Richard Widmark established himself as an icon of American cinema with his debut in the 1947 film noir _Kiss of Death represented his sole Oscar nomination, but with the rise of the respect for film noir around the time his career began tapering off in 70s, he began to be reevaluated as an actor. Unlike Bogart, who did not live to see his reputation flourish after his death, well before he retired, Widmark became a cult figure.
Unforgettable in his screen debut in Kiss of Death as Tommy Udo, a psychopathic mob hit-man, who giggles gleefully even as he shoves a wheelchair-bound old woman, portrayed by Mildred Dunnock , tumbling down a long stairway to her demise.
Following his death, he was interred at Roxbury Center Cemetery in Roxbury, Connecticut.
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
His sole Academy Award nomination was for best actor in a supporting role for Kiss of Death in 1948. Though he had won the Golden Globe Award for the role, he lost the Oscar to Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street .
(May 2001) Was honored with a retrospective of his films by the Museum of Modern Art (New York, New York).
When Kiss of Death was released to theaters in 1947, 20th Century Foxs publicity department encouraged theater owners to "Sell Richard Widmark!" Foxs publicity manual advised theaters to have a local printer make up "Wanted" with Widmarks face on them to advertise the film, in which he made his debut. The role was small, but Widmark made this one of the most indelible performances in the history of cinema.
His daughter with wife Jean Hazlewood , Anne Heath Widmark, an artist and author, married baseball legend Sandy Koufax on January 1, 1969.
Has significantly contributed to the preservation of land and nature in his adopted hometown of Roxbury, Connecticut. As one of the founding members of the Roxbury Land Trust, he has tenaciously worked to preserve the pristine character of the Litchfield County town which has been the longtime home of celebrities the likes of Arthur Miller , Marilyn Monroe , and artist Alexander Calder. Actor and Widmarks friend, Walter Matthau also owned property in bucolic Roxbury and at Widmarks urging, Matthau made a generous contribution of property to the trust shortly before his death.
At 5 10", he was one of the shorter leading men of his era.
His father was Swedish by descent; his mother was English, Scottish and Irish.
He was the stepfather of Amy Fonda, daughter of Henry Fonda and Susan Blanchard.
In fall 2007, he sustained a fractured vertebrae after a fall. He died about six months later of complications.
When his contract at 20th Century Fox expired in 1954 after seven years, he deliberately went independent in order to have more artistic control over his films. He formed his own company, Heath Productions.
Was not able to see active duty during World War II due to a perforated eardrum, but did serve as an air raid warden and entertained servicemen as a member of the American Theatre Wing.
Despite playing heartless killers and bigots on film, he personally denounced all kinds of violence and the usage of guns. He admitted that once he went fishing and regretted the fact he caught a trout and took its life. He also apologized profusely to Sidney Poitier during the shoot of the movie No Way Out after filming scenes together which called for Widmark to spew out racist remarks.
Earned several awards in oratory contests while a pre-law student at Lake Forest College. He was also active in the drama department and played the lead in the play "Counselor-at-Law" as a sophomore.
President of his high school class. He wrote for the high school newspaper.
Born in Sunrise, Minnesota, his father, Carl Widmark, was a general store manager before becoming a traveling salesman. The family eventually settled in Princeton, Illinois, where his father owned a downstairs bakery.
Spent his later years divided between a ranch in Hidden Valley, California, and a farm in Connecticut.
John Wayne /Richard Widmark is the sign/countersign used by soldiers holding the Alamo in Viva Max .
Activist for strengthening gun control laws in the United States.
Resided on his mansion in Roxbury, Connecticut from the 1950s until his death.
Was on the first cover of German teen magazine "Bravo" together with Marilyn Monroe.
Born to Carl Widmark, a salesman, and his wife Ethal Mae.
His acting idol was Spencer Tracy.
Before he ever became a film actor, Widmark was busy with voice-over work on various radio programs during the 1930s and 1940s.
Featured in "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir" by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry (McFarland, 2003).
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6800 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California in February 8, 1960.
Although 27 years old at the time, Widmark was considered for the role of the cocky young sailor eventually played by Robert Walker in Bataan .
He was a lifelong liberal Democrat.
From Sidney Poitier s speech about Widmark at the D. W. Griffith Award for Life Achievment: "... the generosity of spirit that lights his way will also warm your heart...".
Very touched by Sidney Poitier presenting him with the D. W. Griffith Lifetime Achievment Award in 1990, Widmark said to his old friend, "Sid, I cant believe you came all the way to California to do this for me." Poitier replied, "For you I would have walked!".
He was the first choice of playwright Robert Anderson for both the stage and film versions of I Never Sang for My Father in the role eventually played by Gene Hackman.
He appeared in a public service short entitled "Off the Highway", which was made by USC students and directed by Fred Zinnemann , who talked Widmark--his neighbor at the time--into appearing in it.
Was Frank Lefty Rosenthal s first choice to play the character based on him in Casino . Being that Widmark was 80 years old at the time, the role eventually went to Robert De Niro.
Director Henry Hathaway thought Widmarks high forehead looked too intellectual to play Tommy Udo in Kiss of Death , so he had the young actor wear a hairpiece for his screen test.
Widmark and Jean Hazlewood had a daughter, Anne Heath Widmark, who was married to Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax (1969-82). Hazlewood died in March 1997.
In 1947, the crime drama Kiss of Death catapulted Widmark to movie stardom. The actor made one of the most shocking film debuts in movie history as his character, the cackling psychopath Tommy Udo, shoved an older wheelchair-bound woman down a flight of stairs to her death. The role earned Widmark an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and proved to be the beginning of a distinguished five-decade film career.
Actor Richard Widmark was offered an audition for a radio soap opera two years after college and soon after made his screen debut as the cackling psychopath Tommy Udo in the crime drama Kiss of Death.
Despite his rising career, and happy marriage to his college sweetheart, Ora Jean Hazlewood, the 1940s were a time of great stress for the actor. Unable to serve in World War II due to a perforated eardrum, he spent three anxious years fearing for the life of his brother Donald, a bomber pilot who was injured and held as a prisoner-of-war by the Nazis. Although Donald Widmark was freed at the wars end, his failing health over the next decade would be the most agonizing tragedy in Richards life.
In September 1999, Widmark married Susan Blanchard, who was Henry Fondas third wife.
Stereotyped onscreen as a hot-headed villain, Widmark fought for better roles and went on to give complex performances in such film classics as Panic in the Streets , No Way Out (which introduced him to close friend Sidney Poitier), Night and the City , Broken Lance (co-starring his idol, Spencer Tracy), and Madigan .
After a turbulent childhood, lightened by his frequent trips to the movies, Widmark became an accomplished high school scholar, a college football star, and eventually a teacher of speech and drama at Lake Forest College in Illinois.
Two years out of college, Widmark headed to New York City in 1938 when a friend offered him an audition for a radio soap opera. Widmark won the role and soon became a busy player in broadcasting and on the Broadway stage (debuting in 1943).
Good friends with Sidney Poitier. They co-starred together in three films: No Way Out , The Long Ships and The Bedford Incident .
Had appeared with Karl Malden in five films: Kiss of Death , Halls of Montezuma , Take the High Ground! , How the West Was Won and Cheyenne Autumn .
Had appeared with Henry Fonda in five films: Warlock , How the West Was Won , Madigan , Rollercoaster and The Swarm .
The more takes I do, the worse I get.
The truth is that the only person who can ever really play himself is a,baby.
When I see people destroying their privacy--what they think, what they,feel--by beaming it out to millions of viewers, I think it cheapens,them as individuals.
Many of my friends were blacklisted. America should be ashamed forever.
