Editing William Holden

{{Short description|American actor (1918–1981)}}
{{redirect|Bill Holden||William Holden (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|William Holden (character actor)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = William Holden
| image              = WILLIAMHolden.jpg
| caption            = Holden in a publicity photo, 1950
| birth_name         = William Franklin Beedle Jr.
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1918|04|17}}
| birth_place        = [[O'Fallon, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|1981|11|12|1918|04|17}}}} 
| death_place        = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[Pasadena Junior College]]
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1938–1981
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Brenda Marshall]]|1941|1971|end=div}}
| children           = 4
| partner            = [[Stefanie Powers]] <br>(1972–1981; his death)
| awards             = {{ubl|[[Academy Award for Best Actor]] (1953)|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor]] (1974)}}
{{Infobox military person
|embed        = yes
|embed_title  = Military career
| allegiance  = {{flagu|United States}}
| branch_label= Branch
| branch      = {{flag|United States Army}}
| serviceyears= 1942–1945
| rank        = [[First lieutenant (United States)|First lieutenant]]
| unit        = 
| battles_label= Wars
| battles     = [[World War II]]
}}
}}

'''William Franklin Holden''' (né '''Beedle Jr.'''; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. He won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for the film ''[[Stalag 17]]'' (1953) and the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie]] for ''[[The Blue Knight (film)|The Blue Knight]]'' (1973).

Holden starred in some of Hollywood's most popular and critically acclaimed films, including ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]'' (1950), ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]'' (1954), ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]'' (1955), ''[[The Bridge on the River Kwai]]'' (1957), ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'' (1969) and ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]'' (1976). He was named one of the "[[Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll|Top 10 Stars of the Year]]" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared as 25th on the [[American Film Institute]]'s list of [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars|25 greatest male stars]] of [[Classical Hollywood cinema]].

==Early life and education==
[[File:William Holden-Cobb-Golden Boy.jpg|thumb|With [[Lee J. Cobb]] (right) in Holden's first starring role in a film, ''[[Golden Boy (1939 film)|Golden Boy]]'' (1939)]]
Holden was born William Franklin Beedle Jr. on April 17, 1918, in [[O'Fallon, Illinois]], son of Mary Blanche Beedle (née Ball), a schoolteacher, and her husband, William Franklin Beedle Sr., an industrial [[chemist]].<ref name="ref1">[http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/williamh/index.html "Ancestry of William Holden"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222041044/http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/williamh/index.html |date=February 22, 2008 }}, Genealogy.com; retrieved November 13, 2011.</ref> He had two younger brothers, Robert Westfield Beedle and Richard Porter Beedle. One of his father's grandmothers, Rebecca Westfield, was born in England, while some of his mother's ancestors settled in Virginia's [[Lancaster County, Virginia|Lancaster County]] after emigrating from England in the 17th century.<ref name="ref1"/>

His family moved to [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]] when he was three. After graduating from [[South Pasadena High School]], Holden attended [[Pasadena City College|Pasadena Junior College]], where he became involved in local radio plays.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Noguchi |first1=Thomas T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVA9DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22William+Holden%22+%22radio+plays%22&pg=PT136 |title=The Coroner Series: America's Most Controversial Medical Examiner Tells All |last2=DiMona |first2=Joseph |date=2017-11-28 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-5040-4967-2 |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
===Paramount===
Holden appeared uncredited in ''[[Prison Farm (film)|Prison Farm]]'' (1939) and ''[[Million Dollar Legs (1939 film)|Million Dollar Legs]]'' (1939) at Paramount.

A version of how he obtained his stage name "Holden" was given by George Ross of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' in 1939: "William Holden, the lad just signed for the coveted lead in ''Golden Boy'', used to be Bill Beadle{{sic}}. And here is how he obtained his new movie tag. On the [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]] lot is an assistant director and scout named [[Harold A. Winston|Harold Winston]]. Not long ago, he was divorced from the actress, [[Gloria Holden]], but carried the torch after the marital rift. Winston was one of those who discovered the ''Golden Boy'' newcomer and who renamed him—in honor of his former spouse!"<ref>Ross, George. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19390412&id=PE0bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MkwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2114,5630453 "Broadway: ''Golden Boy''"], ''The Pittsburgh Press'', April 12, 1939, p. 23.</ref>

===''Golden Boy''===
[[File:William Holden and George Raft in Invisible Stripes trailer.jpg|right|thumb|With [[George Raft]] (right) in ''[[Invisible Stripes]]'' (1939)]]

Holden's first starring role was in ''[[Golden Boy (1939 film)|Golden Boy]]'' (1939), costarring [[Barbara Stanwyck]], in which he played a violinist-turned-[[Boxing|boxer]].<ref name=obit /> The film was made for Columbia, which negotiated a sharing agreement with Paramount for Holden's services.

Holden was still an unknown actor when he made ''Golden Boy'', while Stanwyck was already a film star. She liked Holden and went out of her way to help him succeed, devoting her personal time to coaching and encouraging him, which made them lifelong friends. When she received her [[Academy Honorary Award|Honorary Oscar]] at the [[54th Academy Awards|1982 Academy Award ceremony]], Holden had died in an accident just a few months prior. At the end of her acceptance speech, she paid him a personal tribute: "I loved him very much, and I miss him. He always wished that I would get an Oscar. And so tonight, my golden boy, you got your wish".<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBhPI95FDZw&t=2m20s "Barbara Stanwyck's Honorary Award: 1982 Oscars"], Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences via Youtube.com; accessed November 12, 2016.</ref><ref>Robert Osborne, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuE4nHiXTf0 "TCM – Golden Boy"] via Youtube.com; accessed November 12, 2016.</ref>

