William Holden

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BillHolden Last Updated: 6/16/26
Real Name: William Franklin Beedle, Jr.
Born: April 17, 1918
Died: November 12, 1981 (Aged 63)
Height: 5' 10"

Grade: A+
Actor/Movie Star: 50%-50%
Prime Years: 1939, 1950, 1953-57, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1969, 1973-74, and 1976
Most Famous Film: Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Most Infamous Film: Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

Masterpiece: Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Network (1976)
Outstanding: Stalag 17 (1953), Paris When It Sizzles (1964), and The Wild Bunch (1969)
Honorable: Born Yesterday (1950), Executive Suite (1954), The World of Suzie Wong (1960), and Breezy (1973)

Opinion: If there's a perfect all-American actor, William Holden fits the bill. Women loved working with him and said he was the most handsome they had ever seen. On screen, it's not hard to see why, having always looked ageless in every decade. I was very much shocked to learn how he died, especially at such a young age of 63. Regardless, William Holden appeared in many classic films that continue to be revered.

Confirmed:



Became an alcoholic but was never drunk on the set and performed like a total pro. Had no acting method or technique. Preferred to be a "less is more" actor. Was a serious collector of art. Had been nicknamed "Bill" by many. Loved Asian art and living in Asia, especially Hong Kong.



Rumors: Secretly worked for the CIA while in Asia.