RIP Bill, you are so missed. His doc told him to quit drinking alcohol and coffee, no more advil and no more smoking. 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. The actor was best man at the 1952 wedding of President and Mrs. Reagan and remained friends with them over the years. Thank you for sharing it with us. There aren't any "movie stars" left. 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. Sad that many people dont slow dance now; they dont know what theyre missing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I thought he had lost his sex appeal eventhough he was a heavy drinker. We lost an amazing actor and most importantly a great man. But his co-star Barbara Stanwyck, who had a great deal of respect for Holden. He was a wonderful actor, as was John Barrymore. We are grateful to you Bill, and all the others. A cut on his forehead caused him to bleed to death. When you watch his movies and look at pictures of Bill you just want to reach out and hug him. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Our friendship never waned. RIP Mr. Holden and Mr. McElfay. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. He was unparalleled and I miss him. ALL are great. Search above to list available cemeteries. I like Stalag 17, Sunset Blvd. If I ever run into any of you bums on a street corner, just lets pretend weve never met before. I do this just to expose people to great movies from the past. From then on, he made more than 50 movies; most but not all were successful, and he tried to set certain standards both for himself and for the movies in which he agreed to appear. She described it as being as if the trust between them evaporating in an instant and there was just no trust left to build from. She has kept his legacy alive through the Wildlife Foundation she started in HIS name and has been the Executive Director of it since it's inception. He was 63. Booze or not, he was still gorgeous even in his older years. If you look close esp. They are known, and he did often, to go off on drinking binges on their own for days. ''That level means he was heavily intoxicated,'' Mr. Wilson said. He did a movie when he was 53 'Breezy' and he still looked damn good. I was young when Holden and the others were making movies. He not only was a "sun-worshipper," outdoors, but according to "The Golden Boy" biography, he had a sunlamp installed over his toilet so he wouldn't miss a minute of exposure. Holden, who regularly dated his leading ladies did not have that connection with Novak and that made this dance scene even more undesirable to him. He followed that success with "Born Yesterday". But beyond that, he seemed like his normal self and was without any complaints or major concerns. No one else drinks to that point. He became one of the most popular male movie stars ever, respected by the critics and by directors. 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. I have been a Holden fan forever and was amazed to find during my Ancestry DNA that I am related to him (thru the Beadle line) (William Holden's real last name). I am a hobbyist and not a professional film reviewer. he let himself into the actor's apartment and discovered Holden's body. Managed to convince the executive to rethink his decision. The price of fame. In an auto-bio he stated he was a very poor dancer, and had to get very drunk to do that scene. He was a great actor and a star. ''For me, acting is not an all-consuming thing, except for the moment when I am actually doing it. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He hadnt seen Holden in many days, and became very concerned, so he let himself in, via the passkey. In fact the reason I remain a devoted fan despite all his failings - as a father and as a husband - is because people with manic depression do not intend to hurt those they love, but of course it is inevitable that they do hurt them while attending to the constant demands of their own inner turmoil. I will stick to the old movies when I want to watch something good! He deserves credit for creating his African Reserve to help the wildlife. WILLIAM HOLDEN DEAD AT 63; WON OSCAR FOR 'STALAG 17', https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/17/obituaries/william-holden-dead-at-63-won-oscar-for-stalag-17.html. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of William Holden (1890)? Click on Kaya Morgan to return to author's bio page and other stories. I always thought when I was growing up that William Holden was the most handsome and gorgeous man I've had ever seen. Forgive him for his faults and thank him for all he has given us. God bless you, Mr. Holden. He's so believable in all of his roles, no matter how much fluff there was in the script or how insignificant the role might have been performed by another actor. But he was truly a 'Movie Star' . Everything came together in that movie. Wish I discovered Bill years ago.Dan. Amen! This also probably fueled his drinking. Tyrone, Robert Taylor and others. The very prospect of calling an ambulance and attracting all that unwanted public attention would have been a nightmare to someone like him. Add to that a life-long cigarette habit and you have the lizard appearance he had late in life. The apartment block manager claimed 'he he did not want to be disturbed'. And were was Stefanie Powers? I still enjoy watching William Holden's movies. Also sad, for obviously she could do nothing to help him. What the hell more did he need from life that booze could only give him? 