Here’s a Q&A on O’Fallon native William Holden’s life & how to see his features on TCM
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O’Fallon native William Holden enjoyed a meteoric rise through Hollywood, particularly in the 1950s when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Stalag 17.”
For you newcomers to the metro-east who didn’t know about Holden’s ties to the area or are just fans of the actor known for his rugged, good looks, here’s a Q&A about Holden:
How is Holden being featured this month by Turner Classic Movies during the channel’s “31 Days of Oscar” programming?
You can see Holden on Turner Classic Movies at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday in “Born Yesterday,” in which he stars as a journalist named Paul Verrall and the love interest of Judy Holliday, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1950 film.
Holden also will be featured on the channel at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 in “The Bridge on the River Kwai.”
Holden played Shears in the 1957 movie, which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Alec Guinness.
In the “31 Days of Oscar,” Turner Classic Movies only shows films that have an Oscar winner.
The 2022 Academy Awards will be on ABC at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.
Where was Holden born?
Holden was born on April 17, 1918, in his grandfather’s house in O’Fallon. His given name was William Franklin Beedle Jr. and his family moved to California when he was a toddler.
Beedle wasn’t the best name for an actor, and he agreed to change his last name to “Holden.”
In 2018, O’Fallon celebrated the 100th anniversary of Holden’s birthday. The O’Fallon Progress reported at the time that Holden returned to the metro-east city with his wife Brenda Marshall.
What are his ties with President Ronald Reagan?
Holden was the best man and Marshall was the matron of honor at Ronald Reagan’s wedding to actress Nancy Davis in 1952. Reagan’s first marriage, to actress Jane Wyman, had ended in 1949.
Like Holden, Reagan also had personal links to O’Fallon.
Reagan’s aunt ran a confectionery in O’Fallon, and Reagan visited her during summers when he lived in Dixon, Illinois, as a child and young man, according to the O’Fallon Progress.
Along with his role as Sgt. J.J. Sefton in ‘Stalag 17’ in 1953, what other honors did Holden win?
He was nominated for Best Actor in two other movies: the 1950 film “Sunset Boulevard” for playing screenwriter Joe Gillis and for the 1976 film “Network” for playing broadcast executive Max Schumacher.
Holden also won an Emmy for the 1973 television miniseries “The Blue Knight.”
In what other notable movies did Holden appear?
Holden’s credits include “Golden Boy” in 1939, “Invisible Stripes” in 1939, “Sabrina” in 1954, “Picnic” in 1955, “The Wild Bunch” in 1969 and “The Towering Inferno” in 1974.
How did Holden die?
Holden, who had battled alcoholism, was found dead on Nov. 16, 1981, in his Los Angeles apartment. He was 63.
The coroner’s office said Holden was “heavily intoxicated” and his death was caused by massive bleeding from a cut he suffered on his forehead when he slipped or tripped on a rug and then struck the edge of a table, The New York Times reported.
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 6:30 AM.
