow up the bridge. I recently watched in an interview on TCM and to this day she speaks highly of his acting, and his strengths as a good and loving man and partner. I can watch them over and over. 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. After drinking like a fish for decades on in, Holden found himself pretty much washed up. Anne January 23, 2015 4:30 PMCathy, if you want to find out everything about Bill Holden try to find the book 'Golden Boy' The Untold Story of Bill Holden, by Bob Thomas. 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. I rank Bill Holden & Gregory Peck, equally as the greatest actors I have ever seen. Plus he continued to be hired his whole career, even at 60 years old, to make movies. 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. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. No funeral or memorial service was held, per his wishes. Have watched him thru the years. I always was a huge fan of William Holden, he was an amazing actor. He was driving under the influence when he caused the accident. We will miss him. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. He was not heard from much in the 1960s, when he lived in Switzerland and made several undistinguished films. The show was a success due to its excellent writing and directing. Happy Birthday today William!!! I also liked his segment on the "I love Lucy" showhe was a gem. Holden personnified all that was great. Needs a first in the mouth. I agree with those who refer to his looks, in the film Towering Inferno, he played the buildings architect a role that the studio tried to get Steve McQueen to take. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Coroner Terms Death Of Holden an Accident, https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/18/us/coroner-terms-death-of-holden-an-accident.html. He was enormously talented. He followed that film up with a screen version of the movie of Our Town. Wayne Clanton. The combination led to a decline in his interest in his work and the end of his thirty-year marriage. Heartwarming and so meaningful a film!! Oh though, how I would have readily given away my first born for just ONE night with Bill Holden. It was a movie I will cherish the rest of my life. Strongly influenced by his father, an industrial chemist, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College with his sights set on following in his footsteps until he was accidentally discovered in a school play by a Paramount representative. Many of these people didn't have connections and nepotism to get their start.