Next he starred with [[George Raft]] and [[Humphrey Bogart]] in the [[Warner Bros.]] gangster epic ''[[Invisible Stripes]]'' (1939), billed below Raft and above Bogart.<ref>{{cite news| title=The Screen ... <!-- part of this title is omitted because it does not relate to Holden -->Strand Shows 'Invisible Stripes'| first=Frank S.| last=Nigent| date=January 13, 1940| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C00EEDE113EE23ABC4B52DFB766838B659EDE| newspaper=The New York Times| page=16| access-date=April 9, 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Back at Paramount, he starred with [[Bonita Granville]] in ''[[Those Were the Days!]]'' (1940) followed by the role of George Gibbs in the film adaptation of ''[[Our Town (1940 film)|Our Town]]'' (1940), done for [[Sol Lesser]] at United Artists.<ref>Capua 2010, pp. 16–17.</ref>

Columbia put Holden in a Western with [[Jean Arthur]], ''[[Arizona (1940 film)|Arizona]]'' (1940), then at Paramount he was in a hugely popular war film, ''[[I Wanted Wings]]'' (1941) with [[Ray Milland]] and [[Veronica Lake]].

He did another Western at Columbia, ''[[Texas (1941 film)|Texas]]'' (1941) with [[Glenn Ford]], and a musical comedy at Paramount, ''[[The Fleet's In (film)|The Fleet's In]]'' (1942) with [[Eddie Bracken]], [[Dorothy Lamour]], and [[Betty Hutton]].<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/variety149-1943-01#page/n57/mode/1up "101 Pix Gross in Millions" ''Variety'', January 6, 1943 p 58]</ref>

He stayed at Paramount for ''[[The Remarkable Andrew]]'' (1942) with [[Brian Donlevy]], then made ''[[Meet the Stewarts]]'' (1943) at Columbia. Paramount reunited Bracken and him in ''[[Young and Willing]]'' (1943).

===World War II===
Holden served as a second and then a first lieutenant in the [[United States Army Air Force]] during [[World War II]], where he acted in [[training film]]s for the [[First Motion Picture Unit]], including ''Reconnaissance Pilot'' (1943).

===Post war===
Holden's first film back from the services was ''[[Blaze of Noon]]'' (1947), an aviator picture at Paramount directed by [[John Farrow]]. He followed it with a romantic comedy, ''[[Dear Ruth (film)|Dear Ruth]]'' (1947) and he was one of many cameos in ''[[Variety Girl (film)|Variety Girl]]'' (1947).<ref name="uni">Richard B. Jewell, ''Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures'', Uni of California, 2016</ref> RKO borrowed him for ''[[Rachel and the Stranger]]'' (1948) with [[Robert Mitchum]] and [[Loretta Young]]. Holden starred in the [[20th Century Fox]] film ''[[Apartment for Peggy]]'' (1948). At Columbia, he starred in film noirs, ''[[The Dark Past]]'' (1948), ''[[The Man from Colorado]]'' (1949) and ''[[Father Is a Bachelor]]'' (1950). At Paramount, he did another Western, ''[[Streets of Laredo (film)|Streets of Laredo]]'' (1949). Columbia teamed him with [[Lucille Ball]] for ''[[Miss Grant Takes Richmond]]'' (1949), and the sequel to ''Dear Ruth'', ''[[Dear Wife]]'' (1949).

===''Sunset Boulevard''===
[[File:Gloria Swanson and William Holden.jpg|thumb|With [[Gloria Swanson]] in ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]'' (1950)]]
Holden's career took off again in 1950 when [[Billy Wilder]] tapped him to play a down-at-heel screenwriter taken in by a faded silent film actress ([[Gloria Swanson]]) in ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]''. Holden earned his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for the role.<ref>Capua 2010, pp. 54–55.</ref>

Getting the role was a lucky break for Holden, as [[Montgomery Clift]] was initially cast but backed out of his contract.<ref name=Monush>Monush, Barry. ''The Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors'', Applause (2003) pp. 335–336</ref> Swanson later said, "Bill Holden was a man I could have fallen in love with. He was perfection on and off screen."<ref name=Chandler/> And Wilder commented "Bill was a complex guy, a totally honorable friend. He was a genuine star. Every woman was in love with him."<ref name=Chandler>Chandler, Charlotte. ''Nobody's Perfect: Billy Wilder: a Personal Biography'', Simon & Schuster (2002) p. 147</ref> Paramount reunited him with [[Nancy Olson]], one of his ''Sunset Boulevard'' costars, in ''[[Union Station (film)|Union Station]]'' (1950).

Holden had another good break when he was cast as [[Judy Holliday]]'s love interest in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway hit ''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]'' (1950). He made two more films with Olson: ''[[Force of Arms (film)|Force of Arms]]'' (1951) at Warner Bros. and ''[[Submarine Command (film)|Submarine Command]]'' (1951) at Paramount. Holden did a sports film at Columbia, ''[[Boots Malone]]'' (1952), then returned to Paramount for ''[[The Turning Point (1952 film)|The Turning Point]]'' (1952).

