Richard Widmark Biography

As a result, he journeyed widely across the mid-West as a child, before enrolling in Illinois’ Lake Forest College, majoring in law. Whilst there, he made a second home of the drama department, staying on after graduation as a drama instructor.

His brief teaching career was cut short by his moving to New York, where he soon found himself a radio star. For nine years, from 1938, Widmark was a prolific radio presence.

So successful was he in radio that he quipped, regarding his switch to film: "I am the only actor who left a mansion and swimming pool to head to Hollywood."

He made his Broadway debut in 1943, with 'Kiss and Tell', and this led to a string of successes.

When casting for 'Kiss of Death' in 1947, Henry Hathaway picked out Widmark for the starring role. As gangster Tommy Umo, who pushes a wheelchair-bound old woman down the stairs, Widmark unforgettably made his name and gained a Best Supporting Actor Nomination.

Signing to 20th Century Fox, and seeking to avoid more villainous roles, he appeared in 1949's 'Down to the Sea in Ships'. Leaving Fox in the mid 1950s, he appeared in such work as 'Cobweb', in 1955.

Founding his own Heath Productions in 1957, Widmark spent the next decade dividing his time between films such as 'The Alamo' (1960) and John Ford’s 'Cheyenne Autumn', which paid the bills, and thoughtful fare such as 'Judgement at Nuremberg' and 'Madigan'.

He moved into television in the 1970s, whilst also appearing in such movies as 'Murder on the Orient Express', in 1974. His 1989 TV movie, 'Cold Sassy Tree', with Faye Dunaway achieved significant acclaim.

Now a fully-fledged elder statesman, he appeared in 1991’s 'True Colors' as a senator.

Widmark was married to his first wife, Jean Hazlewood, a writer, for almost 55 years, until her death in 1997. They had one daughter, Anne Heath Widmark, an artist and author. In 1999 Widmark married Susan Blanchard, who was previously married to Henry Fonda.

In March 2008, Widmark died after a long illness. He was 93.