Orson Welles American Actor (1915–1985)
Orson Welles · film director and actor · American
Known for
Biography
American actor Orson Welles was born on 6 May 1915 in Kenosha. He passed away on 10 October 1985 at the age of 70. Audiences know him from Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) and Show Business at War (1943).
Records list Twelfth Night (1933) as his earliest screen credit. In all, 120 films and 2 TV series appear in his credits from 1933 to 2018. He played Le Chiffre in Casino Royale (1967), Benjamin Franklin in Royal Affairs in Versailles (1954) and Raoul Nordling in Is Paris Burning? (1966). His screen work on record ends with The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh in 1984. He is also credited as director on 35 titles, including The Other Side of the Wind, and writer on 27 titles, including The Other Side of the Wind.
The records also show one album, The Begatting of the President (1970). The records associate him with drama film and mystery film.
His awards record shows 9 wins and 4 nominations. The list of wins starts with Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay in 1942 for Citizen Kane. His latest listed award is Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1982.
Filmography
122 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Other Side of the Wind | Director, Writer | Film |
| 2008 | Lucifer et moi | Film | |
| 2003 | Apple Jack | Film | |
| 2002 | Lost in La Mancha | Film | |
| 2001 | A Huey P. Newton Story | Film | |
| 1999 | The Big Brass Ring | Writer | Film |
| 1996 | The Battle Over Citizen Kane | Film | |
| 1995 | A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies | Film | |
| 1992 | Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio | Film | |
| 1991 | Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse | Film | |
| 1987 | Someone to Love | Film | |
| 1984 | The Road to Bresson | Film | |
| 1984 | The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1983 | Where Is Parsifal? | Film | |
| 1982 | Butterfly | Film |
Show all 122 credits
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Genocide | Film | |
| 1981 | History of the World, Part I | Film | |
| 1981 | The Man Who Saw Tomorrow | Film | |
| 1980 | The Secret of Nikola Tesla | Film | |
| 1979 | The Double McGuffin | Film | |
| 1979 | The Muppet Movie | Film | |
| 1978 | Filming Othello | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1978 | The Greatest Battle | Film | |
| 1977 | Hot Tomorrows | Film | |
| 1977 | It Happened One Christmas | Film | |
| 1976 | Voyage of the Damned | José Estedes | Film |
| 1975 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Film | |
| 1974 | And Then There Were None | Film | |
| 1973 | F for Fake | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1973 | La Grande Bretèche | Director | Film |
| 1972 | Get to Know Your Rabbit | Film | |
| 1972 | Malpertuis | Film | |
| 1972 | Necromancy | Film | |
| 1972 | Treasure Island | Long John Silver, Writer | Film |
| 1971 | A Safe Place | Film | |
| 1971 | One Man Band | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1971 | Sentinels of Silence | Film | |
| 1971 | Ten Days' Wonder | Film | |
| 1970 | An Evening with Orson Welles | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1970 | Catch-22 | Film | |
| 1970 | Salvador Dalí | Film | |
| 1970 | Start the Revolution Without Me | Film | |
| 1970 | The Kremlin Letter | Film | |
| 1970 | Waterloo | Louis XVIII of France | Film |
| 1969 | Battle of Neretva | Film | |
| 1969 | Kampf um Rom II - Der Verrat | Film | |
| 1969 | The Southern Star | Film | |
| 1969 | The Thirteen Chairs | Film | |
| 1968 | House of Cards | Film | |
| 1968 | Kampf um Rom | Justinian I | Film |
| 1968 | Tetepango | Film | |
| 1968 | The Immortal Story | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1968 | The Last Roman | Film | |
| 1968 | Vienna | Director | Film |
| 1967 | Casino Royale | Le Chiffre | Film |
| 1967 | I'll Never Forget What's'isname | Film | |
| 1967 | Le Désordre à vingt ans | Film | |
| 1967 | The Sailor from Gibraltar | Film | |
| 1966 | A Man for All Seasons | Thomas Wolsey | Film |
| 1966 | Is Paris Burning? | Raoul Nordling | Film |
| 1965 | Chimes at Midnight | Falstaff, Director, Writer | Film |
| 1965 | Marco the Magnificent | Akerman | Film |
| 1964 | In the Land of Don Quixote | Director | Film |
| 1963 | Curd Cheese | Film | |
| 1963 | Ro.Go.Pa.G. | Film | |
| 1963 | The V.I.P.s | Film | |
| 1962 | The Trial | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1961 | King of Kings | the Narrator | Film |
| 1961 | La Fayette | Benjamin Franklin | Film |
| 1961 | The Tartars | Boroldai | Film |
| 1960 | Austerlitz | Robert Fulton | Film |
| 1960 | Crack in the Mirror | Film | |
| 1960 | David and Goliath | Saul | Film |
| 1959 | Compulsion | Film | |
