And addicts that are able to get help and education about that evil process so they can clearly see that there is nothing in that world for them, they want to invest in themselves in the behavior modification that's required to make changes in their lives. They don't make them like that anymore. 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. Talk about lengthy speeches. 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. Years ago, as a teenager, I worked at Blockbuster Video (when they were still around), and I was/still am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan. She said she had talked to him a week before and that he was drinking. While intoxicated in his apartment, Holden slipped on a rug and hit his head on a bedside tablebut that wasn't the most disturbing part. He followed that success with "Born Yesterday". February 19, 2023, 6:17 am, by Barbara Stanwick was simply awesome. Try again later. 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. BTW: his brother was a fighter pilot in WW2, lost in battle. Disturbingly, there was a large amount of blood surrounding his body and soaked into his bedding and sheets. If his Japanese captors want a bridge built, then his men will build it. Two sons with his wife Ardis and an earlier daughter at a young age with an older actress. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He even brought his leading ladies (the ones he was having an affair with) home to meet his wife. Truly one of the best, and, in my opinion muchunder appreciated today.God bless you Golden Boy. As I said, he was a loser. She reported that he was drinking at the time when he gave her a ring. I believe that part of the reason he drank was from guilt; his brother was an Army Air Corps pilot who was shot down and killed during a WW II mission, while big shot actor Bill, though in the service, had a nice cushy job. Watch the movies above. No matter what the world thinks you were a good actor and man. And still so depressed he had to constantly drink. I wish I knew what happened to it. Hmm,can't decide who I like more from this gendre: William Holden or Robert Mitchum. haha. 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. Love is a many splendor things one of his greatest accomplishment.but he could not find The Greatest love all ! Wow. From what, no one really knows. Weve updated the security on the site. 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!! Written by a real loser. He was gorgeous and talented. 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. I always loved Bill Holden in every picture he was in. Great actor,bad drinker, too bad. It pains me to see how poorly he aged. I think you & your sons would really enjoy the movie if you haven't already seen it by now. Always one of the saddest ends for a great classic film star. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Best 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. His acting is so honest and sincere that it just rivets me. January 27, 2023, 7:23 pm, by I remember his name, but a little too young to remember anything else. 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. Stalag 17? All of the lights were off, except for the television set which was still blaring. He was a conservationist and worked for years to maintain big game habitats on the African continent. I didn't appreciate them then like I should have. One anonymous comment said that there was talk of foul play at the time. '', See the article in its original context from. and The World of Suzie Wong. I just finished watching "The Earthling" one of my favorite Holden movie. YouTube - https://t.co/9mxCAnks6F In 1980, he retreated to this wildlife preserve, returning to Hollywood only briefly to star in his final film, Blake Edwards's S.O.B. September 14, 2021, 5:02 am, by Loved him! He was also romantically linked to costars Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Stefanie Powers, who after his death, established the William Holden Wildlife Fund supporting wildlife preservation in Kenya, thus realizing his dream. Thanks for writing. Please reset your password. It was announced Tuesday that the actor's body would be cremated and his ashes scattered over the Pacific. 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. God Bless you Bill. 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. Earlier post was correct- today's movies are computer generated garbage. Watched Stalag 17 with my wife and two teenage sons. Excellent actorbut who can have any sympathy for an otherwise loser who literally drank himself to death? You were so lucky to have met William Holden in person - I have dreamed about this. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? He did continue to make some good movies like: The Wild Bunch (1969), The Towering Inferno (1974), and his last movie S.O.B. The Horse Soldiers, Stalag 17, and Picnic are my favourites. 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. It is hard to believe that William Holden has been dead now for 30 years. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the Inside William Holden Frightening Final Moments. That Barbara.She loved those good looking men. But once I discovered him I was hooked. The director Billy Wilder said that he was ''the best movie actor of his generation. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Addiction is a disease and we can put every person on the planet in jail and nothing is going to change until we mandate that the only answer is education, 10% of the population have the addiction bug, and it's a total waste of lives and resources to put people in jail for drug use when only that addictive 10% are going to abuse alcohol and other drugs, and it's pointless to imprison all that use when a small fraction destroy themselves whether it is legal or not. But the shows [] More, You might remember her as Mindy in the off-beat yet endearing 70s and 80s sitcom Mork and Mindy. Holden had two uncredited roles before his first starring role in Golden Boy (1939), in which he played a violinist-turned-boxer. 