The First Million Dollar Man – Actor William Holden
Mr. William Beedle, Jr. is the late William Holden. He changed his name when he got to Hollywood, and landing in Tinsel Town for Holden was a total mistake. In fact he was accidentally discovered, but became one of Hollywood’s leading men during the 1950s. Some say he was a reluctant star, and never was comfortable with the idea of being an actor at all, but he did make a lot of money doing it.
The star of William Holden rose fast, he was cast in his first leading he-man role after being seen by a scout in college. Hollywood needed new blood for the rising film industry, and Holden’s good looks and natural charm fit the bill just perfect. In 1939 he took on the role of a tough boxer and violinist in the movie “Golden Boy”, but Columbia pictures nearly dropped him for their contract because he was so nervous in front of a camera. Fortunately for movie goers, the late and great film actress Barbara Stanwick helped him over come his fear, and Holden remembered this for the rest of his life.
William served in WWII, but returned to the film stage and for a while made movies, but the roles were not that intense. It seemed to fit his basic personality that he made a living without to much hoopla. In 1950 though it changed when he worked with Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard”, and he became a recognizable face on the big screen. In fact he won his first Academy Award nomination as the best actor for his romance with the character Norma Desmond in that year.
Holden’s most famous role was in “Stalag 17” in 1953, and he would take home the Academy Award. Sadly though for Holden, this would be the only award from the academy that he would ever receive. He was nominated a few times, but could never bring home the gold again. His last nomination did not come for another 23 years in “Network”. Through out the years he acted with many of the nation’s top actors and actress. In 1954 he acted with the legendary likes of Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn in “Sabrina” in 1954, and was the lead in “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing” in 1956.
During the 1960s and 1970s Holden was financially stable enough that he could be picky about the roles he took on. He was on screen for another 30+ years, but he alternated bit parts with major film roles. In 1969 “The Wild Bunch” was a major role, but a short 5 years later in another major motion picture blockbuster, “Towering Inferno” he made a guest shot appearance. Movies were not the only work he did toward his sunset years. The series “The Blue Knight” in 1973 gained him an Emmy Award for his TV appearance in it. At last his Academy Award was not alone on the fireplace mantel, seemed to be his outlook on winning it.
William Holden’s romantic life was a wild one. His good looks and personality gained him a lot of favor with the ladies in Hollywood. Holden was the quintessential ladies man, and could always be found on the arm of a debutante in Tinsel Town. His financials did not hurt him either, as far as women’s attraction to him. Personally, he chose to move over seas so he would not have to pay a heavy fines in taxes to ole Uncle Sam, after all he was a millionaire, and never saw why he should be taxed so hard for the money he made.
The high salary that Holden made in his early years with Columbia and Paramount, and his continued work in movies and on TV, gave him an opportunity to work in charities, and one of his favorites was wild life preservation in Africa. Tirelessly he joined others in helping animals survive poaching and sport killing of some of Africa’s big game, like the tiger and elephant. His soft side was always underneath his skin and visible when it came to defending the defenseless in wildlife.
Holden’s filmography includes 71 movies and numerous guest appearances on TV. He was maybe a reluctant star at first, but grew into the role as time went by. He ended his life alone after hitting his head, and bled to death. Truly though, he was the first million dollar man in Hollywood, and a gentleman in his own right.