| 1959 | Ferry to Hong Kong | Film | |
| 1958 | Masters of the Congo Jungle | Film | |
| 1958 | Portrait of Gina | Director | Film |
| 1958 | The Fountain of Youth | Director | Film |
| 1958 | The Long, Hot Summer | Film | |
| 1958 | The Roots of Heaven | Film | |
| 1958 | The Vikings | the Narrator | Film |
| 1958 | Touch of Evil | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1957 | Man in the Shadow | Film | |
| 1956 | Moby Dick | Father Mapple | Film |
| 1956 | Orson Welles and People | Director | Film |
| 1955– | Around the World with Orson Welles | Director | TV series |
| 1955 | Madrid Bullfight | Director | Film |
| 1955 | Moby Dick—Rehearsed | Director | Film |
| 1955 | Mr. Arkadin | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1955 | Napoléon | Hudson Lowe | Film |
| 1955– | Orson Welles' Sketch Book | TV series | |
| 1955 | Three Cases of Murder | Director | Film |
| 1954 | Royal Affairs in Versailles | Benjamin Franklin | Film |
| 1953 | King Lear | Lear | Film |
| 1953 | Magic Trick | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1953 | Man, Beast and Virtue | Film | |
| 1952 | Trent's Last Case | Film | |
| 1951 | Othello | Othello, Director, Writer | Film |
| 1951 | Return to Glennascaul | Film | |
| 1950 | Black Magic | Director | Film |
| 1950 | Disorder | Film | |
| 1950 | The Black Rose | Bayan of the Baarin | Film |
| 1950 | The Miracle of St. Anne | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1949 | Prince of Foxes | Cesare Borgia | Film |
| 1949 | The Third Man | Harry Lime, Writer | Film |
| 1948 | Macbeth | Macbeth, Writer, Director | Film |
| 1947 | Monsieur Verdoux | Writer | Film |
| 1947 | The Lady from Shanghai | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1946 | Duel in the Sun | Film | |
| 1946 | The Stranger | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1946 | Tomorrow Is Forever | Film | |
| 1944 | Follow the Boys | Film | |
| 1943 | Jane Eyre | Mr. Rochester | Film |
| 1943 | Journey into Fear | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1943 | Show Business at War | Film | |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Ambersons | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1941 | Citizen Kane | Charles Foster Kane, Director, Writer | Film |
| 1940 | Citizen Kane trailer | Director | Film |
| 1938 | Too Much Johnson | Writer, Director | Film |
| 1934 | The Hearts of Age | Director, Writer | Film |
| 1933 | Twelfth Night | Director | Film |
| Screenplay for Citizen Kane | Writer | Film |
Awards and nominations
9 won, 4 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Commander of the Legion of Honour | Won | |
| 1975 | AFI Life Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1974 | honorary doctorate from the University of Paris-VII | Won | |
| 1970 | Academy Honorary Award | Won | |
| 1970 | Golden Lion | Won | |
| 1952 | Palme d'Or | Won | |
| 1942 | Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay | Citizen Kane | Won |
| National Board of Review Award for Best Film | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | ||
| 1983 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award | Butterfly | Nominated |
| 1942 | Academy Award for Best Actor | Citizen Kane | Nominated |
| 1942 | Academy Award for Best Director | Citizen Kane | Nominated |
| 1942 | Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay | Citizen Kane | Nominated |
Discography
1 release| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | The Begatting of the President | Album |
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Virginia Nicolson (1934 to 1940), Rita Hayworth (1943 to 1948) and Paola Mori (1955 to 1985). He was the father of Beatrice Welles, and has 3 children in total. Education on record includes Todd Seminary for Boys and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Orson Welles Photos
Frequently asked questions
How old was Orson Welles at the time of death?
Orson Welles died on 10 October 1985 at the age of 70. He was born on 6 May 1915.
What is Orson Welles known for?
Orson Welles was known for Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) and Show Business at War (1943).
What is Orson Welles’s nationality?
Orson Welles was American, born in Kenosha.
How tall was Orson Welles?
Orson Welles was 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) tall.
Who was Orson Welles married to?
Orson Welles’s marriages on record are to Paola Mori (1955 to 1985), Rita Hayworth (1943 to 1948) and Virginia Nicolson (1934 to 1940).
Has Orson Welles won any awards?
Yes. 9 awards are on record, including Commander of the Legion of Honour (1982).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q24829), accessed October 2026
- Photo: Carl Van Vechten · Public domain
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