William Holden was a Hollywood star whose career spanned four decades, more than 70 films and three Academy Award nominations. “Golden Holden” won an Oscar for his role in Stalag 17 and, after films like Sunset Blvd., he became one of Hollywood’s most powerful stars in the late 1950s. His personal life included international adventures and romances with such stars as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, yet he suffered from alcoholism and clinical depression. This biography covers his entire life and career, from boyhood through his greatest successes, short decline, re-emergence in The Wild Bunch, and his legacy of support for African wildlife.

Michelangelo Capua is the author of several McFarland biographies of Hollywood film stars. He lives in London.

Michelangelo Capua

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 211
Bibliographic Info: 38 photos, notes, filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4440-3
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5550-8
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction      3

1. Wild Boy      5
2. Golden Boy      15
3. Love and War      29
4. Smiling Jim      40
5. Sunset Blvd.      50
6. Hollywood Babylon      62
7. Audrey and Grace      77
8. Golden Holden      88
9. The Reluctant Hero      98
10. World Citizen      111
11. Booze and Tragedy      122
12. The Wild Bunch      135
13. A New Kind of Love      147
14. Lousy Fadeout      158

Filmography      167
Documentaries, Television Films and Appearances, Radio Programs, and Music and Soundtracks      181
Chapter Notes      185
Bibliography      191
Index      197