William Holmes (actor)

Holmes in The Bushwackers

William Holmes is an American actor known for Daughter of the Sun God (1962), The Bushwhackers (1951), and In Old Amarillo (1951).

Career

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Holmes, heir to the Fleischmann's Yeast fortune, wanted to be an actor, so his father footed the bill for him to star in the early 1950s film Daughter of the Sun God. The movie was so bad, however, that it took nearly a decade for it to be released. By that time, the actor was already out of the business.

In 1950, he acted in the musical Careless Rapture at the Dudley Hippodrome in Dudley, West Midlands, England, with Barry Sinclair, Mary Allen, Arthur Hosking, Muriel Barron, Joan Norman, and Charles Gillespie in the cast.

Louella Parsons wrote that Holmes would have the top role in the film Cocobolo, directed by Henry Herts and produced by Robert Peters.[1]

In 1953, Hedda Hopper reported "he has a children's book to be published, and will do a TV adventure series".[2]

Personal life

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Holmes was romantically attached to Dorothy Malone in 1953. Hedda Hopper wrote, "Bill Holmes, the yeast heir, is devoting his time to writing, acting, and Dorothy Malone. Friends expect the pair to marry in December". Holmes and Malone did not marry.[2]

Holmes was married to Shirley Buchanan.[3] Mike Connolly reported that Holmes would marry Nancy Valentine in 1956, following Buchanan's Reno divorce.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1935 Frisco Kid Second Man Uncredited
1945 The Picture of Dorian Gray Club Member Uncredited
1947 The Sea of Grass Gambler Uncredited
1951 In Old Amarillo Henchman Martin
1951 Utah Wagon Train Henchman Pete Millan
1951 The Cisco Kid Henchman 2 episodes
1952 The Bushwhackers 'Ding' Bell (as Bill Holmes)
1959 The Lawless Years Gooby Episode: "The Immigrant"
1962 Daughter of the Sun God Kent (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ Parsons, Louella (December 31, 1952). "Louella Parsons in Hollywood-Hit Tune". San Antonio Light. p. 5 – via NewspaperArchive.
  2. ^ a b "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood". Tucson Daily Citizen. October 24, 1953. p. 46 – via NewspaperArchive.
  3. ^ a b Connolly, Mike (February 24, 1956). "Mr. Hollywood". Pasadena Independent. p. 25 – via NewspaperArchive.
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