William Holden

William Holden

1918-04-17 O'Fallon, Illinois, USA 96 Credits

Biography

William Holden (April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974. One of the biggest box office draws of the 1950s, he was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961) and appeared on the American Film Institute's AFI's 100 Years…100 Stars list as #25.   Description above from the Wikipedia article William Holden, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on...

Known For

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Complete Filmography

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

2018

as Self (archive footage)

6.0
Acting

A deliciously scandalous portrait of unsung Hollywood legend Scotty Bowers, whose bestselling memoir chronicled his decades spent as sexual procurer t...

Walking to Nam Kok Hotel

2018

as Robert Lomax (archive footage)

10.0
Acting

A scene from The World of Suzie Wong, in which the male protagonist walks from the Star Ferry Pier to Nam Kok Hotel in Wan Chai, is superimposed with ...

Mr. Yunioshi:  An Asian Perspective

Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective

2009

as Self (archive footage)

Acting

Mr. Yunioshi: An Asian Perspective provides some insightful commentary of how far we've come concerning Asian characterizations in Hollywood movies fr...

Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess

Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess

2006

as Self - Actor (archive footage)

7.2
Acting

In 1956, actress and Hollywood star Grace Kelly (1929-82), then at the height of her film career, unexpectedly dropped everything to marry Prince Rain...

The Making of 'Network'

The Making of 'Network'

2006

as Self (archive footage)

Acting

An engrossing feature-length documentary about the making of Sidney Lumet's classic film "Network."

Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade

Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade

2004

as Self (archive footage)

7.8
Acting

An account of the life and work of American film director Sam Peckinpah (1925-84), a tortured artist whose genius and inner demons changed the Western...

Edith Head: The Paramount Years

Edith Head: The Paramount Years

2002

as (archive footage)

7.5
Acting

A tribute to the legendary costume designer Edith Head during her years providing costumes for the films of Paramount studio which includes Sunset Bou...

The Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'

The Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'

2000

as Self (archive footage)

6.3
Acting
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

1997

as Self (archive footage)

7.0
Acting

Born Ruby Stevens, she was orphaned when she was four. A chance audition led to a chorus job. By 17 she was a Ziegfeld Girl. At 20 she earned excellen...

Sad?

1996

as (archive footage)

5.9
Acting

Set in the mid sixties and shot with more black than white, ‘SAD?’ is a dark ten minute film that explores the time that we spend alone watching telev...

Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

Audrey Hepburn: Remembered

1993

as Self (archive footage)

7.0
Acting

Audrey Hepburn was one of the movies' best-loved stars, blessed with beauty, talent, an elegant sophistication and an enduring aura of youthful innoce...

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker

1991

as Donald Gresham (archive footage) (uncredited)

7.7
Acting

This documentary, hosted by actor Burgess Meredith, explores the life and career of movie director Otto Preminger, whose body of work includes such me...

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

Barbara Stanwyck: Fire and Desire

1991

as Self (archive footage)

5.7
Acting

Actress Sally Field looks at the dramatic life and successful career of the superb actress Barbara Stanwyck (1907-90), a Hollywood legend.

Sally's Beauty Spot

Sally's Beauty Spot

1990

as Robert Lomax (archive footage)

5.0
Acting

A large black mole above an Asian woman's breast serves as a metaphor for cultural and racial difference in this engaging experimental film. Off-scree...

William Holden: The Golden Boy

William Holden: The Golden Boy

1989

as Self (archive footage)

Acting

It was said of him that in more than 70 films, he never once gave a bad performance.

Grace Kelly: The American Princess

Grace Kelly: The American Princess

1987

as Self (archive footage)

6.5
Acting

A biography of American actress Grace Kelly from her early days as an aspiring actress to her death as Princess of Monaco.

Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown

Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown

1986

as Charlie Brown (voice) (archive sound)

5.3
Acting

Charlie Brown is on the run from the Peanuts Gang after the Great Pumpkin puts a bounty on his head in this wild animated student short by Jim Reardon...

S.O.B.

S.O.B.