===''Stalag 17'' and peak of stardom===
Holden was reunited with Wilder in ''[[Stalag 17]]'' (1953), for which Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor. His acceptance speech at the [[26th Academy Awards]] was one of the shortest in Oscar history: "Thank you ... thank you."<ref>[http://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/link/026-1/ William Holden Academy Awards Acceptance Speech], Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences</ref>

His success in ''Stalag 17'' ushered in the peak years of Holden's stardom.<ref name=obit /> He made a sex comedy with [[David Niven]] for [[Otto Preminger]], ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon Is Blue]]'' (1953), which was a huge hit, in part due to controversy over its content. At Paramount, he was in a comedy with [[Ginger Rogers]] that was not particularly popular, ''[[Forever Female]]'' (1953). A Western at MGM, ''[[Escape from Fort Bravo]]'' (1953) did much better, and the all-star ''[[Executive Suite (film)|Executive Suite]]'' (1954) was a notable success.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forever Female (1954) – Overview |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/75413/forever-female |website=Turner Classic Movies |access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref>

===''Sabrina''===
[[File:Holden-Hepburn-Sabrina.jpg|thumb|With [[Audrey Hepburn]] in ''Sabrina'' (1954)]]
Holden made a third film with Wilder, ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]'' (1954), billed beneath [[Audrey Hepburn]] and [[Humphrey Bogart]].<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Days, 30 Classics – Day 17: Sabrina (1954) starring Audrey Hepburn, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart|url=https://writerlovesmovies.com/2012/10/19/30-days-30-classics-day-17-sabrina-1954-starring-audrey-hepburn-william-holden-and-humphrey-bogart/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921165331/http://writerlovesmovies.com/2012/10/19/30-days-30-classics-day-17-sabrina-1954-starring-audrey-hepburn-william-holden-and-humphrey-bogart/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 21, 2015|website=Writer Loves Movies|access-date= January 3, 2017|date= October 19, 2012}}</ref> Holden and Hepburn became romantically involved during the filming, unbeknownst to Wilder: "People on the set told me later that Bill and Audrey were having an affair, and everybody knew. Well, not everybody! I didn't know."<ref name=Chandler/>{{rp|174}} The interactions between Bogart, Hepburn and Holden made shooting less than pleasant, as Bogart had wanted his wife, [[Lauren Bacall]], to play Sabrina. Bogart was not especially friendly toward Hepburn, who had little Hollywood experience, while Holden's reaction was the opposite, wrote biographer Michelangelo Capua.<ref>Capua 2010, p. 78</ref> Holden recalls their romance:{{blockquote|Before I even met her, I had a crush on her, and after I met her, just a day later, I felt as if we were old friends, and I was rather fiercely protective of her, though not in a possessive way.<ref>Capua 2010 p. 79</ref>}} Their relationship did not last much beyond the completion of the film. Holden, who was at this point dependent on alcohol, said, "I really was in love with Audrey, but she wouldn't marry me."<ref>Capua 2010 p. 77</ref> Rumors at the time had it that Hepburn wanted a family, but when Holden told her that he had had a vasectomy and having children was impossible, she moved on. (A few months later, Hepburn met [[Mel Ferrer]], whom she later married and with whom she had a son [[Sean Hepburn Ferrer]].)<ref>Capua 2010 p. 82</ref>

He took third billing for ''[[The Country Girl (1954 film)|The Country Girl]]'' (1954) with [[Bing Crosby]] and [[Grace Kelly]], directed by George Seaton from a play by [[Clifford Odets]]. It was a big hit, as was ''[[The Bridges at Toko-Ri (film)|The Bridges at Toko-Ri]]'' (1954), a [[Korean War]] drama with Kelly.<ref>{{cite news| title=Screen: Crosby Acts in 'Country Girl'; Film Based on Odets Drama Makes Bow| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0DE2D9123DE23BBC4E52DFB467838F649EDE| newspaper=The New York Times| first=Bosley| last=Crowther| author-link=Bosley Crowther| date=December 16, 1954| page=51| access-date=April 9, 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=The Screen in Review; 'Bridges at Toko-ri' Is Fine Film of War| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A07EED7123AE53BBC4951DFB766838E649EDE| date=January 21, 1955| first=Bosley| last=Crowther| page=20| newspaper=The New York Times| access-date=April 9, 2018|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 1954, Holden was featured on the cover of ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]''. On February 7, 1955, Holden appeared as a guest star on ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' as himself.<ref>{{cite journal| title="I Love Lucy" Friday: When Lucy comes face-to-face with William Holden at the Brown Derby| url=http://greginhollywood.com/i-love-lucy-friday-when-lucy-comes-face-to-face-with-william-holden-at-the-brown-derby-67679| first=Greg| last=Hernandez| date=May 4, 2012| journal=Greg in Hollywood.com| access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> The golden run at the box office continued with ''[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (film)|Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing]]'' (1955), from a bestselling novel, with [[Jennifer Jones]], and ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]'' (1955), as a drifter, in an adaptation of the [[William Inge]] play with [[Kim Novak]].<ref>{{cite journal| title=The Summer of Picninc| last=Shaffer| first=Bill| url=https://www.kshs.org/publicat/heritage/2005spring_shaffer.pdf| journal=Kansas Heritage| date=Spring 2005| pages=6–12| access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Woo| first1=Elaine| title=Han Suyin dies at 95; wrote 'Many-Splendored Thing'| url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2012-nov-11-la-me-han-suyin-20121111-story.html| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| access-date= January 3, 2017| date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> ''Picnic'' was his last film under the contract with Columbia.

A second film with Seaton did not do as well, ''[[The Proud and Profane]]'' (1956), where Holden played the role with a moustache. Neither did ''[[Toward the Unknown]]'' (1957), the one film Holden produced himself.