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. Let us know in the comments section which one of his films you appreciate the most between The Towering Inferno and Sunset Blvd. Awesome Actor with Immense 'Sex Appeal. Facts Verse He was such a handsome man but, according to that book, his life was far from happy. "Sometimes he'd just get in his car and drive," the director told the AP. Read the book Full Service by Scotty Bowers..who fixed Holden up with Hookers but too drunk to participate. I think he would like that a lot. Holden's immersion in local theater in the 1980s was particularly surprising because he was the son of legendary actor, William Holden. The consummate actor, a 'man's man' as they used to sayhe made women swoon & looks at their husbands & shake their heads. I was young when Holden and the others were making movies. I have seen almost all his movies except for a few B/W movies and the Seventh Dawn, because I simply cannot find it online. Santa Monica police said Holden was discovered on the floor of his bedroom by his apartment manager and that he may have been dead several days. Shelley Winters knew what she wanted and went after it. Lately, I saw the scene from "Love is a many Splendored Thing" from Utube made me want to know and read about him. The President expressed a great sense of personal loss upon hearing of Holdens death. Or perhaps he isolated himself from all who cared for him. I prefer him in his older years too. Two of my favorites were Alvarez Kelly and Horse Soldiers. The setting is post WW2 Malaysia and the Soviet interference in that area which spawned local terrorist attacks. The price of fame. 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. Many of these people didn't have connections and nepotism to get their start. His alcoholism is well documented, with directors and his fellow actors describing how he would drink in the mornings before scenes. I always was a huge fan of William Holden, he was an amazing actor. But he was truly a 'Movie Star' . 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. Wow he did age badly! Still considered one of the most architecturally cutting-edge buildings in Santa Monica, this spacious masterpiece exudes luxury and tranquility. Watched the bridge on the river kwai last night and enjoyed Holdens performance again. To get out of the dance scene, Bill demanded stunt pay and to his surprise, Columbia wrote him a check for $8,000. It was the sun and alcohol. I think he was sad all his life, even when he appeared happy. When you watch his movies and look at pictures of Bill you just want to reach out and hug him. His father William Franklin Beedle St was an industrial chemist and his mother, Mary Blanche Ball was an educator. A true alcoholic ( my brother) could not hold a job at a fast food restaraunt. 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. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. His permanent. Holden in Stalag 17 & Peck in The Guns Of Navarone.just magnificent! Murdered in Google and came to this sight. Holden loved to travel and accepted some film roles simply because of the exotic locations alone. I still enjoy watching William Holden's movies. Drinking and his smooth nature left a great legacy. The Times wrote then that he was ''doing the finest acting of his career. No need to make any drugs illegal when people learn what they have to offer them. The ex-wife was Gloria Holden who starred in Dracula's Daughter (1936). His work lives on, and I'm so glad he continues to be rediscovered and enjoyed by new fans. I just recently watched Sunset Boulevard and it was just as good as I had heard. xxxx. Many alcoholics live and die in this way. Add to your scrapbook. By Michael Ventura, Fri., Nov. 7, 2008. He also appeared in the multi-star disaster film "The Towering Inferno" in 1974. His role in ''Network '' in 1976 won him a third. Take this statement for what's it worth.The SPOOK told me other things regarding Mr. Holden, but I will not disclose those items. The post Sunset Blvd. On or around Nov. 12, 1981, William Holden drunkenly slipped on a rug and hit his head against a table. According to forensic evidence, the actor remained conscious up to half an hour after the accident. I love the way he leaves the prison camp at the end of Stalag 17. As promised Bill on this day; For the memory of you, you have left a rich cinema legacy covering decades. The characters he played on screen possessed the character traits that are most desired and admired of men: strength, integrity, courageousness, humility, empathy, love, faithfulness, kindness, and dependability. Errol Flynn aged horribly and was unrecognizable when he died. In William Holden's case, he could make a run-of-the-mill quickie film noir really pop. In that film, which was based on a play by Clifford Odets, Holden played Joe Bonaparte, a violinist who becomes a boxer. He was enormously talented. He gained another critical success with "Picnic" in 1955, "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in 1957 and in the Civil War epic "The Horse Soldiers" in 1959. Holden, who had battled alcoholism, was found dead on Nov. 16, 1981, in his Los Angeles apartment. Your insatiable curiosity of different peoples, cultures and countries led your around the world. This was a popular American sitcom that ran over 12 seasons and 380 episodes from 1960 to 1972. Holden was one of the greatest actors of our times. I will stick to the old movies when I want to watch something good! Thumbs up for you, Mr. Holden ~ : ). 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. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Holden I found on Findagrave.com. You are well loved still not only by the many who knew you personally, but also generations of devotees. He also had the habit of disappearing for many days, without notice. That November, his apartment manager noticed he had not seen Holden in several days. We Enjoyed the Glamour & just used our Imagination unlike the Movies of Today which are full of Bad Language & Violence.rip Bill knowing you left such a Legacy in the Movie World. In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with actress Stefanie Powers, which sparked her interest in animal welfare. I can say the film's I watched with William Holden acting,made me fell good as William was a great actor, R.I.P,William Holden. 