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. There isn't a Holden film that I won't watch, but I feel his career went downhill after the 50's, probably due to the booze. People comment on his drinking but he was professional in his job and adored by Ms. Bill Holden was one of our greatest and not ever forgotten. Of the seven full baths, the master suite has a spa bathroom with Jacuzzi, sauna and his and her separate showers. '', Eight months after his marriage to the actress Brenda Marshall in 1941, Mr. Holden enlisted in the Army Air Forces; he served more than three years. Tap the bell icon while youre at it. That's the true story. He knew he was 10-15 years too old for the part, maybe alcohol eased his self-doubts. I miss him so much. No need to make any drugs illegal when people learn what they have to offer them. The police said he had apparently died of natural causes and had been dead for possibly two or three days. We have Kirk Douglas and Olivia Dehavilland, Leslie Caron, Sophia Loren. He was partial owner of the building at #535. This comment has been removed by the author. The latter proved to be one of his most financially lucrative film roles making him an instant multi-millionaire. Try again. He was a wonderful actor. He slammed into the piece of furniture with such force that it was jammed about three to four inches into the plaster wall. It was a shock to see just how old he really looked, 15 years beyond his actual age would be my guess. The next step in the process of the disease would have been non-intoxication. They really should have been together, neither Bill nor Audrey were happy the rest of their lives. What a pleasure to watch Holden, Crosby and Grace Kelly in the same picture. William Holden is my favorite actor, bar none. Although he was still relatively young by Hollywoods standards. I found him to be as attractive in his last movie as he was in his first. That's what really happened. He was so suave, elegant, restrained and drop dead gorgeous. 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. THE SYNOPSIS. 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. Despite his far-reaching fame and the fact that he won an Academy Award in 1954. All right, Mr. DeMille, Im ready for my close-up. 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. It would be very exciting and great for the followers of my Podcast if I could interview about William Holden and post it on the podcast and YouTube. Plus he continued to be hired his whole career, even at 60 years old, to make movies. He still looked good in that one. Your insatiable curiosity of different peoples, cultures and countries led your around the world. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In other words, live enough time and do different things without wrecking one's life for a while and different patterns for living are learned and one looks back and sees there was nothing there for them but terrible grief and unhappiness. 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. . Todays movie is Wayne Clanton. 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. He was in Hong Kong to meet his wife, and then return to Columbo to finish the film. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. I agree. And Stalag 17.All worth watching today and forever. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Stefanie, meanwhwile, tried several time to have a "Heart-to-Heart" talk with him about his boozing, and got nowhere. I think he was sad all his life, even when he appeared happy. He knows the Geneva Convention by heart. He never made enough time for his two sons and in adulthood their relationship was estranged. I immigrated here in my 30's. He tried other roles to avoid forecasting and was somewhat successful. On Monday November 16, 1981, the building manager, Bill Martin, let curiosity get the best of him. It is hard to believe that William Holden has been dead now for 30 years. He was a great actor and a wonderful man. YouTube - https://t.co/9mxCAnks6F He had suffered from alcoholism for decades before slipping and falling while changing his clothes and hitting his head on a nightstand. 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 brought so much to every picture he appeared in. And he was one of the best, he was one of the best. And promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? They want to be alone to do their thing.we all wished we'd stepped in. Nice guy, down to earth. A man and a woman dancing, not just dancing, but slow dancing. Perhaps its time has come, as they say. For the diehard William Holden fans, you will know this. He was drinking. On or around Nov. 12, 1981, William Holden drunkenly slipped on a rug and hit his head against a table. If you read the book by Scotty Bowers William Holden's affair with Eve Farrell (married name Newman) is documented in the book Full Service. Didn't your mother teach you anything? 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. ''I'm not a classic actor, dealing in tragedy. Money, fame, looks, and talent. During his last years, Holden also appeared in his second Irwin Allen film, When Time Ran Out, a critical and commercial failure and heavily disliked by Holden himself; his final film, Blake Edwardss S.O.B. Mr. Holden was separated in 1963 from his wife, with whom he had two sons, Peter and Scott; they were later divorced. William Holden was only 63 years old when he passed away. And while Williams sadly is no longer with us, Pam Dawber is still alive and well. Can you imagine the guilt she has carried for the last 35 years? He invested much of his earnings from that film into various business ventures including a radio station in Hong Kong. Peckinpah said that the whole crew was crying by the time the scene was over. I truly believe that he aged due to the sun and cigarette smoking. Mr. Holden, thanks for the memory. Holden landed small bit parts in films like Prison Farm in 1938 and Million Dollar Legs in 1939. This browser does not support getting your location. There was a problem getting your location. Making William my second cousin. 