1981

as Tim Culley

5.9
Acting

A movie producer who made a huge flop tries to salvage his career by revamping his film as an erotic production, where its family-friendly star takes ...

The Earthling

The Earthling

1980

as Patrick Foley

6.2
Acting

Recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, a man returns home to Australia to die in the wilderness. His plans become complicated when he comes acros...

When Time Ran Out...

When Time Ran Out...

1980

as Shelby Gilmore

5.4
Acting

An active volcano threatens a south Pacific island resort and its guests as a power struggle ensues between the property's developer and a drilling fo...

Escape to Athena

Escape to Athena

1979

as POW (uncredited)

5.7
Acting

During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a Greek island are trying to escape. They not only want their freedom, but also seek an ine...

Ashanti

Ashanti

1979

as Jim Sandell

5.8
Acting

Dr. Anansa Linderby is kidnapped in a medical mission in Africa by a slave trader. From this moment, her husband will do anything to recover her and t...

Fedora

Fedora

1978

as Barry Detweiler

6.7
Acting

An ambitious Hollywood hustler becomes involved with a reclusive female star, whom he tries to lure out of retirement.

Damien - Omen II

Damien - Omen II

1978

as Richard Thorn

6.4
Acting

Since the sudden and suspicious deaths of his parents, young Damien has been in the charge of his wealthy aunt and uncle and enrolled in a military sc...

21 Hours at Munich

21 Hours at Munich

1976

as Manfred Schreiber

6.1
Acting

A dramatization of the incident in 1972 when Arab terrorists broke into the Olympic compound in Munich and murdered 11 Israeli athletes.

Network

Network

1976

as Max Schumacher

7.8
Acting

When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during ...

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno

1974

as Jim Duncan

7.0
Acting

At the opening party of a colossal—but poorly constructed—skyscraper, a massive fire breaks out, threatening to destroy the tower and everyone in it.

Open Season

Open Season

1974

as Hal Wolkowski

5.4
Acting

Three Vietnam vets have become so conditioned to violence that they have developed psychotic tendencies. They kidnap people, brutalize them, then turn...

Breezy

Breezy

1973

as Frank Harmon

6.8
Acting

A free-spirited young woman, Breezy, hitches a ride with an aging real estate salesman, Frank. Sensing that she just wants to use him he tries to have...

The Blue Knight

The Blue Knight

1973

as Bumper Morgan

5.8
Acting

Bumper Morgan is a veteran Los Angeles Police Department street cop. He is due to retire after 20 years on the job, but is not letting up on the crimi...

The Revengers

The Revengers

1972

as John Benedict

5.7
Acting

The life of peaceful rancher John Benedict is torn apart when his family is massacred by a gang of marauding outlaws and his farm is destroyed. He ass...

Wild Rovers

Wild Rovers

1971

as Ross Bodine

6.3
Acting

Ross Bodine and Frank Post are cowhands on Walt Buckman's R-Bar-R ranch. Bodine is older and broods a bit about how he will get along when he's too ol...

The Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree

1969

as Laurent Ségur

6.1
Acting

A French-American millionaire, his girlfriend and his war buddy try to grant his dying son's every wish.

The Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch

1969

as Pike Bishop

7.6
Acting

An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

The Dean Martin Christmas Show

The Dean Martin Christmas Show

1968

as Self - Guest (uncredited)

7.6
Acting

A Classic Holiday Celebration with Dean and Friends.

The Devil's Brigade

The Devil's Brigade

1968

as Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick

6.3
Acting

At the onset of World War II, American Lt. Col. Robert Frederick is put in charge of a unit called the 1st Special Service Force, composed of elite C...

Casino Royale

Casino Royale

1967

as Ransome

5.2
Acting

Sir James Bond is called back out of retirement to stop SMERSH. In order to trick SMERSH, James thinks up the ultimate plan - that every agent will be...

Alvarez Kelly

Alvarez Kelly

1966

as Alvarez Kelly

6.2
Acting

In 1864, during the American Civil War, Mexican cattleman Alvarez Kelly supplies the Union with cattle until unexpected circumstances force him to cha...

