The studio relented and Bill Holden’s career commenced. Nearly 5,000 actors went after the part, but Barbara Stanwyck pushed hard for him to get it, and she carried considerable clout back then. His insecurity, lack of confidence, led to his need for reassurance through alcohol. The studio threw him into Golden Boy when he was 20 and nowhere near ready to carry a major film.
His family moved to Pasadena, California when he was three, and 16 years later, in 1937, he was signed by Paramount Pictures because of his looks alone. He was born William Beedle Junior in Illinois in 1918. He was also strong, fearless and intelligent, blessed with all the qualities that most other men can only dream of. He was gifted with talent, looks, charm and charisma. Unfortunately, he was also an alcoholic, from his teens until the day he died. Women adored him, even men grudgingly conceded that he was both rugged and charming, certainly no milk sop.
William Holden featured in a lot of very good movies during his career.
