William Holden

William Holden (1918–1981) was an American film actor whose leading roles in Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, and The Bridge on the River Kwai established his screen legacy.

Sunset Boulevard: A 1950 film noir directed by Billy Wilder about a faded silent-film star and a struggling screenwriter. Holden plays Joe Gillis, the screenwriter whose entanglement with Norma Desmond drives the film.
Billy Wilder: An Austrian-American filmmaker known for directing films including Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, and Some Like It Hot. Wilder directed Holden in three major films, including the role that won him an Oscar.
O'Fallon, Illinois: A city in St. Clair County in southwestern Illinois, near St. Louis. Holden was born there in 1918 before his family moved to California.
Academy Award for Best Actor: An annual Academy Award recognizing a leading performance by an actor in a film. Holden received this award for Stalag 17 in 1954.
Stalag 17: A 1953 Billy Wilder film about American prisoners of war who suspect one of their barracks mates is informing for the Germans. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor for playing the cynical prisoner J. J. Sefton.
Sam Peckinpah: An American film director known for Westerns and films marked by stylized violence and troubled characters. Peckinpah cast Holden as Pike Bishop in The Wild Bunch, reshaping his screen image.
Pasadena Playhouse: A California theater and drama school founded in 1917 that has trained performers and staged productions. Holden studied acting there before beginning his film career.
Hollywood Walk of Fame: A public sidewalk in Hollywood bearing stars honoring achievements in entertainment. Holden received a star for his contributions to motion pictures.
The Bridge on the River Kwai: A 1957 war film directed by David Lean about British prisoners forced to build a railway bridge in Japanese-occupied Burma. Holden plays American prisoner Shears, a role that brought him international acclaim.
Brenda Marshall: An American film actress whose screen credits include The Sea Hawk and The Constant Nymph. Marshall was Holden’s wife from 1941 until their divorce in 1971.

Linked from 5 pages