Posted on 03/26/2008 9:37:09 AM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I worked with a guy who was a dead ringer for how he looked in this picture. It was an incredible resemblance.
RIP
Maybe I’m getting my movies confused, but was the guy who played Dano on “Hawaii Five-O” one of the fire control technicians in “Bedford Incident”?
}:-)4
... if he fires one we'll fire one. Fire one, Aye ...
Another one of the All-time Greats gone.
It’s hard to compare the great ones. There was a small group of them 5 or 6 in the 50’s and early 60’s that I’m growing to appreciate more and more.
I still watch them whenever I get a chance.
RIP Richard Whidmark
The Third Man with Cotton is a masterpiece.
Simply loved the setting in post-war Europe. Film Nuar style. The pall over everything. The zither music in the background.
Like a Bergman Film.
Book’em Danno shouldn’t have pushed the button.
Oh yes! Another of my all time favorites - Could play good buy/bad guy equally well.
Loved him in "Portrait of Jenny" with Jennifer Jones and "Love Letters" - also with Jennifer Jones (script adapted by Ayn RAnd) -
However, I believe he died in 1994 - at 88
Mr. Widmark was perhaps my Mother’s favorite actor when I was growing up. I’ll always have a place for Mr. Widmark in my heart.
RIP Mr. Widmark.
What a fine actor he was.
I enjoyed many of his roles, but the Bedford Incident was a great cold war cat and mouse game take to the extreme. Good call. I first saw it as an early teen. I liked it immediately.
I’ve had more time in recent years to develop a video library, and this is one of the movies I felt compelled to have a copy of.
Not bad considering he was politically a liberal. But that was Hollywood of yesteryear.
Same here Zip. Rest in peace Richard.
gnip...
A long life, well lived...we dare not ask for more than that.
RIP, Mr. Widmark, and thanks for the great performances.
Well said.
Oh yeah! I love "film noir" and Widmark was one of the best in that genre! Others include Kiss of Death, Panic in the Streets (Widmark as a nice guy!), and The Street with No Name. That last one is the film where Widmark hires Mark Stevens to be part of his criminal gang and tells him to buy some nice clothes because he likes his boys to look sharp! LOL! He's a perfect villain there with a blonde bimbo for a moll!
RIP Mr. Widmark. I'm glad you got to live a good, long life!
Widmark is great as the villain and the others in the cast are a who's who of Hollywood at that time (1974).
Albert Finney, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Jacqueline Bisset, Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Wendy Hiller, Martin Balsam and MORE!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.