Facts Verse Interesting. ALL MATERIALS, CONTENTS, AND ARTICLES ARE THE COPYRIGHT OF DAVID LOBOSCO (unless otherwise stated). On Monday, November 16, 1981, the apartment buildings manager Bill Martin decided to investigate Holdens absence and let himself into his apartment via a passkey. In an auto-bio he stated he was a very poor dancer, and had to get very drunk to do that scene. Absolutely adored him in Love Is a Many Splendid Thing. Cathy, I hope this helps a little bit to give you an idea what Bill Holden was like. I also think there is something strange about Stefanie Powers. That's why it took so long for someone to find him. The 63-year-old actor bled to death Nov. 16 after slipping on a throw rug in his beachfront apartment and striking his head on a table. Holdens performance in that film received with almost unanimous acclaim. 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. He was just so damn believable. I just got too tired of looking at people's ugly, no-talent sons, daughters, cousins, etc. His acting, his voice, his looks; he had everything. I agree that most of the "stars" of today just don't have it. As far as movies, my favorite movie ever is Sunset Boulevard. He has that charm, that authenticity, which so few actors have, where they can play whatever the part is called for: Cary Grant, Robert Mitchum, some of Bogart's films, Bing Crosby in several earlier roles, as well as some of the later actors closer to my generation: Jeff Bridges, Paul Newman, Michael Douglas in some earlier films, Richard Gere, and a few others can play the soldier, the hero, the crusader, the reporter, the villain, the jaded coworkerall of them so convincingly. Would you like to request a film for review? One of his early feats after Golden Boy Our Town in 1940 followed by hit features like I Wanted Wings in 1941. According to a report put out by the chief medical examiner, Holden appeared to have tripped on a throw rug before hitting his head sharply on the nightstand. which was released in 1981. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Ive watched it in theaters, dvd, Netflix, and even listened to it while riding my bicycle. It is available from most DVD providers, including Amazon. Thanks for writing. He had everything going for him for much of his life, and couldn't handle it. Dan, Dan, have you watched Born Yesterday where he starred with Judy Holliday and Broderick Crawford? Even neighbors of many years only received a quick nod from the elusive actor. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. He was best known for Sunset Blvd a film that always creeps the hell out of me and I supposed was meant to do just that. Thanks for writing. The OceanAire Penthouse is now available for $10.8 million. What drove him to drink, I think in the changed world he found himself to be a misfit. They really should have been together, neither Bill nor Audrey were happy the rest of their lives. He did continue to make some good movies like: The Wild Bunch (1969), The Towering Inferno (1974), and his last movie S.O.B. Art imitates life.Watch Breezy. Murdered in Google and came to this sight. He still looked good in that one. Williams Mother and my fathers mother were sisters. 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. 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. love is a many splendored thing - what a feat. Holdens corpse was found in a robe and shirt laying on the floor. Classy guy with intelligence.Excellent actor.Greatly missed. My understanding is that he could not have children. William and his wife, Brenda Marshall were the two witnesses for Ronald and Nancy Reagan's wedding in 1952. Holden bled to death in his apartment in Santa Monica, California in 1981, after lacerating his forehead from slipping on a rug while intoxicated and hitting a bedside table, aged 63. He is one of the greatest actors of all timesI wish he had not spoilt his looks on account of heavy drinking He steals your heart in Sunset Boulevard Born Yesterday Love is a many splendored thing and most of the movies in the sixties. An assistant coroner said the actor had been ''heavily intoxicated'' when he fell. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. 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. That's right, no one. He also starred in the television mini-series ''The Blue Knight,'' about police officers, and in a television movie, ''21 Hours at Munich.'' He received an Academy Award for his portrayal a prisoner-of-war suspected of being a Nazi spy in Billy Wilder's Stalag 17 and won an Emmy Award for his television debut in The Blue Knight. Holden had excellent genes. As I write I am watching "The Wild Bunch". One anonymous comment said that there was talk of foul play at the time. Nice guy, down to earth. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. As a psychiatrist I must add that he did all this great work while under the sad influence of depression. Happy memories for me as I saw it with my mom who is gone now. Popular, by He had the kind of face that improved over the years. William Holden passed away in 1981 at the age of 63. By the way: I'm surprised his late-life girlfriend SteFanie Powers didn't have a Hart-to-Hart talk with him. Holdens birth name wasWilliam Franklin Beedle, Jr. His last name was changed to Holden by an agent that was still in love with his ex-wife. Death 12 Nov 1981 (aged 63) Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA. ''I'm a pretty fair interpreter of a certain kind of contemporary character,'' he said in an interview in The Times in 1976. But nows the time for you to shine! 