30 Years of Brilliance: 1930-1959
William Holden
William Holden had his first major film role at age twenty-one, in the boxing drama 'Golden Boy' in 1939, and that nickname stuck: much of Holden's career was spent playing charming, romantic leading men and daring heroes in often-formulaic adventure fare. But Holden was never less than a captivating, handsome, witty screen presence, the kind of actor who seems clearly destined for stardom. On the AFI's list of Greatest Screen Legends he was named number 25.
William Holden was born William Franklin Beedle, Jr. on April 17th, 1918,the eldest of three sons, in O'Fallon, Illinois. When he was three his family moved to South Pasadena, California and Holden was first discovered by a Paramount talent scout when acting at the Pasadena Playbox Theater.
His first movie role was in 1938 in 'Prison Farm' and this was followed by 'Golden Boy' the following year. His career was interrupted by World War II during which he served as 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force but after the war, in 1950, he earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Joe Gillis, the screenwriter who is taken in by silent-screen star Norma Desmond played by Gloria Swanson in 'Sunset Boulevard'.
Three years later he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as the prisoner-of-war businessman in 'Stalag 17'.
Some of his movies since then have withstood the test of time, such as 'Sabrina' in 1954, 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing' in 1955, and 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' in 1957, whereas many have been largely forgotten over the decades. For instance in 1954 he appeared in three movies 'Executive Suite', 'The Country Girl', 'The Bridges at Toko-Ri', and in 1955 'Picnic', all of which were well received at the time but which have been all but ignored since.
True admirers of the actor probably respond more profoundly to the other, deeper, Holden. In his most memorable performances, Holden displays a deep sadness, a sense of insecurity and self-loathing beneath the masculine magnetism.
In retrospect, the complexity behind these roles could perhaps be linked to the inner distress Holden experienced in his personal life: he was significantly debilitated by alcoholism; numerous marriage-wrecking infidelities-with, rumor has it, some of Hollywood's leading ladies of the time; and self-doubt regarding his abiities.
Holden allowed a darker side of the U.S. male to creep into his acting, particularly as he grew older. The most remarkable of his performances are not the suave romantic leads, but rather characterisations such as the cynical sergeant in 'Stalag 17', the hack writer in 'Sunset Boulevard', the weary bandit leading Sam Peckinpah's 'The Wild Bunch' in 1969, and the defeated news producer of 'Network' in 1976.
He married actress Brenda Marshall in 1941 and they divorced 30 years later, after many separations. They had two sons and he adopted his wife's daughter from her first marriage. Holden was a good friend to Ronald Reagan and was best man at Reagan's wedding to Nancy Davis in 1952.
Sadly, Holden died in 1981 from head injuries incurred during a bout of heavy drinking. One suspects that his best performances could have been ahead of him in his later years.
