William Holden

William Holden

WILLIAM HOLDEN d1981. Academy and Emmy award-winning American actor and one of the most popular and well known movie stars of all time. He was one of the biggest box office draws of the 1950s and was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times (1954–1958 & 1961). He starred in some of the most popular and critically acclaimed films of all time including such blockbusters as ; Sunset Boulevard (1950) / The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957) / The Wild Bunch (1969) / The Towering Inferno (1974) and Network (1976). Holden was the best man at the marriage of his friend future US President Ronald Reagan to Nancy Davis in 1952. In 1954 during the filming of Sabrina, he and co-star Audrey Hepburn became romantically involved ; she hoped to marry him and have children, but she broke off the relationship when Holden revealed that he had undergone a vasectomy. He met French actress Capucine in the early 1960s. They starred in the films The Lion (1962) and The 7th Dawn (1964). They began a two-year affair ; after it ended, they remained close friends until his death in 1981. In 1964, Holden was again paired up with Hepburn in "Paris When It Sizzles", but behind the scenes the set was plagued with problems. He tried without success to rekindle his romance with the now-married Hepburn and this situation combined with his alcoholism, made production a challenge. While in Italy in 1966, Holden killed another driver in a  drink driving incident. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for vehicular manslaughter. In 1972, he began a nine-year relationship with actress Stephanie Powers which sparked her interest in animal welfare. After his death, she set up the William Holden Wildlife Foundation at his Mount Kenya Game Ranch. On November 12th 1981 (according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report) Holden was alone and intoxicated in his apartment in California, when he slipped on a throw rug severely lacerating his forehead on a teak bedside table and as a result bled to death. In private he often made a point to go out drinking, sometimes running into trouble and in the end his alcoholism most likely caught up with him. Evidence later suggested he was conscious for at least half an hour after the fall. It is probable that he may not have realized the severity of the injury and did not summon aid, or was unable to call for help. His body was found four days later. He was 63 years old ..........

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William Holden

Reference Number. 14192A

£195.00

A good original vintage circa 1950s autograph book page, clearly signed in ink by William Holden 

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William Holden

Reference Number. 14192AA

£250.00

A desirable original vintage circa 1948 Kodachrome photocard, clearly signed in ink by William Holden 

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