William Holden
ActingAbout William Holden
William Holden (April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1953 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974. 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 on the American Film Institute's AFI's 100 Years…100 Stars list as #25.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of William Holden reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of William Holden's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 62% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), William Holden remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Sunset Boulevard, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best William Holden Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from William Holden's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of William Holden.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess | Self - Actor (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Edith Head: The Paramount Years | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Making of 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Audrey Hepburn: Remembered | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker | Donald Gresham (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Grace Kelly: The American Princess | Self (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Bring Me the Head of Charlie Brown | Charlie Brown (voice) (archive sound) | Average | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Earthling | Patrick Foley | Average | Similar → |
| 1978 | Fedora | Barry 'Dutch' Detweiler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Damien - Omen II | Richard Thorn | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | 21 Hours at Munich | Manfred Schreiber | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Network | Max Schumacher | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Towering Inferno | Jim Duncan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Breezy | Frank Harmon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Wild Bunch | Pike Bishop | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Dean Martin Christmas Show | Self - Guest (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Devil's Brigade | Lt. Col. Robert T. Frederick | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The 7th Dawn | Major Ferris | Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | Paris When It Sizzles | Richard Benson | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | The Counterfeit Traitor | Eric Erickson | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | The World of Suzie Wong | Robert Lomax | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | The Horse Soldiers | Major 'Hank' Kendall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Bridge on the River Kwai | Cmdr. Shears | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Proud and Profane | Lt. Col. Colin Black | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Picnic | Hal Carter | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Country Girl | Bernie Dodd | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Sabrina | David Larrabee | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Executive Suite | McDonald Walling | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Escape from Fort Bravo | Captain Roper | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Forever Female | Stanley Krown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Moon Is Blue | Donald Gresham | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 | Sgt. J.J. Sefton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Turning Point | Jerry McKibbon | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Boots Malone | Boots Malone | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Force of Arms | Sgt. Joe 'Pete' Peterson | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Born Yesterday | Paul Verrall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Union Station | Lt. William Calhoun | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Sunset Boulevard | Joe Gillis | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Father Is a Bachelor | Johnny Rutledge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Apartment for Peggy | Jason Taylor | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Rachel and the Stranger | David “Big Davey" Harvey | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Man from Colorado | Capt. Del Stewart | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Dear Ruth | Lt. William Seacroft | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Remarkable Andrew | Andrew Long | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Fleet's In | Casey Kirby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Texas | Dan Thomas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Arizona | Peter Muncie | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Golden Boy | Joe Bonaparte | Average | Similar → |
William Holden - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of William Holden?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring William Holden is "Sunset Boulevard" with a rating of 8.3/10.
How many movies has William Holden acted in?
William Holden has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by William Holden?
Other notable films include "Apartment for Peggy", "The Bridge on the River Kwai", and "Network".