William Holden

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.

He has a daughter Arlene with actress Eva May Hoffman who was brought up by her mother.

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 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 had two younger brothers named Robert and Richard.

His family was quite wealthy and moved from O’Fallon to South Pasadena when he was three years old.

He did his schooling from the ‘South Pasadena High School’.

After completing high school he enrolled at the ‘Pasadena Junior College’ to study chemistry where he got involved in acting in different plays.

William Holden’s acting career started with the film ‘Golden Boy’ in 1939 when he was still unknown as an actor.

His next film was ‘Invisible Stripes’ by Warner Bros. in 1940 and ‘Our Town’ the same year

He joined the US Army Air Forces in the Second World War as a Second Lieutenant.

His popularity as an actor increased with the film ‘Sunset Boulevard’ in 1950 which helped him earn his first Oscar nomination as ‘Best Actor’.

In 1950 he acted in the comedy ‘Born Yesterday’.

William Holden won the ‘Academy Award for Best Actor’ in 1953 for his role in ‘Stalag 17’.

He was honored with a star on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’ and a star on the ‘St. Louis Walk of Fame’.

He has been immortalized in the song ‘Floating’ sung by the Canadian band ‘Blue Rodeo’