===''The Bridge on the River Kwai''===
[[File:William Holden and Chandran Rutnam while shooting The Bridge on the River Kwai.jpeg|left|thumb|Holden and [[Chandran Rutnam]] during shooting]]
Holden had his most widely recognized role as "Commander" Shears in [[David Lean]]'s ''[[The Bridge on the River Kwai]]'' (1957) with [[Alec Guinness]],<ref>{{cite web| title=13 Fascinating Facts About 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'| url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/82646/13-fascinating-facts-about-bridge-river-kwai| website=Mental Floss| access-date= January 3, 2017| date=July 7, 2016}}</ref> a huge commercial success. His deal was considered one of the best ever for an actor at the time, with him receiving 10% of the gross, which earned him over $2.5 million. He stipulated that he only receive a maximum of $50,000 of this per year (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50000|1957}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars {{inflation-fn|US}}).<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=2|date=May 21, 1958|title=Columbia Earns as It Holds Coin Due Bill Holden on 10% of 'Kwai'|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety210-1958-05#page/n147/mode/1up|access-date=January 23, 2021|via=[[Archive.org]]}}</ref>
[[File:William Holden and Donna Reed hold their gold-plated Oscars, 1954.jpg|right|thumb|With [[Donna Reed]] at the 1954 [[Academy Awards]] show]]
He made another war film for a British director, ''[[The Key (1958 film)|The Key]]'' (1958) with [[Trevor Howard]] and [[Sophia Loren]] for director [[Carol Reed]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Detail view of Movies Page| url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52624| website=www.afi.com| access-date= January 3, 2017}}</ref> He played an American Civil War military surgeon in [[John Ford]]'s ''[[The Horse Soldiers]]'' (1959) opposite [[John Wayne]], which was a box-office disappointment.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Longley York| first1=Neil| title=Fiction as Fact: "The Horse Soldiers" and Popular Memory| date=May 2001| publisher=The Kent State University Press| isbn=978-0873386883| page=82| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P3GCfNndaXcC&pg=PA82| access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> Columbia would not meet Holden's asking price of $750,000 and 10% of the gross for ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961); the amount he wanted exceeded the combined salaries of stars [[Gregory Peck]], [[David Niven]], and [[Anthony Quinn]].<ref>p. 120 Capua, Michelangelo ''William Holden: A Biography'' McFarland (2016)</ref>

Holden had another hit with ''[[The World of Suzie Wong (film)|The World of Suzie Wong]] '' (1960) with [[Nancy Kwan]], which was shot in Hong Kong. Less popular was ''[[Satan Never Sleeps]]'' (1961), the last film of [[Clifton Webb]] and [[Leo McCarey]]; ''[[The Counterfeit Traitor]]'' (1962), his third film with Seaton; or ''[[The Lion (1962 film)|The Lion]]'' (1962), with [[Trevor Howard]] and [[Capucine]]. The latter was shot in Africa and sparked Holden's fascination with the continent that was to last for the rest of his life.

Holden's films continued to struggle at the box office: ''[[Paris When It Sizzles]]'' (1964) with Hepburn was shot in 1962 but given a much delayed release; ''[[The 7th Dawn]]'' (1964) with Capucine and [[Susannah York]], a romantic adventure set during the [[Malayan Emergency]] produced by [[Charles K. Feldman]]; ''[[Alvarez Kelly]]'' (1966), a Western; and ''[[The Devil's Brigade (film)|The Devil's Brigade]]'' (1968). He was also one of many stars in Feldman's ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967).

===''The Wild Bunch''===
[[File:William Holden - 1970s.jpg|thumb|left|Holden in ''[[The Revengers (film)|The Revengers]]'' (1972)]]
In 1969, Holden made a comeback when he starred in director [[Sam Peckinpah]]'s graphically violent Western ''[[The Wild Bunch]]'',<ref name=obit /> winning much acclaim. Also in 1969, Holden starred in director [[Terence Young (director)|Terence Young]]'s family film ''[[The Christmas Tree (1969 film)|L'Arbre de Noël]]'', co-starring Italian actress [[Virna Lisi]] and French actor [[Bourvil]], based on the novel of the same name by Michel Bataille. This film was originally released in the United States as ''The Christmas Tree'' and on home video as ''When Wolves Cry.''<ref>Capua 2010, pp. 135–36, 141.</ref> Holden made a Western with [[Ryan O'Neal]] and [[Blake Edwards]], ''[[Wild Rovers]]'' (1971). It was not particularly successful. Neither was ''[[The Revengers (film)|The Revengers]]'' (1972), another Western.

For television roles in 1974, Holden won a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie]] for his portrayal of a cynical, tough veteran [[LAPD]] street cop in the television film ''[[The Blue Knight (film)|The Blue Knight]]'', based upon the bestselling [[Joseph Wambaugh]] novel of the same name.<ref>{{cite web| title=Nominations Search| url=http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=William+Holden&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2017-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_award_category=All| website=Television Academy| access-date=January 3, 2017| archive-date=January 4, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104090903/http://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=William+Holden&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_show_details_field_network=All&field_show_details_field_production_company=All&field_nominations_year=1949-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_nominations_year_1=2017-01-01+00%3A00%3A00&field_award_category=All| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=obit />

In 1973, Holden starred with [[Kay Lenz]] in a movie directed by [[Clint Eastwood]] called ''[[Breezy]]'', which was considered a box-office flop.<ref>{{cite web|title='Breezy' (1973): Clint Eastwood's little-known romance|url=http://www.thesamecinemaeverynight.net/breezy-1973-clint-eastwoods-little-known-romance/|website=The Same Cinema Every Night|access-date=January 3, 2017|date=May 24, 2012}}</ref> Also in 1974, Holden starred with [[Paul Newman]] and [[Steve McQueen]] in the critically acclaimed disaster film ''[[The Towering Inferno]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=The Towering Inferno Movie Review (1974) |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-towering-inferno-1974 |website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> which became a box-office smash and one of the highest-grossing films of Holden's career.

Two years later, he was praised for his Oscar-nominated leading performance in [[Sidney Lumet]]'s classic ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]'' (1976),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=Network Movie Review & Film Summary (1976) |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-network-1976|website=www.rogerebert.com |access-date= January 3, 2017}}</ref> an examination of the media written by [[Paddy Chayefsky]], playing an older version of the character type for which he had become iconic in the 1950s, only now more jaded and aware of his own mortality. Around this time he also appeared in ''[[21 Hours at Munich]]'' (1976).