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. Disturbingly, there was a large amount of blood surrounding his body and soaked into his bedding and sheets. No the man I knew could lose both arms and still try to kick you to death. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Failed to remove flower. His plan is interrupted when the y. Awesome Actor with Immense 'Sex Appeal. Next, he starred with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in the Warner Bros. gangster epic Invisible Stripes later the same year. 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. Please try again later. Heres to our FRIENDS whom well always remember and to the LOVES well never forget! March 29, 2021, 4:49 am, Way back in 1980, Dolly Parton sat down with Chet Flippo of Rolling Stone magazine for what she thought was just going to be a typical interview. He was terrific in both of those films. I've read that Bill Holden had an apartment in Hong Kong as well as one in CA. Nov. 17, 1981 5 AM PT 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. '', The actor, whose original name was William Franklin Beedle Jr., was born April 17, 1918, in O'Fallon, Ill. His father was a chemist and his mother a teacher. Every time he would say he'd never have another drink. He did continue to make some good movies like: The Wild Bunch (1969), The Towering Inferno (1974), and his last movie S.O.B. 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'm only sorry he has no idea how many of us today still enjoy and admire his films. To get out of the dance scene, Bill demanded stunt pay and to his surprise, Columbia wrote him a check for $8,000. (1981), was more successful and a Golden Globe-nominated picture. 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. He also had the habit of disappearing for many days, without notice. Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox! 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. Would you like to request a film for review? Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Stefanie Powers' Love Life Including 2 Failed Marriages and Her Deep Love for William Holden. William Holden began working in Hollywood as a piece of beefcake. He had no real reason to drink like that. Examples of his great work. I've long admired how William Holden died. It was announced Tuesday that the actor's body would be cremated and his ashes scattered over the . A sort of wholesome charm was his trademark, but in later years his roles - such as that of Pike Bishop, an outlaw, in the violent film ''The Wild Bunch'' - acquired a new, hard-bitten dimension. Why does fame and wealth destroy so many people? It will tug at your heart. March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by As I write I am watching "The Wild Bunch". When William Holden was on screen, everyone else fell back in shadow. Beginning in 1950, his career took off when Billy Wilder tapped him to star as the down-at-the-heels screenwriter Joe Gillis, who is taken in by faded silent-screen star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) in Sunset Blvd. My 14 year old asked for Stalag for Christmas this year. I think that was his first movie and she helped him get the part and with his portrayal. Great actor,bad drinker, too bad. Even so, he quietly emoted powerful sensuality, desire and confidence in the way he held and looked at Novak. A wonderful man! Thanks for a lifetime filled with magical memories of life as it was and could be.. One of my late Mom's favorite actors. Long gone, but never forgotten. which was his last movie and by that time he, unfortunately, had aged a lot. Holden had dictated in his will that the Neptune Society cremate him and scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. 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. 'I'm Not a Classic Actor'. However William Holden died - he was really a great actor. In the new millennium, Jan has turned her interests [] More, Each year over 1.5 million patients become victims of medical malpractice in the US alone. 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. In 1953, he was cast in "Stalag 17" for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. His first starring role was in the movie "Golden Boy" (1939). Are his children as good looking as he was? 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. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in 1957 and in . Mr. Holden also became a much more private person, refusing in interviews to talk about his politics, his family, or why he lived abroad when he did. I HAVE ADMIRED HIS ACTING FOR YEARS. (1981). Make sure that the file is a photo. 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. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Barbara Stanwick was simply awesome. The Shorecliff Towers. ''Even though the alcohol level rises when a body decomposes - and this body was badly decomposed - that level is far above the legal limit of .10.''