William Franklin Beedle Jr., more commonly known as William Holden, was an American actor best known for his role in Stalag 17 (1953), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance in the television film The Blue Knight (1973). He was one of Hollywood's most popular actors from the 1950s to the 1970s and starred in numerous blockbuster films, including The Bridge on the River Kwai, Sunset Boulevard, The Wild Bunch, The Towering Inferno, Sabrina, and Network. Holden was named one of the ‘Top 10 Stars of the Year’ six times and was ranked 25th on the American Film Institute's list of the ‘Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema.’ He earned the nickname ‘Golden Boy’ after his early success in Hollywood and was sometimes called ‘Golden Holden.’ He spent much of his later life traveling to Africa, where he co-owned the Mount Kenya Safari Club, and to Switzerland. In 1995, Empire magazine ranked him 63rd on its list of the ‘100 Sexiest Stars in Film History.’ He also served as the best man at the wedding of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
Also Known As: William Franklin Beedle Jr
Died At Age: 63
Spouse/Ex-: Brenda Marshall, Stefanie Powers
father: William Franklin Beedle Sr.
mother: Mary Blanche Ball
siblings: Richard P. Beedle, Robert Westfield Beedle
children: Arlene Holden, Peter Westfield Holden, Scott Porter Holden, Virginia Holden
Born Country: United States
Actors American Men
Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males
Died on: November 12, 1981
place of death: Santa Monica, California, United States
Ancestry: British American
Notable Alumni: Pasadena Junior College
Cause of Death: Bleeding
U.S. State: Illinois
education: Pasadena Junior College
William Holden was born William Franklin Beedle, Jr. on April 17, 1918, in O’Fallon, Illinois, USA to William Franklin Beedle, Sr. who worked as an industrial chemist. His mother Mary Blanche Ball was a schoolteacher.
His next film was ‘Invisible Stripes’ by Warner Bros. in 1940, and ‘Our Town’ the same year
His popularity as an actor increased with the film ‘Sunset Boulevard’ in 1950, which helped him earn his first Oscar nomination as ‘Best Actor’.
He married Brenda Marshall on July 12, 1941, and divorced her in 1971. He had two sons, Peter and Scott from this marriage. He also adopted Virginia who was Brenda Marshall’s daughter from an earlier marriage.
William Holden died on November 12, 1981, in Santa Monica, California, USA, of a serious head injury due to a fall at his home.
William Holden was an avid conservationist and animal lover. He co-founded the Mount Kenya Game Ranch and served as the president of the Mount Kenya Game Ranch for many years.
In addition to his successful acting career, Holden was also a skilled pilot. He earned his private pilot’s license in the 1950s and enjoyed flying as a hobby.
Despite his tough-guy image on screen, Holden was a sensitive and compassionate person in real life. He was known for his generosity and often supported various charitable causes, including children’s hospitals and animal welfare organizations.
Holden was a talented photographer and enjoyed capturing moments behind the scenes on film sets. His photography skills were well-regarded among his colleagues, and he even exhibited his work in galleries during his lifetime.
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