===Final roles===
Holden made a fourth and final film for Wilder with ''[[Fedora (1978 film)|Fedora]]'' (1978). He followed it with ''[[Damien - Omen II]]'' (1978) and had a cameo in ''[[Escape to Athena]]'' (1978), which co-starred his real-life love interest [[Stefanie Powers]]. Holden had a supporting role in ''[[Ashanti (1979 film)|Ashanti]]'' (1979) and was third-billed in another disaster film, ''[[When Time Ran Out...]]'' (1980), which was a flop.<ref>{{cite web|title=William Holden Gave His All Even "When Time Ran Out..."| url=http://hillplace.blogspot.ca/2013/04/william-holden-when-time-ran-out.html| website=hillplace.blogspot.ca| access-date=January 3, 2017| date=April 18, 2013}}</ref> Holden starred in ''[[The Earthling]]'',<ref>{{cite news| title=Screen: A Final Journey In 'Earthling'| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F05E5DF1E38F93BA35751C0A967948260| newspaper=The New York Times| last=Canby| first=Vincent| author-link=Vincent Canby| date=February 8, 1981| access-date=January 3, 2017}}</ref> as a loner dying of cancer at the Australian [[outback]] and accompanying an orphan boy ([[Ricky Schroder]]). After his final film [[Blake Edwards|Blake Edwards']] ''[[S.O.B. (film)|S.O.B.]]'', with [[Julie Andrews]], Holden declined to star in [[Jason Miller (playwright)|Jason Miller]]'s film ''[[That Championship Season (1982 film)|That Championship Season]]''.<ref>Capua 2010, pp. 162–63.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Reagan wedding - Holden - 1952.jpg|thumb|275px|Matron of honor [[Brenda Marshall]] (left) and best man William Holden were the only guests at the 1952 wedding of Ronald and Nancy Reagan]]
Holden was best man at the wedding of his friend [[Ronald Reagan]] to actress [[Nancy Reagan|Nancy Davis]] in 1952. Although a registered Republican, he never involved himself in politics.

While in Italy in 1966, Holden killed another driver in a drunk-driving incident near [[Pisa]]. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for vehicular manslaughter.<ref>Brown, Andrew M. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110410131010/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100082838/should-we-let-alcoholics-drink-themselves-to-death/ "When Alcoholics drink themselves to death"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', London, April 7, 2011. {{dead link|date=December 2019}}</ref>

Holden maintained a home in Switzerland and also spent much of his time working for [[wildlife conservation]] as a managing partner in an animal preserve in Africa. His Mount Kenya Safari Club in [[Nanyuki]] (founded 1959) was popular with the international [[jet set]].<ref name="Bennett"/> On a trip to Africa, he fell in love with the wildlife and became increasingly concerned with the animal species that were beginning to decrease in population. With the help of his partners, he created the Mount Kenya Game Ranch and inspired the creation of the [[William Holden Wildlife Foundation]].<ref>[http://www.animalorphanagekenya.org/what-we-do/wildlife-education The William Holden Wildlife Education Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035809/http://www.animalorphanagekenya.org/what-we-do/wildlife-education/ |date=November 29, 2014 }}, ''Mount Kenya Wilderness Conservancy'', 2015; retrieved January 24, 2015.</ref>

===Marriage and relationships===
Holden had a daughter born in 1937 from his relationship with actress Eva May Hoffman.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Arlene Holden|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Arlene-Holden/6000000177148685837|access-date=November 27, 2021|website=geni_family_tree|language=en-US}}</ref>

Holden was married to actress [[Brenda Marshall]] from 1941 until their divorce in 1971.<ref name=obit /> They had two sons.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/2014/09/29/west-holden-william-holden-actor-death-theater/16457703| title=West Holden: More than just the son of William Holden| last=Fessier| first=Bruce| date=September 29, 2014| newspaper=[[The Desert Sun]]| location=Palm Springs, California}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=Frank |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M7X0EAXFR6wC&dq=%22William+Holden%22+%22brenda+marshall%22+%22Peter%22+%22scott%22&pg=PA101 |title=Leading Men: The 50 Most Unforgettable Actors of the Studio Era |date=2006-09-28 |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0-8118-5467-2 |pages=101 |language=en}}</ref> Holden also adopted Marshall's daughter from Marshall's previous marriage to actor [[Richard Gaines]].

Holden met French actress [[Capucine]] in the early 1960s. The two starred in the films ''[[The Lion (film)|The Lion]]'' (1962) and ''[[The 7th Dawn]]'' (1964). They reportedly began a two-year affair, which is alleged to have ended due to Holden's alcoholism.<ref>Osborne, Robert (host). "The Lion", ''Turner Classic Movies'', November 4, 2012.</ref> Capucine and Holden remained friends until his death in 1981.

In 1972, Holden began a nine-year relationship with actress [[Stefanie Powers]] and sparked her interest in animal welfare.<ref name="Capua 2010, p. 165">Capua 2010, p. 165.</ref> After his death, Powers set up the [[William Holden Wildlife Foundation]] at Holden's Mount Kenya Game Ranch.<ref>Bacon, Doris Klein. [http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082277,00.html "For Love of Bill"], ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'', Vol. 17, No. 21, May 31, 1982.</ref>

===Death===
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's autopsy report, Holden bled to death in his apartment in Santa Monica, California, on November 12, 1981, after lacerating his forehead by slipping on a rug while intoxicated and hitting a bedside table. Forensic evidence recovered at the scene suggested that the actor was conscious for at least half an hour after the fall. His body was found four days later.<ref name="AutopsyFiles" /> Rumors circulated that he was suffering from lung cancer, which Holden had denied at a 1980 press conference. His death certificate makes no mention of cancer.<ref name="Bennett">Bennett, Bruce. [http://www.nysun.com/arts/william-holdens-unscripted-fall-from-grace/81095/ "William Holden's Unscripted Fall From Grace"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923014132/http://www.nysun.com/arts/william-holdens-unscripted-fall-from-grace/81095 |date=September 23, 2013 }}, ''[[The New York Sun]]'', July 2, 2008.</ref><ref name="AutopsyFiles">[http://www.autopsyfiles.org/reports/deathcert/holden,%20william_dc.pdf Death Certificate of William Holden], autopsyfiles.org; accessed September 28, 2016.</ref> He dictated in his will that the [[Neptune Society]] cremate him and scatter his ashes in the Pacific Ocean. In accordance with his wishes, no funeral, or memorial service, was held.<ref>Capua 2010, p. 164</ref>

