William Holden

William Franklin Holden (né Beedle Jr.) was born on April 17, 1918, and was an acclaimed American actor, well-remembered as one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. He won various prestigious awards including the Academy Award for Best Actor for Stalag 17 (1953) and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for the television miniseries The Blue Knight (1973). He showcased his incredible talent in several of Hollywood's most popular and critically hailed films, such as Sunset Boulevard (1950), Sabrina (1954), Picnic (1955), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969) and Network (1976). He was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times and was listed 25th on the American Film Institute's list of 25 greatest male stars of Classical Hollywood cinema.

Born in O'Fallon, Illinois, Holden moved to South Pasadena when he was three and became involved in local radio plays while attending Pasadena Junior College. Besides his acting career, Holden also served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army during the World War II acting in training films. Holden's philanthropic side was also significant. He was the managing partner of a wildlife conservancy in Africa and his love for animal welfare led to the establishment of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation. Holden is remembered not only for his contributions to the film industry but also his service during the war and his animal conservation efforts.