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. I do this just to expose people to great movies from the past. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? But beyond that, he seemed like his normal self and was without any complaints or major concerns. I just discovered William Holden in November of 2013. Stalag is my favorite but have liked them all. Everything came together in that movie. Wish somebody had been with him when he had a fall. William Holden passed away in 1981 at the age of 63. I'm 60 so I recall great films from the 60s and 70s. It is such a good movie and William Holden was at both his comedic & dramatic best starring opposite those two. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. He delivered killer performances again and again. His request was denied because this scene was the centerpiece of the movie. It was the William Holden drinking helmet ( a crash helmet with springs attached ) if memory serves that cartoon was in Hustler, f*****g hilarious. Peckinpah said that the whole crew was crying by the time the scene was over. Actors should never have surgery done on the eyes. In his personal life, his affairs and his drinking wreaked chaos with those who loved him. But, he was still getting good roles untill he died.Dan. Anyone can read what you share. And when reading about his personal life and suffering you realize he had to draw from his own internal makeup to bring you close- I saw him in Network and there were moments where you felt the same- He was older than my father, but Picnic will always make you want to step back in time. Her last great love of her life was Robert Wolder and, of course, Bill's last love was Stephanie Powers but that relationship by that time was slowly dissolving because of his drinking. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. I loved him then, I love him now. 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. One of the biggest hurdles that he faced was his lifelong, very public battle with drinking and alcoholism. In 1953, he was cast in "Stalag 17" for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He burst onto the scene with his role in Golden Boy in 1939. 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). Heavy drinking most definitely ages a person. You learned your craft by doing it a lot. 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. Perhaps because he was a drinker they thought maybe hed reveal something in an un-guarded moment. Plus he continued to be hired his whole career, even at 60 years old, to make movies. Examples of his great work. Todays movie is A wonderful man! "I remind you that World War Two happened 20 years BEFORE these "simpler, slower, and less stressfull times. he looked terrible, he had aged a lot. I treasure Mr. Holden's work and I'll buy every film of his I can find. Hot Take your most depressed moments in life where your parents, your children and your spouse have died and you've lost them forever, multiply that by a thousand, and you're getting an idea of the type of feelings a drug addict has. WILLIAM HOLDEN'S SANTA MONICA PENTHOUSE I saw it again just last week on TCM. It takes me somewhere that other movies never have. He was so suave, elegant, restrained and drop dead gorgeous. This comment has been removed by the author. For his contribution to the film industry, William Holden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 1651 Vine Street. . He tried other roles to avoid forecasting and was somewhat successful. Absolutely adored him in Love Is a Many Splendid Thing. Stefanie Powers' Love Life Including 2 Failed Marriages and Her Deep Love for William Holden. There's really no point wondering what his life would have been like if Audrey Hepburn was apathetic about having children. His death was ignominious and far too soon (And The Earthling was his last released film) but I doubt if he would have hated it. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? by 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. WOW! Growing up in Evansville, IN we would drive by his home a lot. Today I am watching The horse soldiers for about the 10th time and yesterday on TV it was Paris when it sizzle,a completely stupid film.I would love it if they put on Breezy or any other film of William Holden.I do not care what else is on if his films are on I watch it..He was a great actor and they do not have actors nowadays of his caliber or his good looks and charm.I had my dream visit to the USA 2014-15 and did a tour of Paramount studios when they were closed for the Christmas holidays.I also stayed in Santa Monica just so I could see where he had been and also visited the Pasadena players theater.My favorite movies of William Holden are Sabrina,Sunset Boulevard and Picnic.My favorite piece of music is Moonglow and the theme from Picnic.Why the older stars on the walk of fame are so far away from the old Grauman`s theater i do not know.This is what my generation come to see in Hollywood .While his movies are still played on TV William Holden will never be forgotten R.I.P. In an auto-bio he stated he was a very poor dancer, and had to get very drunk to do that scene. Loved him in Picnic, Love is a Many Splendored Thing and Born Yesterday. by Kaya Morgan. He was discovered by a Paramount Pictures talent scout in 1937. Actor. Tomorrow, April 17, 2015 is his birthday and TCM is showing a bunch of his movies, starting in the morning. He started early around age 18 or 19. The truth is every illegal drug could be left lying around and only those with the addiction bug are going to abuse them. O'Fallon, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA. I honestly thought he was older than 63 when he died, but years of sun & alcohol take their toll on the best of us. Bill will never die. "I'm not surprised that this could have happened." And Broderick Crawford was a really good actor who could have been even greater had it not been for his alcoholism. It made his life difficult and unhappy yet he triumphed just the same. He was partial owner of the building at #535. Maybe the hoax wouldve stood the test of time a little better than it has. 