President Ronald Reagan released a statement: "I have a great feeling of grief. We were close friends for many years. What do you say about a longtime friend – a sense of personal loss, a fine man. Our friendship never waned."<ref name=obit>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/17/obituaries/william-holden-dead-at-63-won-oscar-for-stalag-17.html| title=William Holden Dead at 63; Won Oscar for 'Stalag 17'| last=Charlton| first=Linda| date=November 17, 1981| work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

For his contribution to the film industry, Holden has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] located at 1651 Vine Street.<ref>[http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/william-holden "Hollywood Star Walk: William Holden"], ''Los Angeles Times'', March 26, 2013.</ref> He also has a star on the [[St. Louis Walk of Fame]].<ref>[http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031162946/http://www.stlouiswalkoffame.org/inductees/?view=achievement |date=October 31, 2012 }}, ''St. Louis Walk of Fame''; retrieved January 24, 2015.</ref>

His death was noted by singer-songwriter [[Suzanne Vega]], whose 1987 song "[[Tom's Diner]]" evokes a sequence of events one morning in 1981. The song includes a mention of reading a newspaper article about "an actor who had died while he was drinking". Vega later confirmed that this is a reference to Holden.<ref name="Vega">[[Suzanne Vega]], [http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com//2008/09/23/toms-essay ''Tom's Essay''], ''The New York Times'', September 23, 2008; retrieved September 27, 2016.</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%;"
|+
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1938
| ''[[Prison Farm (film)|Prison Farm]]''
| Prisoner
| film debut<br />uncredited
|-
| rowspan=3|1939
| ''[[Million Dollar Legs (1939 film)|Million Dollar Legs]] ''
| Graduate who says 'Thank You'
| uncredited
|-
| ''[[Golden Boy (1939 film)|Golden Boy]]''
| Joe Bonaparte
|
|-
| ''[[Invisible Stripes]]''
| Tim Taylor
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1940
| ''[[Those Were the Days!]]''
| P.J. "Petey" Simmons
|
|-
| ''[[Our Town (1940 film)|Our Town]]''
| George Gibbs
|
|-
| ''[[Arizona (1940 film)|Arizona]]''
| Peter Muncie
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1941
| ''[[I Wanted Wings]]''
| Al Ludlow
|
|-
| ''[[Texas (1941 film)|Texas]]''
| Dan Thomas
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1942
| ''[[The Fleet's In]]''
| Casey Kirby
|
|-
| ''[[The Remarkable Andrew]]''
| Andrew Long
|
|-
| ''[[Meet the Stewarts]]''
| Michael Stewart
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Young and Willing]]''
| Norman Reese
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1947
| ''[[Blaze of Noon]]''
| Colin McDonald
|
|-
| ''[[Dear Ruth (film)|Dear Ruth]]''
| Lt. William Seacroft
|
|-
| ''[[Variety Girl]]''
| himself
|
|-
| rowspan=4|1948
| ''[[Rachel and the Stranger]]''
| Big Davey
|
|-
| ''[[Apartment for Peggy]]''
| Jason Taylor
|
|-
| ''[[The Dark Past]]''
| Al Walker
|
|-
| ''[[The Man from Colorado]]''
| Del Stewart
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1949
| ''[[Streets of Laredo (film)|Streets of Laredo]]''
| Jim Dawkins
|
|-
| ''[[Miss Grant Takes Richmond]]''
| Dick Richmond
|
|-
| ''[[Dear Wife]]''
| Bill Seacroft
|
|-
| rowspan=4|1950
| ''[[Father Is a Bachelor]]''
| Johnny Rutledge
|
|-
| ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]''
| Joe Gillis
| Nominated – [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]
|-
| ''[[Union Station (film)|Union Station]]''
| Lt. William Calhoun
|
|-
| ''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]''
| Paul Verrall
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1951
| ''[[Force of Arms]]''
| Sgt. Joe "Pete" Peterson
|
|-
| ''[[Submarine Command]]''
| LCDR Ken White
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1952
| ''[[Boots Malone]]''
| Boots Malone
|
|-
| ''[[The Turning Point (1952 film)|The Turning Point]]''
| Jerry McKibbon
|
|-
| rowspan=4|1953
| ''[[Stalag 17]]''
| Sgt. J. J. Sefton
| [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] <br /> Nominated – [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor]]
|-
| ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon Is Blue]]''
| Donald Gresham
|
|-
| ''[[Forever Female]]''
| Stanley Krown
|
|-
| ''[[Escape from Fort Bravo]]''
| Capt. Roper
|
|-
| rowspan=4|1954
| ''[[Executive Suite]]''
| McDonald Walling
| [[Grand Jury Prize (Venice Film Festival)|Venice Film Festival Special Award for Ensemble Acting]]
|-
| ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]''
| David Larrabee
|
|-
| ''[[The Bridges at Toko-Ri]]''
| LT Harry Brubaker, [[USNR]]
|
|-
| ''[[The Country Girl (1954 film)|The Country Girl]]''
| Bernie Dodd
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1955
| ''[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (film)|Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing]]''
| Mark Elliott
|
|-
| ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]''
| Hal Carter
| Nominated – [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor]]
|-
| rowspan=2|1956
| ''[[The Proud and Profane]]''
| Lt. Col. Colin Black
|
|-
| ''[[Toward the Unknown]]''
| Maj. Lincoln Bond
|
|-
| 1957
| ''[[The Bridge on the River Kwai]]''
| Cmdr. Shears
|
|-
| 1958
| ''[[The Key (1958 film)|The Key]]''
| Capt. David Ross
|
|-
| 1959
| ''[[The Horse Soldiers]]''
| Major Henry Kendall
|
|-
| 1960
| ''[[The World of Suzie Wong (film)|The World of Suzie Wong]]''
| Robert Lomax
| Nominated – [[Laurel Awards|Laurel Award for Top Male Dramatic Performance]]
|-
| rowspan=3|1962
| ''[[Satan Never Sleeps]]''
| Father O'Banion
|
|-
| ''[[The Counterfeit Traitor]]''
| Eric Erickson
|
|-
| ''[[The Lion (film)|The Lion]]''
| Robert Hayward
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1964
| ''[[Paris When It Sizzles]]''
| Richard Benson/Rick
| shot in 1962, given delayed release
|-
| ''[[The 7th Dawn]]''
| Major Ferris
|
|-
| 1966
| ''[[Alvarez Kelly]]''
| Alvarez Kelly
|
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]''
| Ransome
| cameo role
|-
| 1968
| ''[[The Devil's Brigade (film)|The Devil's Brigade]]''
| Lt. Col. [[Robert T. Frederick]]
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1969
| ''[[The Wild Bunch]]''
| Pike Bishop
|
|-
| ''[[The Christmas Tree (1969 film)|The Christmas Tree]]''
| Laurent Ségur
|
|-
| 1971
| ''[[Wild Rovers]]''
| Ross Bodine
|
|-
| 1972
| ''[[The Revengers (film)|The Revengers]]''
| John Benedict
|
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Breezy]]''
| Frank Harmon
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1974
| ''[[Open Season (1974 film)|Open Season]]''
| Hal Wolkowski
| cameo role
|-
| ''[[The Towering Inferno]]''
| Jim Duncan
|
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]''
| Max Schumacher
| Nominated – [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] <br /> Nominated – [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role]] <br /> Nominated – [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor]]
|-
| rowspan=2|1978
| ''[[Fedora (1978 film)|Fedora]]''
| Barry "Dutch" Detweiler
|
|-
| ''[[Damien - Omen II]]''
| Richard Thorn
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1979
| ''[[Escape to Athena]]''
| Prisoner smoking a cigar in prison camp
| uncredited
|-
| ''[[Ashanti (1979 film)|Ashanti]]''
| Jim Sandell
|
|-
| rowspan=2|1980
| ''[[When Time Ran Out]]''
| Shelby Gilmore
|
|-
| ''[[The Earthling]]''
| Patrick Foley
|
|-
| 1981
| ''[[S.O.B. (film)|S.O.B.]]''
| Tim Culley
| final film role
|-
| 1986
|''[[Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown]]''
| [[Charlie Brown]]
| archive audio recordings
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''
| Intermission Guest
| episode: "Love Letters"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[I Love Lucy]]''
| Himself
| episode: "L.A. at Last!"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''
| Himself
| episode: "William Holden/Frances Bergen Show"
|-
| 1973
| ''[[The Blue Knight (film)|The Blue Knight]]''
| Bumper Morgan
| Television film <br> [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series]]
|-
| 1976
| ''[[21 Hours at Munich]]''
| Chief of Police Manfred Schreiber
| Television film
|}

