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Orson Welles Biography

Birth Name:Orson Welles

Birth Place:Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States

Profession Actor, Director, Writer, Producer, Soundtrack, Editor, Costume designer, Cinematographer, Production designer, Art director, Art department

Fast Facts

Awarded the Order of Commander of the Légion d'honneur by French President François Mitterand in 1982
Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1979
Ranked No․ 16 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years․․․ 100 Stars" list for Male Legends
While attending the Todd School for Boys, he performed and staged his own theatrical productions
Quote: "Even if the good old days never existed, the fact that we can conceive of such a world is, in fact, an affirmation of the human spirit․"
Frequently creates characters in his films that rise and fall in society due to their own vices
Known for presenting nonlinear narratives and using low camera shots in his films
Was the first choice of George Lucas to be used as the voice of Darth Vader, but the director believed that Welles' voice was too recognizable
A type of Hawaiian spider was named "Orsonwelles" in 2003 in his honor
Wanted to portray the role of Don Vito Corleone in "The Godfather," but was ultimately turned down by Francis Ford Coppola
Was a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians, which he maintained in case his film career abruptly ended

Awards

1941NBR Award-Best Acting: winner
1941NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1941NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
1941Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (July): winner
1942Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1942Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1942Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: winner
1943Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
1946Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (April): winner
1947Grand International Award-: nominated
1948Grand International Award-: nominated
1952Grand Prize of the Festival-: winner
1956Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1958Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: winner
1959Best Actor-: winner
1962Top 10 Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1962Golden Lion-Best Film: nominated
1963FIPRESCI Prize-Best Film: winner
1964Critics Award-Best Film: winner
1966Palme d'Or-: nominated
1966Technical Grand Prize-: winner
196620th Anniversary Prize-: winner
1968BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actor: nominated
1968Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
1974Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Film (Mejor Película Extranjera): winner
1978Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
1982Golden Globe-Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture: nominated
1983Razzie Award-Worst Supporting Actor: nominated
1992SACD Prize-Directors' Fortnight: nominated
1993International Fantasy Film Award-Best Film: nominated
1993LAFCA Award-Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film: winner
1994One Future Prize-: winner
2014Cinema Eye Honors Award-The Influentials: winner
2016Cinema Eye Honors Award-The Influentials: winner
2018BSFC Award-Best Film Editing: nominated
2018CFCA Award-Best Editing: nominated
2018SFFCC Award-Best Film Editing: winner
2018Queer Lion Award-: nominated
2019CinEuphoria-Best Screenplay - International Competition: nominated
2019HPA Award-Outstanding Editing - Theatrical Feature: nominated
2019ICS Award-Best Editing: nominated
2019INOCA-Best Film Editing: winner
2021OFTA Film Hall of Fame-Character: winner