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. And it which proved to be the film that landed him on the proverbial map. Now, I am intrigued by my discovery! RIP Bill, you are so missed. 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. Holden actually served during World War II, although he never saw action. He was a ok. Made me happy! love is a many splendored thing - what a feat. The 14-story building, now known as OceanAire, was originally designed in 1962 by the trend-setting, California contemporary architect, A. Quincy Jones and is still considered to be one of the most structurally unique buildings on the ocean view block. ''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.''. And if. He doesn't deserve anyone's sympathy. Holden holds Novak gently yet firmly. My mother's favourite actor was William Holden and we went as a family to watch his movies. What I consider his Best Film and one of the most sleeper films of all-time was one of his last! Sad that many people dont slow dance now; they dont know what theyre missing. 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. Long gone, but never forgotten. For many years Mr. Holden was also an offscreen symbol of normality in Hollywood - the nice guy with a long marriage to one woman, the solid citizen with two children who enjoyed working around his home. They had two children of their own, Peter and Scott, and raised a daughter, Virginia, from Marshalls previous marriage. Holdens problematic drinking started negatively affecting his chiseled good looks in the 1960s. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. He was such a talented actor and appeared to have all of the trappings of success. (1981), was more successful and a Golden Globe-nominated picture. 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 driving under the influence when he caused the accident. The coroner's office said Holden was "heavily intoxicated" and his death was . Before he escapes from the prison camp, he spends most of his time figuring out ways to get out of working for the Japanese. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. WH was a functional alcoholic. It was a shock to see just how old he really looked, 15 years beyond his actual age would be my guess. Sunset Blvd. I agree. Managed to convince the executive to rethink his decision. The characters you portrayed revealed a nugget of your true spirit. He could not have children with Audrey Hepburn because he had a vasectomy after his last son was born in the mid 40s. God bless you, Mr. Holden. He was drinking again, and coming out of his bender, but his body gave out. Born the same year as her. They included a psycopathic gangster in ''The Dark Past'' in 1948 and, in 1950, the young writer who becomes the emotional property of an aging actress in ''Sunset Boulevard.'' Classy guy with intelligence.Excellent actor.Greatly missed. He constantly placed his own need for instant gratification before the needs of his loved ones - right throughout his life. Following this breakthrough film, his career quickly grew in stature as he played a series of roles that combined good looks with cynical detachment. I sure wish that people who have that damnable disease of alcoholism could see the way they change under the influence - perhaps they might realize that it certainly doesn't add anything to their demeanor or looks. William Holden was a very underrated actor who was hindered by conflicted and jaded hero roles in Stalig 17 and the two bridge movies (Toko-To and Kwai). NOTHING LIKE HAVING A DRINK IN YOUR LATE 80S. But I have no excuse for what he did to himself off screen. As to the suggestion that he never found true love, I disagree. The resemblance between WH and Tom Hanks is uncanny when WH was much younger. This combined his commercial investment with the added advantage of a personal residence, creating a two-fold financial asset. The years of heavy drinking had seriously taken a heavy toll on his physical appearance not to mention his physical and mental well-being. That's why I'd rather watch some old film I have never seen instead of watching a new film.William Holden has to be mention in the top five of greatest leading men. Nice guy, down to earth. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Who gives a fuck if he drank the world. His permanent home was in Palm Springs but he maintained an apartment in Santa Monica. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. January 27, 2023, 7:28 pm, by This adored, leading man starred in some of the most revered classics of all time including Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, Sunset Boulevard, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Casino Royale, The Wild Bunch and The Towering Inferno. 4 Joyce Jameson. Alcohol being one the commonly used ways to feel better. .Bill Holden was the real deal. Unfortunately, this time it didn't happen that way. 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. 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. Is he confident when he holds her in his arms or is he uncomfortable, tentative and uncertain about holding her? Further examination revealed a deep gash on his forehead approximately 3 inches in length. In recent years, Mr. Holden's frequent companion was the actress Stefanie Powers. Dan, Dan, have you watched Born Yesterday where he starred with Judy Holliday and Broderick Crawford? The music and the scene touches me so much, as a man I shed tears every time I view it. According to the medical examiner, Holden had tripped on a throw rug and hit his head on the nightstand. 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. But instead, he likely died of blood loss within about 15 minutes of his accident. 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 thought he could somehow prove himself to his demanding father through athletic achievement. From Findadeath.com:In November of 1981, Holden was living in Santa Monica, California, on Ocean Avenue. 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. Kenya Safari Club. There was one Elvis and only one William Holden.