The 7th Dawn

The 7th Dawn

1964

as Major Ferris

6.5
Acting

Political and personal intrigues surround a group of characters in Malaya, after the close of the Second World War.

Paris When It Sizzles

Paris When It Sizzles

1964

as Richard Benson

6.3
Acting

Hollywood producer Alexander Meyerheimer has hired drunken writer Richard Benson to write his latest movie. Benson has been in Paris supposedly workin...

The Lion

The Lion

1962

as Robert Hayward

4.9
Acting

Young Tina lives with her mother and stepfather on a wildlife reserve in Kenya. While her stepfather believes this is a wonderful environment for her ...

The Counterfeit Traitor

The Counterfeit Traitor

1962

as Eric Erickson

6.5
Acting

Blacklisted in modern day WW2, a Swedish oil trader opts to assist British Allies, by means of infiltrating and surveying Nazi Germany.

Satan Never Sleeps

Satan Never Sleeps

1962

as Father O'Banion

5.1
Acting

A priest arrives at a mission-post in China accompanied by a young native girl who has joined him along the way. His job is to relieve the existing pr...

The World of Suzie Wong

The World of Suzie Wong

1960

as Robert Lomax

6.4
Acting

A Hong Kong prostitute tries modeling and falls for the artist who's painting her.

The Horse Soldiers

The Horse Soldiers

1959

as Major 'Hank' Kendall

6.9
Acting

A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes insta...

Zwischen Glück und Krone

Zwischen Glück und Krone

1959

as Self (archive footage)

Acting

The story of a young woman named Maria, who unexpectedly inherits a royal title and a castle after the death of her uncle, a king. Heavily reliant on ...

The Key

The Key

1958

as Capt. David Ross

6.0
Acting

In wartime England, circa 1941, poorly-armed tugs are sent into "U-Boat Alley" to rescue damaged Allied ships. An American named David Ross arrives to...

The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant

The Rise and Fall of a Jungle Giant

1958

as Self

Acting

A behind-the-scenes look at the building of the bridge in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and the preparations for its destruction.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

The Bridge on the River Kwai

1957

as Cmdr. Shears

7.8
Acting

The classic story of English POWs in Burma forced to build a bridge to aid the war effort of their Japanese captors. British and American intelligence...

Toward the Unknown

Toward the Unknown

1956

as Maj. Lincoln Bond

5.6
Acting

Tortured into a false confession while a POW in Korea, Major Lincoln Bond returns to active service as a test pilot. Determined to clear his name, Bon...

The Proud and Profane

The Proud and Profane

1956

as Lt. Col. Colin Black

6.0
Acting

In this romantic drama, beautiful Red Cross volunteer Lee Ashley arrives on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia to learn more about the circumst...

Picnic

Picnic

1955

as Hal Carter

6.3
Acting

Labor Day in a small Kansas farm town. Hal, a burly and resolute drifter, jumps off a dusty freight train car with the purpose of visiting Alan, a for...

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing

1955

as Mark Elliott

6.0
Acting

A widowed doctor of both Chinese and European descent falls in love with a married American correspondent in Hong Kong during China's Communist revolu...

The Country Girl

The Country Girl

1954

as Bernie Dodd

6.9
Acting

An actor on the skids is given one more chance to regain his stardom, as well as his self-respect, yet his alcoholism may prevent that from happening.

The Bridges at Toko-Ri

The Bridges at Toko-Ri

1954

as Lt. Harry Brubaker

6.0
Acting

A naval aviator is assigned to bomb a group of heavily defended bridges during the Korean War.

Sabrina

Sabrina

1954

as David Larrabee

7.5
Acting

Linus and David Larrabee are the two sons of a very wealthy family. Linus is all work – busily running the family corporate empire, he has no time for...

Executive Suite

Executive Suite

1954

as McDonald Walling

7.0
Acting

When the head of a large manufacturing firm dies suddenly from a stroke, his vice-presidents vie to see who will replace him.

The Girl on The Roof

The Girl on The Roof

1953

as A tourist

4.4
Acting

A comedy of manners, the film centers on virtuous actress Patty O'Neill, who meets playboy architect Donald Gresham on the observation deck of the Emp...

