Richard Widmark, Actor, Dies at 93

nytimes.com ^ | March 26, 2008 | ALJEAN HARMETZ

[lunarbicep]

Richard Widmark, who created a villain in his first movie role who was so repellent and frightening that the actor became a star overnight, died Monday at his home in Roxbury, Conn. He was 93.

His death was announced Wednesday morning by his wife, Susan Blanchard. She said that Mr. Widmark had fractured a vertebrae in recent months and that his conditioned had worsened.

[Liberty Valance]

Thats a great story Bender. Thanks for posting it. ;o)

[longhorn too]

“There was a small group in the 50’s and 60’s that I am growing to appreciate more and more.”

Would any of those be Gregory Peck, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, William Holden, Glen Ford etc.?

[jim_trent]

> “A passionate liberal Democrat”

He was an old-school actor. He kept his political opinions to himself off the screen. I never knew if he was liberal or conservative before this.

[Tallguy]

Yeah. James MacArthur was the young officer operating the ASROC fire control.

I once exchanged emails with him about “The Bedford Incident”. I was interested about the ship that it was filmed on (a Royal Navy destroyer was used for the interior shots). The exterior shots were a model of a US frigate (DLG/DLGM).

The movie was made by Shepperton Studios (British) around the time of “Fail Safe” and “Dr. Strangelove”.

I had thought Richard Widmark was long dead. I remember seeing him a long time ago in a Movie about the outlaw Tom Horn (He played the scout Al Siebert) and he looked ancient then.

[Tallguy]

Subroc was fired from a torpedo tube against a surface target. Asroc was an ASW weapon.

[the scotsman]

Voted the greatest British film of all time in a recent poll...

[blackie]

The things that stick in our minds.

[Cyropaedia]

I didn't realize he was still alive. What an underrated actor. One of my father's favorites.

The last of his kind in Hollywood.

[DeFault User]

Years ago I stumbled across him filming the TV series Madigan in New York (somewhere on the West Side in the 80s). He played a cool, hardened NYPD detective.

Despite broad daylight, maybe 10:30AM, there were lights set up around a pimpmobile parked on the street. Widmark was waiting on the street for the scene to be set, smoking almost constantly, walking up and down the sidewalk.

They finally got the shot setup, a few extras strolling down the street and Madigan talks to the pimp in the car. All of this setup and filming takes more than an hour. I was somewhat bored but curious to see if there was to be any “action” but that was it.

I later watched the episode on TV and found that the scene I watched them film lasted maybe 10 seconds—and it took more than an hour to film. Not too glamorous.

[maine-iac7]

I've not read anything about Widmark's character one way or the other, but his shouting "You son-of-a-bitch!" and rolling by the dinning room doorway will be with me until they place me six feet down.

I've an idea that whoever he said that too - WAS one.

"He lived quietly and avoided the press, saying in 1971, "I think a performer should do his work and then shut up.". (We could use more actors like that!)

He was President of his high school graduating class, got full scholarship and was pres. of his college class...he married his high school sweetheart to whom he remained faithful...they were married for almost 55 years before she died...(happily married, per his wife who said he had never even looked at another woman...to which he was said to have replied "I happen to like my wife."

Character counts...

He said of Gary Cooper - another of my favorites (I think Ayn Rand's Fountainheadwas my favorite), he said: "Gary Cooper was a good friend. He was a great nature lover. He was like an American Indian, he knew every leaf that was turned over. It was an education to go for a walk with him. "

Ahh, and you mention Gilbert Roland = yeah. he was good.

[maine-iac7]

He was an old-school actor. He kept his political opinions to himself off the screen. I never knew if he was liberal or conservative before this.

Well, back in his day - "liberal democrat" was like a Zell Miller - not what they are today = Commie Marxists

[Rebelbase]

” ‘Forrest Gump,’ a hymn to stupidity.”

I liked Forrest Gump and don’t share Widmark’s opinion.

[puroresu]

Maybe the only film to feature the Comissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service!

LOL! I guess that's true! And check out a 1936 Cagney film called Great Guy. Cagney, as the hero, works for the New York City Bureau of Weights & Measures!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Good long run. RIP.

[MARTIAL MONK]

Siebert? Blasphemy! He was almost as good as Daniel Boonet.

[Malesherbes]

RIP. A better generation of actors than the metros we have now.

[clintonh8r]

I think ASROC was surface-to-submarine (target) whereas SUBROC was submarine-to-surface-target. Not sure though, I was a jarhead, not a squid!!

[Migraine]

enjoyed him in “The Bedford Incident” with Sidney Poitier(sp) and Wally Cox.

Agree. His best, and an all-time intensity-meter film.