Inside William Holden's Frightening Final Moments

William Holden passed away in 1981 at the age of 63. He had suffered from alcoholism for decades before slipping and falling while changing his clothes and hitting his head on a nightstand. He died of bloodless alone in his apartment in Santa Monica, California. His body wasn't discovered for 4 days. He last spoke to his girlfriend, actress Stefanie Powers, one week before his death.

Holden was born on April 17, 1918. His chiseled leading-man looks are what landed him a contract with Columbia Pictures in the 1930s even without a screen test. His first big role as boxer-turned-violinist Joe Bonaparte in 1939s Golden Boy put him on the map. He starred in some two dozen films after that with varying degrees of success before landing one of the roles of his lifetime in 1950s Sunset Blvd.

For the next 20 or so years, Holden enjoyed a tremendous amount one success in the film industry. Sadly, his drinking caused him to age much quicker than he should of. By the mid-1970s, his film career had pretty much fizzled out. After leaving Hollywood, William Holden devoted much of his life to wildlife conservation work.

Inside William Holden's Frightening Final Moments
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[raymondalvin]

The film that did it for me without a doubt was PICNIC by far. His charm, his natural acting, his smile all proved to be his and his alone. Sorry the man left us so soon.

[MyLady]

This is so heartbreaking. He needed peace and healing. I lost family members due to alcoholism. Very hard struggle and when a friend or family member has this problem, you have to stay close to them as best as you can. Sometimes we have them and they come out of it but sometimes it’s too late. My heart goes out to His family. I know that pain losing someone you love to this. Very hard. 😭 He was an amazing actor. May He R.I.P. 🙏🏼🌹

[paul]

My favorite Holden film was “Picnic”, it’s the first movie I saw him in as a kid. Next, he was hilarious in “I Love Lucy” when he gets a pie in the face. I always admired him when he made that speech at the Oscars claiming how things went wrong during the filming of “Golden Boy” and that Barbara Stanwyck saved his career. That takes guts to say that !

[rozchristopherson]

A piece of movie trivia. William Holden was the first choice to play Robert Thorn in the first installment of the Omen. Holden turned it down and the role went to Gregory Peck. The movie became a blockbuster and a legend to this day. When it became time for Omen II, Holden signed on to play the brother of Robert Thorn, Richard Thorn, the uncle of Damien Thorn. Holden was sorry he turned down the first Omen and was happy to get the opportunity to be included in the second Omen movie.

[mNmbr]

Such a beautiful, yet troubled man. Easily, my favorite actor. Favorite movie, without question, is "Network"-brilliant film, brilliant screenplay-so far ahead of it's time! May he rest in eternal peace.

[anarchistatheist]

He was excellent in stalag 17. He had a unfortunate accidental end. May he rest in peace.

[ediekoller]

I loved William Holden he was so handsome. He was so good in Stalag 17, Texas, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Golden Boy, Bridge Over the River Kwai Born Yesterday, but my very favorite was
Sunset Blvd. I remember when he died in 1981 and that was a few weeks before Natalie Wood died November 29th 1981. Senseless deaths for both of them.

[lynnpurcell]

Sunset Boulevard and Picnic both are really good movies. What a really sad ending for such a talented man.

[meganruchwatercolors]

Oh Lord, he is truly a real Man!!! Love him!

[SuperMinion-vyhk]

Loved William Holden ❤ Still do he is my favourite Hollywood actor.

[philpacella]

Sunset Boulevard is my fav. I think he was the best ever leading man. His characters had a vulnerability. His characters seemed to know things that others on screen didn’t see. He put good spin on the ball.
Like his characters, the man was very smart. I think, maybe, he saw too much; he was unhappy.

[PERNELLSGIRLful]

The Moon is Blue...He is one of my all time favorite actors❤.I collected all his movies on dvd some very hard to find thanks for making this clip.He was such a talented darn handsome Person and should never be forgotten...RIP Bill 😪❤❤❤❤

[thisisme]

"Towering Inferno, " was my favorite William Holden movie. Seems like he was somewhat of a loner. RIP WILLIAM HOLDEN 🙏

[pmafterdark]

Really loved Bill Holden's work. Especially in Sunset Boulevard and Bridge on the River Kwai among others. It was tragic we lost him as well as Natalie Wood both in the same month.

[graemewy]

The World of Susie Wong (with Nancy Kwan 1960 ) was my favourite William Holden movie.

[FreyaF...]

The best movie William Holden ever was in was "Sabrina"... it is still wonderful. And what a cast!!

[heatherh.]

This show is so much fun. I've been watching consecutive episodes one after another since yesterday😃👍

[thomasbracken]

I do remember him when Lucy went to Hollywood

[arthursteven]

Adored in scotland ( my country) one of the finest actors of his generation

[fredsmith]

He gave a first class performance in The Towering Inferno and also in Network. Great chemistry between him and Faye Dunaway.