Orson Welles
Photo: Carl Van Vechten / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Birth Date
May 6, 1915
Died
October 10, 1985
Nationality
United States
Sun Sign
Taurus
Natural hair color
Dark Brown
Eye color
Dark Brown
Height
6 ft 2 in | 188 cm
Weight
98 kg | 218 pounds
Shoe size
Not available
Early acting career First movie Breakthrough
Orson Welles was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States, on May 6, 1915, was an American actor, writer and director.
Young Orson Welles first started performing during his years at the Todd Seminary for Boys, in school theater productions and on radio station.
He began his professional career on stage in a play "Jew Suss" (1931), in role as Duke Karl Alexander of Württemberg, at Gate Theatre, in Dublin, Ireland.
He made his professional debut on radio in The American School of the Air (1934).
He causes a nationwide panic with his broadcast of “War of the Worlds” (1938).
He made his big screen debut in drama movie Citizen Kane (1941) which he directed, co-wrote, produced and starred in lead role as Charles Foster Kaneas and for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and he won the Academy Award for best Screenplay.
He made his Broadway debut in a play "Romeo and Julietin" (1934) in role as Tybalt, at the age of 19.
He directed and starred in role as Brutus in the Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (1937), which became the longest running version in Broadway history.
Best Movies
He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role as Judge Rauch in crime drama film Butterfly (1982).
He directed and starred in role as Sir John Falstaff in comedy drama film Chimes at Midnight (Campanadas a medianoche) (1965), for which he won two awards at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor.
Touch of Evil (1958) drama mystery in role as Police Captain Hank Quinlan, with Charlton Heston and Marlene Dietrich (director, screenwriter)
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) drama with Joseph Cotten (director, producer, screenwriter and narrator)
The Lady from Shanghai (1947) noir in role as Michael O'Hara, with Rita Hayworth (director, producer, co-screenwriter)
The Trial (1962) black comedy drama in role as Albert Hastler, opposite Anthony Perkins and Romy Schneider (director, screenwriter)
The Stranger (1946) noir in role as Franz Kindler, also known as Professor Charles Rankin, with Loretta Young (director, co-screenwriter)
Macbeth (1948) historical drama war in role as Macbeth (director, screenwriter, producer)
Othello (1951) drama romance in role as Othello (director, producer, screenwriter)
Facts
Attended public school in Madison, Wisconsin.
Graduated from independent school Todd Seminary for Boys in Woodstock, Illinois in 1931.
Had German, Irish and Scottish ancestry.
He directed thirteen full-length films during his career.
He was awarded two Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion photos at 1600 Vine Street and for Radio at 6652 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Founded an independent repertory theatre company, Mercury Theatre (1937).
He received an Academy Honorary Award in 1970.
Was a good friend with John Huston.
Was a big fan of animated films.
Posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1988.
Welles died on October 10, 1985, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, at age of 70.
Spouse
He was married married to:
Paola Mori (1955-1985) they had one daughter, Beatrice Welles
Rita Hayworth (1943-1947) they had one daughter, Rebecca Welles Manning
Virginia Nicolson (1934-1940) they had one daughter, Christopher Welles Feder
Relationships
He had relationships with: Oja Kodar (1966-1985), Marlene Dietrich (1958-1959), Ludmilla Tchérina (1952), Eartha Kitt (1950-1952), Nancy Valentine (1946), Lea Padovani (1943-1944), Billie Holiday (1942), Dolores del Rio (1941-1943), Vera Zorina (1938), Geraldine Fitzgerald (1939) and Lynn Remar (1938-1941).