Orson Welles
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
- 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
- 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
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 AwardNominated
- 1948Grand International AwardNominated
- 1952Grand Prize of the FestivalWinner
- 1956Top 10 Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 1958Top 10 Film Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1959Best ActorWinner
- 1962Top 10 Film Award - Best Film:Nominated
- 1962Golden Lion - Best Film:Nominated
- 1963FIPRESCI Prize - Best Film:Winner
- 1964Critics Award - Best Film:Winner
- 1966Palme d'OrNominated
- 1966Technical Grand PrizeWinner
- 196620th Anniversary PrizeWinner
- 1968BAFTA Film Award - Best Foreign Actor:Nominated
- 1968Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 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 PrizeWinner
- 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 AwardNominated
- 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