::
Richard P. Beedle
[Brother]
::
Robert Westfield Beedle
[Brother]
(Navy fighter pilot who was killed in action in World War II)
::
Mary Beedle
[Mother]
::
William Franklin Beedle
[Father]
Trivia and Quotes
Quotes
 I don`t really know why, but danger has always been an important thing in my life - to see how far I could lean without falling, how fast I could go without cracking up. I`m a whore, all actors are whores. We sell our bodies to the highest bidder.
Take any picture you can. One out of four will be good, one out of ten will be very good, and one out of 15 will get you an Academy Award.
[on Barbara Stanwyck] Thirty-nine years ago this month, we were working in a film together called Golden Boy (1939). It wasn`t going so well and I was going to be replaced. But due to this lovely human being and her encouragement and above all her generosity, I`m here tonight.
[on Humphrey Bogart] I hated that bastard.
[on working with Clint Eastwood on Breezy (1973)] He`s even-tempered -- a personality trait not much in evidence among directors. The crew is totally behind him and that really helps things go smoothly.
Trivia
A hygiene fanatic, he reportedly showered up to four times daily.
Brian Donlevy was his best man when Holden married Brenda Marshall in 1941.
Died from a laceration to his forehead which was caused by hitting his head during a bout of heavy drinking. He apparently remained conscious for half an hour or so after the injury but never realized he should phone for help. Had he done so, he would surely have lived.
He enjoyed firework displays.
He was so grateful to Barbara Stanwyck for her insistence on casting him in Golden Boy (1939), his first big role, that he reportedly sent her flowers every year on the anniversary of the first day of the filming.
He was very instrumental in animal preservation in Africa. In the 1970s he purchased a large acreage of land with his own money and began an animal sanctuary. His love of the wild animal was shared with his then companion Stefanie Powers (from "Hart to Hart" (1979)). He would appear on talk shows to promote the saving of animals and to spread the word of anti-poaching and illegal animal trade
Moved to Switzerland for tax reasons in 1959, and did not return to live in Hollywood until 1967.
Turned down Henry Fonda`s role in Mister Roberts (1955).
Was an avid art collector. His private collection at his exclusive hilltop home in Palm Springs featured antique Asian art. Upon his death, the priceless collection was donated to the Palm Springs Museum of Art, where it is proudly displayed today.
Was the best man at Ronald Reagan`s and Nancy Davis` wedding in 1952.
US Army during WWII
| 
Gold Sites
Silver Sites
Comments
Continue the Conversation