William Franklin Beedle Jr., known professionally as William Holden, was born on April 17, 1918, in O'Fallon, Illinois. He grew up in South Pasadena, California, where he attended Pasadena Junior College and became involved in local radio plays and the Pasadena Playhouse.

Discovered by a Paramount Pictures talent scout, he was given the more glamorous surname "Holden." His breakthrough role came in the boxing melodrama Golden Boy (1939), where he was tutored by co-star Barbara Stanwyck. His career took off after World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

He became one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s, known for his roles in Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Sabrina (1954), and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). His performance in Stalag 17 earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

His career continued to flourish with notable films like Picnic (1955), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Network (1976), for which he received another Academy Award nomination. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in the television miniseries The Blue Knight (1973). He was named one of the "Top 10 Stars of the Year" six times and was ranked 25th on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male stars of Classical Hollywood cinema.

His personal life was marked by his relationships and his passion for wildlife conservation. He was married to actress Brenda Marshall from 1941 to 1971, and they had two children. After their divorce, he was in a long-term relationship with actress Stefanie Powers.

William Holden was known for his adventurous lifestyle, which included a love for travel and wildlife. He co-founded the Mount Kenya Safari Club in 1959, reflecting his commitment to conservation. Despite his success, he struggled with alcoholism, which affected his health and personal relationships. He died on November 12, 1981, in Santa Monica, California, after a fall in his apartment.