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. His films were well written, well directed, and cast correctly. Anyone can read what you share. You would have been 95! But William Holden beat all the odds by achieving his instant stardom with his very first leading role. I recommend it. 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. William Holden Died Drunk and Alone William Holden began working in Hollywood as a piece of beefcake. Apparently, they arent subscribers to the old adage that too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. Agree. But once I discovered him I was hooked. Only he could make Pike Bishop so believable! Exusers They feel good for a short period of time and then they feel so terribly bad that they will do literally anything to escape how depressed and bad they feel later. Still considered one of the most architecturally cutting-edge buildings in Santa Monica, this spacious masterpiece exudes luxury and tranquility. January 19, 2022, 6:17 pm, by Mr. Holden's performance established him immediately as star. The next step in the process of the disease would have been non-intoxication. In that sexy dance scene, the lights + camera angle show how bloated William Holden's face was, which is typical of people who drink too much. 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. 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. Its pretty safe to say that his heavy drinking is what led to his accidental injury. The years of his drinking started taking its toll on Holdens chiseled looks by the 1960s. God Bless you Bill. Sunset Blvd? What did the beautiful Stephanie Powers see in him with the mess he was at the end? 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. Actually I didnt know he existed until the late 1960s since I was born in 1955. (1950) Classic Movie Review 81 appeared first on ClassicMovieRev.com. we all have our own sickness.it just developes and all of a sudden we realize we are not what we could or should have been when something is missing either love or too much memory regret,or disappointment we seem to fail as gods creature.bill was a great guy,looks,talent,he had it all,and died a meaningless life.63,im 87,what happens to me is reasonable,but not at age 63,alone,drinking,he wasnt drunk he has ti=oo much exoerience drinking to be drunk,he just got to the point where he did not give a shit, Hi Gene, That was the point of my title. WOW! He invested in hotels in Africa, where he said he was happiest. So true. Nobody takes away from William Holden, the popular, talented and extraordinary actor that he was, your instead in your mediocre life you will never do or you will be nobody, I do not know how you dare to speak of someone who was excellent in what he did, and in the rest look in a mirror that you are not perfect. WILLIAM HOLDEN'S SANTA MONICA PENTHOUSE by Kaya Morgan 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. Drag images here or select from your computer for William Holden memorial. 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 invested much of his earnings from that film into various business ventures including a radio station in Hong Kong. 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. Peckinpah told Lewis of Holdens role in a key scene. He rounded out the remainder of the 1940s starring in films like Streets of Laredo, Miss Grant Takes Richmond, and Dear Wife. His first role was an unaccredited appearance 1938's "Prison Farm" but he became a star almost effortlessly by virtue of his starring role in 1939's "Golden Boy." You have chosen this person to be their own family member. The characters you portrayed revealed a nugget of your true spirit. 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. We are grateful to you Bill, and all the others. He was obviously still becoming intoxicated from alcohol. Totally fantastic and takes place in the Australian outback!! Viewed by fans as the boy-next-door, this 20-year old, handsome young actor with striking features and a sensual voice had an image that earned Holden entry into an elite group of promising young actors known as the Golden Circle a group aggressively promoted by the studio that also included Susan Hayward and Robert Preston. No funeral or memorial service was held, per his wishes. He never fails to deliver. That is love, dedication, respect, and hard work. A pressured young engineer/family man in Executive Suite (1954), a conflicted jet pilot in the Korean War film The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954), a carefree playboy in Sabrina (1954), his most widely recognized role as an ill-fated prisoner in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) with Alec Guinness, a World War II tug boat captain in The Key (1958), and an American Civil War military surgeon in John Fords The Horse Soldiers(1959) opposite John Wayne. Next, he starred with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in the Warner Bros. gangster epic Invisible Stripes later the same year. . Told everyone at work about it and one bought it also. Why didn't S.Powers do anything when she hadn't heard from him in four days? Bill Holden was a very handsome man and I always admired him after that movie. 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.