Holdens corpse was found in a robe and shirt laying on the floor. No the man I knew could lose both arms and still try to kick you to death. Don't you think Stefanie has regrets over this? I ALWAYS thought he was a terrific actor.When I first saw him on the screen in 1957 I liked him. Picnic, River Quai, Sunset Blvd, and the Wild Bunch!!!! He WAS the good men in his movies! He owned the films when he walked on screen! 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. Murdered in Google and came to this sight. 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. He followed that film up with a screen version of the movie of Our Town. 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. Deputy press secretary Larry Speakes quoted the President as saying: ''I have a great feeling of grief. Now I'm obsessed with him. People comment on his drinking but he was professional in his job and adored by Ms. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? It was Same Time Next Year. In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with actress Stefanie Powers, which sparked her interest in animal welfare. William Holdens life was full of struggle and hardship. 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!! According to the autopsy report, Holden was last known to be alive about one week beforehand, when he spoke to his girlfriend Stephanie Powers on the telephone. Ava, Hedy, Grace and others. June 20, 2021, 9:06 am, by The Theme from Picnic and Moonglow I can listen to for hours. About 100%. But before we dive into his early years and accomplishments, take a moment to show us a little support by giving this video a like and subscribing to our channel if you havent already. I watch his movies time and time again and my favourite is "Picnic". If you want to see a gripper, check him out in "Union Station" of 1950. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? William Holden was only 63 years old when he passed away. Watch the movies above. 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." I was shocked to read that his wife of 30 years Brenda Marshal and the mother of his 2 sons, was born in the Island of Negros, in the Philippines where I was born and raised. He was unparalleled; excellent actor.I too, miss him. Bill Holden was a very handsome man and I always admired him after that movie. He had everything we wanted for ourselves. He was also notorious for having the bad habit of dropping off the face of the earth from time to time. Peckinpah told Lewis of Holdens role in a key scene. He left a legacy of thoughtful work worth seeing and the animal refuge in Africa. Many of us leave behind loved ones but when you think clearly about it..dying is what we all do alone. Hard to believe he would be 96 if he were alive todaywow! Absolutely adored him in Love Is a Many Splendid Thing. I remember his name, but a little too young to remember anything else. He was out doors a lot and no one used sun screen then. Letters at 3am: I Admire How William Holden Died - Columns - The Austin Despite his far-reaching fame and the fact that he won an Academy Award in 1954. Total crap. In 1986, I interviewed a CIA SPOOK who worked with Holden in East Africa. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Fine actor, of course. I used to visit the Olympia Health club when visiting there where the murder took place. Have seen most of his top rated movies, and this week for the first time saw Breezy, the 1973 movie he made with starlet Kay Lenz, directed by Clint Eastwood. The boy went to school in Monrovia and South Pasadena and attended Pasadena Junior College. I have been reading any books and articles I can get on Bill Holden and almost have the feeling that when he slipped and fell he did not want to call for help. It is hard to believe that William Holden has been dead now for 30 years. I remember reading an interview in which Tarantino said one of his favorite films was "The Wild Bunch." I first saw Bill Holden when I was about 9 years old in the movie "Love is a many splendor thing" and I thought he was soooo handsome. He was terrific in both of those films. With Nancy's passing, it is so sad that she left, but glad that she will be with Ronnie. and The World of Suzie Wong. There was an error deleting this problem. At the scene, investigators recovered a large empty bottle of vodka in his trash can as well as 4 beer boles and a mostly full bottle of vodka on his kitchen counter. In that film, which was based on a play by Clifford Odets, Holden played Joe Bonaparte, a violinist who becomes a boxer. As for tonight I will enjoy watching The Bridge on the River Kwai. He was partial owner of the building at #535. Holden, who had battled alcoholism, was found dead on Nov. 16, 1981, in his Los Angeles apartment. The very prospect of calling an ambulance and attracting all that unwanted public attention would have been a nightmare to someone like him. Dawber has married to NCIS star Mark Harmon for more than three [] More, Jan Smithers is a former television actress that is best known for her portrayal of the character Bailey Quarters on the television series WKRP in Cincinnati. It didn't look like this, however. The Final Films. With Jeanne Crain, William Holden, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart. Audrey had problems with Mel Ferrer and then with her second husband Andrea Dotti, they were both cheating on her. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. '', Mr. Holden also had the gift of a light touch, which was displayed in such films as ''Born Yesterday'' and ''The Moon Is Blue.'' By Michael Ventura, Fri., Nov. 7, 2008. Its been shown that he spoke to his girlfriend Stephanie Powers seven days before he likely passed away. He based his comments on an autopsy and preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. She said she had talked to him a week before and that he was drinking. I always thought Bill Holden was a bell-weather actor. He was so suave, elegant, restrained and drop dead gorgeous. Also, I am sure he did drink a lot, which was common back then, but he also performed at a high level. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. 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. He was a wonderful actor. And was one of his first ancestors to immigrate to America. February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Barbara Stanwyck was his angel, coaching Holden and using her stardom to get him a parts. He hadnt seen Holden in many days, and became very concerned, so he let himself in, via the passkey. he looked terrible, he had aged a lot. He was the best .as Nancy Olsen (young co-star in SUNSET BOULEVARD) stated about him , " He was the perfect movie star !". Needs a first in the mouth. He and his "girlfriend," Stefanie Powers were not actually together at that point. And he was forever in Stanwycks debt for believing in him enough to pull him through that picture. The President expressed a great sense of personal loss upon hearing of Holdens death. But when he got the role of Joe Gillis opposite Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd(1950) the world found out he not only looked good, he could act. The late actor William Holden left $250,000 to his - UPI I just finished watching "The Earthling" one of my favorite Holden movie. Tyrone, Robert Taylor and others. He was still functioning and still remembering his lines and still getting work as an actor. He expected to serve the normal way but was forced to the special services section where recruitment films were made. "I'm not surprised that this could have happened." 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. Throughout Monroe and Kennedys alleged affair, Lawford supposedly acted as a liaison for the President. Judas, howd you wind up in a smelly ditch in Korea? He was 63. His early films didnt necessarily take full advantage of his talents but he amassed a sizeable fan-following nonetheless that was quite impressive. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? 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. His request was denied because this scene was the centerpiece of the movie. What did the beautiful Stephanie Powers see in him with the mess he was at the end? Can you imagine the guilt she has carried for the last 35 years? I've long admired how William Holden died. The real man behind the celluloid. 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. The Tragic 1981 Death Of Sunset Boulevard Star William Holden 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. Life did not elude you; yours was a life full of good works to be celebrated. I think that was his first movie and she helped him get the part and with his portrayal. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. '', 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. He was a conservationist and worked for years to maintain big game habitats on the African continent. Right around this time, Holdens films dropped substantially in quality as he spent more and more of his free time focusing on his hobbies and business dealings. You would have been 95! Many people who ridicule his drinking would sell their mothers ass for a buck. I can't explain why it makes me so emotional. I couldn't believe how handsome and classy he was. The movie was released last July. The Life and Tragic Ending of William Holden - YouTube Classy guy with intelligence.Excellent actor.Greatly missed. I still enjoy watching William Holden's movies. Drinking by itself will not cause premature aging. Around November 12, 1981, William Holden fell on a rug after drinking too much and hit his head on a table. 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). You need a Find a Grave account to continue. You cannot ignore his acting, and he turned in so many brilliant performances consistently film after film. So, it shouldnt really be that big of a surprise that, with numbers like those, celebrities would face the same risk of dying [] More, Inside William Holdens Frightening Final Moments, Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. Although by that time he no longer had the youthful veneer of a handsome young leading man like he used to. The man was an amazing actor since his early years. I think he played these parts so well because he understood those characters. We are grateful to you Bill, and all the others. 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. Being born on 17 April 1918, William Holden was 63 years old at the time of his death. He used a flashlight to navigate the apartment. I AGREE WITH ALL THE GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT WILLIAM HOLDEN. Well, now it is one of my favorites. A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: THE LAST DAYS OF WILLIAM HOLDEN - Blogger Try again. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. It is disappointing not see in the text and comments any reference to The Country Girl and Love is a many splendored thing. A film touching and affecting in content and form with an intelligent and moving story of adult, mature, romantic and sexual love conquering the iniquity of racism. Flippo asked Parton about what the most outrageous thing shed [] More, Robert Urich was known throughout the world as a tough guy. Psychiatrist speaking! He enlisted in the Army and was graduated a first lieutenant from the Army Air Force Officers Candidate School. COPYRIGHT 2020 By TheLifeandTimesofHollywood.com, Stories From The Life and Times of Hollywood. Written by a real loser. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. (1950) Passed | 110 min | Drama, Film-Noir 8.4 Rate A screenwriter develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star determined to make a triumphant return. Interesting. ALL MATERIALS, CONTENTS, AND ARTICLES ARE THE COPYRIGHT OF DAVID LOBOSCO (unless otherwise stated). One of the biggest hurdles that he faced was his lifelong, very public battle with drinking and alcoholism. Barbara Stanwick was simply awesome. He was notoriously private. Booze or not, he was still gorgeous even in his older years. Educate to the point where no one can deny .that people who act stupid when drinking or drugging are addicts, and when that education light shines bright enough and continually, denial will not be possible by anyone. That's the true story. Holden never remarried but in recent years was a close friend of actress Stefanie Powers. The Death: Dubbed "Hollywood's Golden Boy" and widely recognized as one of the most popular actors in American cinema, William Holden is perhaps best remembered for his roles in Sunset Boulevard and The Towering Inferno. In recent years, Mr. Holden's frequent companion was the actress Stefanie Powers. He was unparalleled and I miss him. He rounded out the remainder of the 1940s starring in films like Streets of Laredo, Miss Grant Takes Richmond, and Dear Wife. That November, his apartment manager noticed he had not seen Holden in several days. he let himself into the actor's apartment and discovered Holden's body. 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. Holdens doctor showed up and theorized that he provably started vomiting blood, and possibly lacerated the lower portion of his esophagus. A perceptive woman can tell a lot about a man just by the way he slow dances with her. Powers. I know your comments above were posted a year ago, but if you haven't seen it yet you should. No funeral or memorial service was held, per his wishes. 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. Stefanie Powers 'Would Have Had a Child' with William Holden Inside Just try to stop them. He was driving under the influence when he caused the accident. Holden's apartment was on the fourth floor, number 43. 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. Todays movie is Sunset Blvd. He was such a talented actor and appeared to have all of the trappings of success. He was such a handsome man but, according to that book, his life was far from happy. From what, no one really knows. But at least we have his movies to remember him by. Maybe because I long to find "my" William Holden. So sad. If you have nothing nice to say about anybody, DON'T say anything at all. William Holden (1918 1981) won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953 for his role in Stalag 17. GREAT NEWS! I was a great fan of William Holden's, and to this day collect his movies. It has to be manufactured. What a pleasure to watch Holden, Crosby and Grace Kelly in the same picture. Add to your scrapbook. And who could forget the epic period piece The Bridge on the River Kwai in 1957? It will tug at your heart. How could an actor like Wm.Holden be such an alcoholic and be able to be selected to act in so many movies. He was just so damn believable. The film crew saw it being delivered and contacted my father to see if they could use it and they did. The professor ponders if his life is no longer useful while the young couple faces the challenges shared with many WW II veterans' families. If only the rest of us could leave as much, To goldiesgirl who said: "The "stars" of today just don't have "it"you're blowin' smoke darlin', I'm sorry but the latest movies are the pitts. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. The robe was reportedly folded back and beneath his body with his right arm was placed through the robes sleeve while his left arm was curled up beneath his body. Mork, of course, played by the late Robin Williams. William Holden was one of the last great actors who left his mark in several unforgettable films like Stalag 17, sunset Boulevard, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Key, Love is a Splendored Thing, S.O.B and many more. Some of his mothers ancestors found their way to the States in the 17th century. A cut on his forehead caused him to bleed to death. What a fine actor Bill Holden was, so handsome with his chiselled good looks. Failed to remove flower. And hopefully William is up there with Ronnie too. Next, he starred with George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in the Warner Bros. gangster epic Invisible Stripes later the same year. His earnings on this Hollywood blockbuster not only set the standards for a new era of negotiations between the studios and actors, but also allowed him to be much more selective in his future film work. His long-term contract was shared by Columbia and Paramount, being both underpaid and forced into low-budget films unworthy of his exceptional talent. LAUREL AND HARDY FAN GROUP KEEPS LAUGHING, PHOTOS OF THE DAY: DEAN MARTIN AND FRIENDS. We both had a crush on him. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Here's to you Bill. Try again later. He had not reached the point in the disease process of having DT' s (delirium tremens.)