. I just discovered William Holden in November of 2013. The coroner said there was a ''deep cut'' on Holden's forehead, which was followed by ''massive bleeding,'' the actual cause of death. 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!! There was one Elvis and only one William Holden. He left a legacy of thoughtful work worth seeing and the animal refuge in Africa. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Holden's apartment was on the fourth floor, number 43. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Around 55 million people would beg to differ (from beyond the grave). Born William Franklin Beedle Jr. in O'Fallon, Illinois and raised in South Pasadena, California, he initially followed in his father's footsteps by studying chemistry at Pasadena Junior College in California before he signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in 1937. I got to Santa Monica and LA in December 2014,my lifetime dream, and did a tour of Paramount studios and saw the office where Joe Gillis stood in Sunset Boulevard.I was going to walk along Ocean Ave to Alta St but became ill on the day I had planned to go.I went to the Pasadena Rose Parade and a man standing behind me said"here comes my home town,O`Fallon Illinois and I said that is where William Holden was born.He looked at me and I told him Bill`s real name and date of birth and he at first did not believe me.I told him to Google him and when he saw the results he said to me "What a fan "I even found the Pasadena Playhouse where Bill first performed.That was also a thrill.At my age i have virtually fulfilled my dreams ,now just to meet Doris Day.I missed her when I got to Carmel.They do not make movie stars like Bill and Doris anymore.It was worth my long trip from Australia. He and Audrey Hepburn fell in love during filming of Sabrina. Failed to delete memorial. This was a popular American sitcom that ran over 12 seasons and 380 episodes from 1960 to 1972. And before you go, take a moment to show us a little love by giving this video a like and by subscribing to our channel if you havent already. This is when chronic alcoholics shut out the world and drink alone for days on end. With the right direction and material, Bill Holden was as good anactor as any at the time. He was notoriously private. As promised Bill on this day; For the memory of you, you have left a rich cinema legacy covering decades. and The World of Suzie Wong. . The setting is post WW2 Malaysia and the Soviet interference in that area which spawned local terrorist attacks. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. That way you can keep up with all of our latest and upcoming videos. Oak Island is a privately owned island that sits off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada. Love is a many splendor things one of his greatest accomplishment.but he could not find The Greatest love all ! I recommend it. In this film you can really see Holden's chops as a consumate performer. Weve updated the security on the site. Holden made more than 50 movies, including The Wild Bunch, Bridge On the River Kwai and Picnic. He also starred in The Blue Knight, a TV movie based on the Joseph Wambaugh novel about a Los Angeles cop. He followed these roles up by playing a cynical military sergeant in the Oscar-winning 1953 film Stalag 17. 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. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Why didn't S.Powers do anything when she hadn't heard from him in four days? What he saw when he walked through that door most certainly stuck with him for the rest of his life. Watching tcm tonight, Stalag 17 was on, William Holden, one of my favorite actors. Peckinpah told Lewis of Holdens role in a key scene. It takes me somewhere that other movies never have. Even neighbors of many years only received a quick nod from the elusive actor. While visiting Africa, he developed an avid interest in wildlife preservation, purchasing a 2,000-acre ranch with the goal of creating a protected animal reserve. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Can't watch it anymore - the ending is too sad. NASA shouldve used Billy Wilder for the Apollo landing rather than Kubrick. "I often marvel how people today think things were much better in the "good old days." His most notable movies included ''Our Town'' (1940); ''Apartment for Peggy'' (1948); ''Union Station'' (1950); ''Executive Suite'' (1954); ''Sabrina'' (1954); ''The Country Girl'' (1954); ''The Bridges at Toko-Ri'' (1955); ''Love is a Many-Splendored Thing'' (1955); ''Picnic'' (1956); ''The Key'' (1958) and ''The World of Suzie Wong (1960). Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. If you want the truth, read her book, One From the Heart. I don't even watch tv or go to movies anymore because most of the stars are so plain looking and have so little talent. He was just another drunk bum. Each time I watch him, I see what a great actors and a person that was so good at his craft. He was enormously talented. Well, now it is one of my favorites. Thank you for your lovely remarks. I always thought Bill Holden was a bell-weather actor. She starred alongside Hollywood titans like John Wayne, William Holden, . 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. Loose lips sink ships, and it wil alsol get you killed." You have chosen this person to be their own family member. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. I was devastated when he passed away and especially the way it happened.