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Program
! Episode/source
|-
|1940
| rowspan="13"|''[[Lux Radio Theatre]]''
|''[[iarchive:OTRR Lux Radio Theatre Season 06 Singles/Lux Radio Theatre 40-05-06 262 Our Town .mp3|Our Town]]''
|-
|1942
|''[[I Wanted Wings]]''
|-
|1945
|''[[Christmas Holiday]]''
|-
|1946
|''[[Miss Susie Slagle's]]''<ref>{{cite news| title=Lux Star| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3329053/harrisburg_telegraph/| newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph| date=October 19, 1946| page=17| via=[[Newspapers.com]]| access-date=September 29, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|1948
|''[[Dear Ruth (film)|Dear Ruth]]''
|-
| rowspan="2" |1949
|''[[Apartment for Peggy]]''
|-
|''[[Dear Ruth (film)|Dear Ruth]]''
|-
| rowspan="4" |1951
|''[[Dear Wife]]''
|-
|''[[Love Letters (1945 film)|Love Letters]]''
|-
|''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]''
|-
|''[[The Men (1950 film)|The Men]]''
|-
| rowspan="3" |1952
|''[[Union Station (film)|Union Station]]''
|-
|''[[Submarine Command]]''<ref name=ddr1>{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2630463/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=November 23, 1952| page=48| via=Newspapers.com| access-date=June 16, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Hollywood Star Playhouse]]''
|''The Joyful Beggar''<ref name=ddr1/>
|-
| rowspan="2" |1953
|''Lux Radio Theatre''
|''[[Appointment with Danger]]''<ref>{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2654462/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=January 18, 1953| page=40| via=Newspapers.com| access-date=June 20, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Lux Summer Theatre]]''
|''[[High Tor (play)|High Tor]]''<ref>{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2722517/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=May 31, 1953| page=40| via=Newspapers.com| access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref>
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award 
! Category
! Nominated work
! Results
! Ref.
|-
| [[23rd Academy Awards|1950]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Academy Awards]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1951 |title=The 23rd Academy Awards (1951) Nominees and Winners |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093818/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/23rd-winners.html |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[26th Academy Awards|1953]]
| ''[[Stalag 17]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1954 |title=The 26th Academy Awards (1954) Nominees and Winners |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=May 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093858/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1954.html |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[49th Academy Awards|1976]]
| ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1977 |title=The 49th Academy Awards (1977) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 3, 2011 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202002051/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1977 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| [[10th British Academy Film Awards|1956]]
| rowspan="2"| [[British Academy Film Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Foreign Actor]]
| ''[[Picnic (1955 film)|Picnic]]''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards/search?search=William+Holden |title=William Holden |publisher=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[31st British Academy Film Awards|1977]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| ''Network''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1951
| rowspan="2"| [[Golden Apple Award]]s
| rowspan="2"| Most Cooperative Actor
| {{n/a}}
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 
|-
| 1955
| {{n/a}}
| {{won}}
|-
| 1953
| rowspan="10"| [[Laurel Awards]]
| Top Male Dramatic Performance
| ''Stalag 17''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="10"| 
|-
| 1954
| Top Male Comedy Performance
| ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 1957
| rowspan="4"| Top Male Star
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|4th Place}}
|-
| 1958
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| 1959
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|7th Place}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1960
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| Top Male Dramatic Performance
| ''[[The World of Suzie Wong (film)|The World of Suzie Wong]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 1961
| rowspan="3"| Top Male Star
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|12th Place}}
|-
| 1962
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|14th Place}}
|-
| 1963
| {{n/a}}
| {{draw|13th Place}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1940|1940]]
| rowspan="2"| [[National Board of Review|National Board of Review Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| Best Acting
| ''[[Our Town (1940 film)|Our Town]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1940/ |title=1940 Award Winners |publisher=[[National Board of Review]] |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 1942|1942]]
| ''[[The Remarkable Andrew]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1942/ |title=1942 Award Winners |publisher=[[National Board of Review]] |access-date=October 3, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| [[1976 National Society of Film Critics Awards|1976]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics|National Society of Film Critics Awards]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''Network''
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/ |title=Past Awards |date=December 19, 2009 |publisher=[[National Society of Film Critics]] |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[1953 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|1952]]
| [[New York Film Critics Circle|New York Film Critics Circle Awards]]
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''Stalag 17''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nyfcc.com/awards/ |title=Awards – New York Film Critics Circle |publisher=[[New York Film Critics Circle]] |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 2010
| Online Film & Television Association Awards
| Film Hall of Fame: Actors
| {{n/a}}
| {{won|Inducted}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-actors/ |title=Film Hall of Fame: Actors |publisher=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| 1955
| rowspan="2"| [[Photoplay#The Photoplay Magazine Medal of Honor|Photoplay Awards]]
| rowspan="2"| Most Popular Male Star
| {{n/a}}
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 
|-
| 1956
| {{n/a}}
| {{won}}
|-
| 1950
| [[Picturegoer|Picturegoer Awards]]
| Best Actor
| ''Sunset Boulevard''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| 
|-
| [[26th Primetime Emmy Awards|1974]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series]]
| ''[[The Blue Knight (film)|The Blue Knight]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/william-holden |title=William Holden |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[15th Venice International Film Festival|1954]]
| [[Venice Film Festival]]
| [[Grand Jury Prize (Venice Film Festival)|Grand Jury Prize]]
| ''[[Executive Suite]]''
| {{won}}
| align="center"| 
|}

