Richard Widmark

Richard Widmark was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Kiss of Death, Judgment at Nuremberg, and Murder on the Orient Express.

Personal and Family Life

Richard Weedt Widmark was born on December 26, 1914, in Sunrise Township, Minnesota. He was the son of Ethel Mae and Carl Henry Widmark and grew up with a love for movies from a young age. Widmark attended Lake Forest College with plans to become a lawyer, but his passion for acting led him to pursue a career in theatre and film instead. He was married to Jean Hazlewood from 1942 until her death in 1997, and they had one daughter, Anne.

Career

Widmark made a memorable debut in the film noir Kiss of Death in 1947, earning an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of the psychopathic killer Tommy Udo. Throughout his career, he often portrayed complex, troubled characters, and gained popularity in the 1950s, appearing in various genres including thrillers and westerns. He continued to act in major films and television shows until he retired in 1990.

Death and Legacy

Richard Widmark passed away on March 24, 2008, in Roxbury, Connecticut, due to complications following a fall. His contributions to cinema and portrayal of unique characters have left a lasting impact, leading to a renewed appreciation for his work in film noir and his overall film legacy. Widmark remains an iconic figure in American cinema.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Judgment at Nuremberg 1961-12-18 Tad Lawson
Rollercoaster 1977-06-10 Agent Hoyt
Murder on the Orient Express 1974-11-22 Mr. Ratchett
Madigan 1968-03-29 Det. Daniel Madigan
Yellow Sky 1948-12-24 Dude
The Alamo 1960-10-23 Jim Bowie
Coma 1978-01-06 Dr. Harris
Kiss of Death 1947-08-27 Tommy Udo
Road House 1948-09-22 Jefferson T. ‘Jefty’ Robbins
Against All Odds 1984-03-02 Ben Caxton
Hell and High Water 1954-02-06 Capt. Adam Jones
Don’t Bother to Knock 1952-07-18 Jed Towers
How the West Was Won 1962-11-02 Mike King
The Domino Principle 1977-03-23 Tagge
Hanky Panky 1982-06-04 Ransom
Panic in the Streets 1950-07-27 Lt. Cmdr. Clinton ‘Clint’ Reed M.D.
Two Rode Together 1961-05-24 First Lt. Jim Gary
Slattery’s Hurricane 1949-08-11 Lt. Willard Francis Slattery
Pickup on South Street 1953-05-27 Skip McCoy
To the Devil a Daughter 1976-03-04 John Verney
No Way Out 1950-08-16 Ray Biddle
Cheyenne Autumn 1964-10-15 Capt. Thomas Archer
Garden of Evil 1954-07-09 Fiske
Broken Lance 1954-09-25 Ben Devereaux
The Way West 1967-05-24 Lije Evans
The Street with No Name 1948-07-14 Alec Stiles
Alvarez Kelly 1966-10-06 Col. Tom Rossiter
Warlock 1959-05-15 Johnny Gannon
The Secret Ways 1961-04-01 Michael Reynolds
Backlash 1956-03-14 Jim Slater
The Long Ships 1964-04-22 Rolfe
The Law and Jake Wade 1958-06-06 Clint Hollister
The Frogmen 1951-01-25 Lt. Cmdr. John Lawrence
The Last Wagon 1956-09-21 Comanche Todd
The Tunnel of Love 1958-11-21 August ‘Augie’ Poole
Bear Island 1979-12-05 Otto Gerran
Halls of Montezuma 1951-01-04 Lt. Carl Anderson
Time Limit 1957-10-23 Col. William Edwards
Run for the Sun 1956-07-30 Michael ‘Mike’ Latimer