Origins & Early Life

William Franklin Holden (né Beedle; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor. He was an Academy Award and Primetime Emmy Award winner, and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. He was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times (1954–1958, 1961), and appeared as 25th on the American Film Institute's list of 25 greatest male stars of Classical Hollywood cinema. Holden began appearing in films the late 1930s, playing his first lead role in the boxing drama Golden Boy (1939).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He would establish himself as a reliable and bankable leading man during the following decade, twice winning the National Board of Review Award, and would gain further critical recognition with his performance as Joe Gillis in Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950). In 1954, he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a prisoner-of-war in Wilder's Stalag 17. Holden would co-star in several popular and critically-acclaimed films, including Sabrina (1954), Executive Suite (1954), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The World of Suzie Wong (1960), The Wild Bunch (1969) and Network (1976). He won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdul Hamid II — Contemporary (Died in 1918) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Abraham Pais — Contemporary (Born in 1918) (1918): Pioneering physicist and acclaimed science historian of modern physics.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Contemporary (Born in 1918) (1918): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• Abigail Spencer — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): American actress, producer, and writer known for roles in soap operas and dramas.
• Alicia Keys — Contemporary (Born in 1981) (1981): Award-winning pianist and vocalist known for her soulful R&B sound.
• Anwar Sadat — Contemporary (Died in 1981) (1981): Egyptian President who spearheaded economic reform and the peace treaty with Israel.
• Alexander II of Russia — Shared historical date (04-17 · Born) (1818): Emperor of Russia, known as 'The Liberator' for abolishing serfdom.
• Benjamin Franklin — Shared historical date (04-17 · Died) (1790): American polymath, Founding Father, and inventor who shaped the early United States.
• Auguste Rodin — Shared historical date (11-12 · Born) (1840): Founder of modern sculpture, celebrated for naturalism and emotional depth.
• Baháʼu'lláh — Shared historical date (11-12 · Born) (1817): Founder of the Baháʼí Faith, whose teachings emphasize unity and world governance.
• 1918 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1918
• April 17 (04-17) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 17
• 1981 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1981
• November 12 (11-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 12