==Box-office ranking==
For a number of years, exhibitors voted Holden among the most popular stars in the country:
* 1954 – 7th (US)
* 1955 – 4th (US)
* 1956 – 1st (US)
* 1957 – 7th (US)
* 1958 – 6th (US), 6th (UK)
* 1959 – 12th (US)
* 1960 – 14th (US)
* 1961 – 8th (US)
* 1962 – 15th (US)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Capua, Michelangelo (2010). [https://books.google.com/books?id=uMp6ACb74UkC&pg=PP1 ''William Holden: A Biography.''] Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-4440-3}}.
* {{cite book| last1=Gaines| first1=Virginia Holden| last2=Prcic| first2=Mike| year=2007| title=Growing Up with William Holden: A Memoir| publisher=Mehmed Prcic| isbn=978-0-9741304-5-3}}.
* {{cite book| last=Heymann| first=C. David| date=July 14, 2009| title=Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story| location=New York| publisher=Simon & Schuster| isbn=978-1-4001-6422-6}}.
* {{cite book| last=Phillips| first=Gene D.| year= 2010| title=Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder| location=Lexington, Kentucky| publisher=University Press of Kentucky| isbn=978-0-8131-2570-1}}.
* {{cite book| last=Quirk| first=Lawrence J.| year=1986| title=The Complete Films of William Holden| location=Sacramento, California| publisher=Citadel Press| isbn=978-0-8065-0998-3| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llR4QgAACAAJ&q=The+Complete+Films+of+William+Holden|url-access=subscription }}.
* {{cite book| last=Quirk| first=Lawrence J.| year=1973| title=The Films of William Holden| location=Sacramento, California| publisher=Citadel Press| isbn=978-0-8065-0375-2}}.
* {{cite book| last=Strodder| first=Chris| year=2000| title=Swingin' Chicks Of the Sixties| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g__eYOBse60C&q=holden| location=San Rafael, California| publisher=Cedco Publishing Company| isbn=978-0-7683-2232-3}}.
* {{cite book| last=Thomas| first=Bob| year=1983| title=Golden Boy: The Untold Story of William Holden| location=New York| publisher=St. Martin's Press| isbn=978-0-312-33697-4}}.

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{iMDb name|34}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141113113522/http://inlovingmemoryof.me/rip/william-holden-i In Loving Memory Of William Holden]}}
* [https://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/31584 Profile] @ [[Turner Classic Movies]]
* [http://www.whwf.org/ William Holden Wildlife Foundation]
* [http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz002hj52x Image of William Holden and Brenda Marshall, Academy Awards, Los Angeles, 1951]. [[Los Angeles Times]] Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for William Holden
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestActor 1941-1960}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesLeadActor 1950-1975}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holden, William}}
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