WILLIAM HOLDEN

April 17, 1918

William Holden was born as William Franklin Beedle Jr. in O’Fallon, Illinois. 

His family moved to South Pasadena when he was three. After graduating from South Pasadena High School, Holden attended Pasadena Junior College, where he became involved in local radio plays.

He made his screen debut in an uncredited role in Paramount’s Prison Farm (1938). 

In 1949, he appeared with Lucille Ball in the film Miss Grant Takes Richmond. 

“The Screen Guild Theater” broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 22, 1951 with William Holden reprising his film role.

His first scripted television show was playing himself on “I Love Lucy” in their very first California episode “Hollywood at Last!” aka  “L.A. at Last!” (ILL S4;E16) filmed on December 2, 1954 and first aired on February 7, 1955. Holden had the privilege of appearing in not one, but two iconic Lucy stunts: 

Getting a pie in the face at the Brown Derby; 

And watching Lucy light her putty nose on fire. 

Holden is the first and only actor on “I Love Lucy” to have won a competitive acting Oscar at the time of his appearance on the show.  It was for Stalag 17 (1953). He was first nominated in 1950 for Sunset Boulevard, and was nominated again in 1976 for Network. 

“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.” ~ William Holden

In return for his appearance in this episode, Holden got to promote his most recent film, The Country Girl (1954) with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly. The movie was first seen in Los Angeles just nine days after this episode was filmed.

LUCY: (on the phone) “Would you like me to give a message to any of the gang out there?  Oh, all right. (writing) Tell Bill Holden that Marion Van Vlack saw ‘Sabrina’ five times!

Before she even left New York, Lucy was talking about Bill Holden. His film Sabrina was released a month prior to this episode being filmed on October 21, 1954. In 1955 it was nominated for six Oscars, winning for costumes.

As the first actor Ball encountered (aside from Eve Arden) in Hollywood, Holden was often mentioned in future series dialogue. 

When “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” (ILL S5;E19) in Paris, Ricky warns the star about Lucy’s messy encounter with Bill Holden at the Brown Derby. Boyer decides it is better to be Maurice DuBois than himself!  

Holden’s wife, Brenda Marshall, appeared in “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E20), although she is only referred to as “Mrs. William Holden.” The couple were married from 1941 to 1971.

After “Hollywood at Last!”, Lucille Ball and William Holden were seen together only twice more. The first time was in isolated cameos on “The Dean Martin Christmas Show” in 1968.  The second was a celebration of the work of director George Marshall on “The Merv Griffin Show” in July 1971.

His final screen appearance was in Blake Edwards’ S.O.B. (1981) starring Julie Andrews. 

He died on November 12, 1981 at age 63.

In an episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2018), Midge takes her friend Imogene to New York’s Stage Deli where she expects to see famous people like Bill Holden, but is disappointed. The scene takes place in Fall 1959.