Escape from Fort Bravo

Escape from Fort Bravo

1953

as Captain Roper

6.2
Acting

A Southern belle frees a Rebel officer and his men from a Union captain's Arizona fort.

Forever Female

Forever Female

1953

as Stanley Krown

6.7
Acting

An aging actress has a hard time admitting she is too old to play the ingenue role anymore.

The Moon Is Blue

The Moon Is Blue

1953

as Donald Gresham

6.3
Acting

Two aging playboys are both after the same attractive young woman, but she fends them off by claiming that she plans to remain a virgin until her wedd...

Stalag 17

Stalag 17

1953

as Sgt. J.J. Sefton

7.7
Acting

It's a dreary Christmas 1944 for the American POWs in Stalag 17 and the men in Barracks 4, all sergeants, have to deal with a grave problem—there seem...

The Turning Point

The Turning Point

1952

as Jerry McKibbon

6.2
Acting

Special prosecutor John Conroy hopes to combat organized crime in his city and appoints his cop father Matt as chief investigator. John doesn't unders...

Boots Malone

Boots Malone

1952

as Boots Malone

7.5
Acting

An agent for horse jockeys faces his greatest challenge.

Submarine Command

Submarine Command

1951

as Lt. Cmdr. Ken White

5.6
Acting

Submarine commander Ken White is forced to suddenly submerge, leaving his captain and another crew member to die outside the sub during WW II. Subsequ...

Force of Arms

Force of Arms

1951

as Sgt. Joe 'Pete' Peterson

6.4
Acting

During the winter of 1943, the German Army halted the American advance in the mountains of Italy; back-and-forth combat decimates Joe Peterson's plato...

Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday

1950

as Paul Verrall

7.2
Acting

Uncouth, loud-mouth junkyard tycoon Harry Brock descends upon Washington D.C. to buy himself a congressman or two, bringing with him his mistress, ex-...

Union Station

Union Station

1950

as Lt. William Calhoun

6.4
Acting

Police catch a break when suspected kidnappers are spotted on a train heading towards Union Station. Police, train station security and a witness try ...

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard

1950

as Joe Gillis

8.3
Acting

A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.

You Can Change The World

You Can Change The World

1950

as Self

5.8
Acting

Comedian Jack Benny has his butler, Rochester, call several of his celebrity friends over to the house. Benny introduces them to a Catholic priest, wh...

Father Is a Bachelor

Father Is a Bachelor

1950

as Johnny Rutledge

7.4
Acting

Johnny Rutledge is a drifter who comes to and discovers a cabin in the forest where five kids: January, February, March, April, and May are living wit...

Dear Wife

Dear Wife

1949

as Bill Seacroft

6.0
Acting

In this sequel to Dear Ruth, teenaged Miriam starts a political campaign to nominate Bill Seacroft, her brother-in-law, for state senator in oppositio...

Miss Grant Takes Richmond

Miss Grant Takes Richmond

1949

as Dick Richmond

5.4
Acting

A bookie uses a phony real estate business as a front for his betting parlor. To further keep up the sham, he hires dim-witted Ellen Grant as his secr...

Streets of Laredo

Streets of Laredo

1949

as Jim Dawkins

5.9
Acting

Texas, 1878: cheerful outlaw-buddies Jim, Lorn and Wahoo rescue spunky orphan Rannie Carter from rustling racketeers, then are forced to separate. Lor...

The Dark Past

The Dark Past

1948

as Al Walker

5.8
Acting

A gang hold a family hostage in their own home. The leader of the escaped cons is bothered by a recurring dream that the doctor of the house may be ab...

Apartment for Peggy

Apartment for Peggy

1948

as Jason Taylor

7.8
Acting

Professor Henry Barnes decides he's lived long enough and contemplates suicide. His attitude is changed by Peggy Taylor, a chipper young mother-to-be ...

Rachel and the Stranger

Rachel and the Stranger

1948

as David “Big Davey" Harvey

6.2
Acting

A widowed farmer takes an indentured servant as his new wife, but the arrival of a passing stranger threatens their burgeoning relationship.

The Man from Colorado

The Man from Colorado

1948

as Capt. Del Stewart

6.7
Acting

Two friends return home after their discharge from the army after the Civil War. However, one of them has had deep-rooted psychological damage due to ...

Variety Girl

Variety Girl

1947

as William Holden

6.1
Acting

Dozens of star and character-actor cameos and a message about the Variety Club (a show-business charity) are woven into a framework about two hopeful ...

Dear Ruth

Dear Ruth

1947

as Lt. William Seacroft

6.6
Acting

Lt. William Seacroft, on leave from the Italian front, arrives at the New York home of Ruth Wilkins, with whom he has been corresponding. Unknown to b...

Blaze of Noon

Blaze of Noon

1947

as Colin McDonald

4.0
Acting

In this aerial melodrama, four brothers working as stunt pilots for a flying circus leave their jobs to become mail pilots. Because their job requires...

Wings Up

Wings Up

1943

as Himself

5.2
Acting

Clark Gable stars in this propaganda short about the Officers Candidate School of the Army Air Forces.

Young and Willing

Young and Willing

1943

as Norman Reese

4.7
Acting

For those, if any, who have wondered why so many Paramount contractees appeared in United Artists' films during the war years, this is another one of ...

Reconnaissance Pilot

Reconnaissance Pilot

1943

as Lt. Packard A. Cummings

Acting

Documentary/training film depicting the duties of a pilot in the Pacific Theatre of the Second World War as he flies reconnaissance missions over enem...

Meet the Stewarts

Meet the Stewarts

1942

as Michael "Mike" Stewart

4.3
Acting

A young, newlywed couple learns to make their marriage work—on a budget.

The Remarkable Andrew

The Remarkable Andrew

1942

as Andrew Long

8.2
Acting

When Andrew Long, hyper-efficient small town accountant, finds a $1240 discrepancy in the city budget, his superiors try to explain it away. When he i...

The Fleet's In

The Fleet's In

1942

as Casey Kirby

7.0
Acting

Shy sailor Casey Kirby suddenly becomes known as a sea wolf when his picture is taken with a famous actress. Things get complicated when bets are plac...

Texas

Texas

1941

as Dan Thomas

6.5
Acting

Two Virginians are heading for a new life in Texas when they witness a stagecoach being held up. They decide to rob the robbers and make off with the ...

I Wanted Wings

I Wanted Wings

1941

as Al Ludlow

5.4
Acting

Told in flashback, this drama follows the training and personal lives of three recruits in the Army Air Corps: a wealthy playboy, a college jock, and ...

Arizona

Arizona

1940

as Peter Muncie

6.2
Acting

Phoebe Titus is a tough, swaggering pioneer woman, but her ways become decidedly more feminine when she falls for California bound Peter Muncie. But P...

Those Were the Days!

Those Were the Days!

1940

as P. J. "Petey" Simmons

Acting

At a family gathering, an elderly man reflects on the follies of his youth during his freshman year at college.

Our Town

Our Town

1940

as Georges Gibbs

5.7
Acting

Change comes slowly to a small New Hampshire town in the early 20th century. We see birth, life and death in this small community.

Invisible Stripes

Invisible Stripes

1939

as Tim Taylor

6.3
Acting

A gangster is unable to go straight after returning home from prison.

Golden Boy

Golden Boy

1939

as Joe Bonaparte

6.5
Acting

Despite his talent as a musician, a city boy decides to become a boxer. He's successful as a fighter — much to the dismay of his parents. When gangste...

Million Dollar Legs

Million Dollar Legs

1939

as Graduate Who Says 'Thank You' (uncredited)

5.0
Acting

At Middleton College, controlled by rich donor Melton, only paying sports are allowed. But Freddie Frye, conniving student body president, has to get ...

Prison Farm

Prison Farm

1938

as Prisoner

5.7
Acting

Shirley Ross plays an innocent young girl convicted for complicity in a crime committed by her boy friend (Lloyd Nolan). The male crook is sentence to...