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Orson Welles

Theatre Director / Film Director / Film Producer / Screenwriter / Character Actor / Playwright / Radio Personality / Theatrical Producer / Actor | * 05/06/1915 († 70, 10/10/1985) | Kenosha, Wisconsin (United States of America (USA))
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time. At age 21, Welles was directing high-profile stage productions for the Federal Theatre Project in New York City—starting with a celebrated 1936 adaptation of Macbeth with an African-American cast, and ending with the controversial labor opera The Cradle Will Rock in 1937. He and John Houseman then founded the Mercury Theatre, an independent repertory theatre company that presented a series of productions on Broadway through 1941, including a modern, politically charged Caesar (1937). In 1938, his radio anthology series The Mercury Theatre on the Air gave Welles the platform to find international fame as the director and narrator of a radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds, which caused some listeners to believe that a Martian invasion was in fact occurring. The event rocketed 23-year-old Welles to notoriety. His first film was Citizen Kane... ()
Photo of Orson Welles

George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985), best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality, Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century, especially for his significant and influential early work—despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood. His distinctive directorial style featured layered, nonlinear narrative forms, innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots, and long takes. Welles's long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios. Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased. He has been praised as a major creative force and as "the ultimate auteur."After directing a number of high-profile theatrical productions in his early twenties, including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock, Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring. Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated, they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety.Citizen Kane (1941), his first film with RKO, in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane, is often considered the greatest film ever made. Several of his other films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1974), are also widely considered to be masterpieces.In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics, and a wide survey of critical consensus, best-of lists, and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time. Well known for his baritone voice, Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time. He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety shows in the war years.

Most frequent genres for this person: Documentaries | Drama | Comedies

Known for these Movies & Shows

Awards & Nominations for Orson Welles

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay AFI Life Achievement Award Academy Honorary Award Palme d'Or Golden Lion National Board of Review Award for Best Film Star On Hollywood Walk of Fame Commander of The Legion of Honour Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
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Movies with Orson Welles as Actor(226)

as Self (archive footage)2023 Charmed Lives: A Family Romance
as Self - Narrator(voice)2023 Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees
as Ele Mesmo (Imagem de Arquivo)2023 Othelo, O Grande
as Himself (Archive Footage)2022 The Welles Raft
as Self - Interviewee (archive footage)2022 Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
as Himself (Archival Footage)2021 The Blinding of Isaac Woodard
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)2021 Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
as Self (archive footage)2020 Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind
as himself2020 Hopper/Welles
as Self (archive footage)2020 A Life for Movies - Lotte Eisner
as Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage)2018 The Eyes of Orson Welles
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)2018 Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
as Self (archive footage)2018 They'll Love Me When I'm Dead
as Self (archive footage)2018 The Great Buster: A Celebration
as Professor Richard Pierson / Self2016 Embers & Dust
as himself2015 This Is Orson Welles
as Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage)2014 Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles
as Self (Archival Footage)2013 Jodorowsky's Dune
as Keystone Kop2013 Too Much Johnson
as Genghis Khan / Bayan (archive footage)2010 Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
as (archive footage 1982)2009 Lucifer et moi
as as Russ Brewer2007 The Deep
as Self (archive footage)2006 Edge of Outside
as Self (archive footage)2005 The Other Side of Welles
as Himself (archive footage)2005 Filmmakers vs. Tycoons
as Ronald Adams2004 The Hitch Hiker
as Self (archive footage)2003 The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles
as (archive footage)2003 Rita
as Self (archive footage)2002 Lost in La Mancha
as Self (archive footage)2000 Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
as Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage)2000 Moby Dick
as Self (Archive footage)2000 Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote
as Self - Roaster (archive footage)1998 The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self (archive footage)1997 Who Is Henry Jaglom?
as Self (archive footage)1997 Tudo é Brasil
as Self (archive footage)1996 The Battle Over Citizen Kane
as Self (archive footage)1995 Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
as himself1993 It's All True
as Himself (Archive Footage)1993 Working with Orson Welles
as Self (archive footage)1993 La Classe américaine
as himself1992 Don Quixote
as Self (archive footage)1990 Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream
as Danny's Friend1987 Someone to Love
as Unicron (voice)1986 The Transformers: The Movie
as Himself (archive footage)1986 It's Not All True
as Narrator1985 Almonds and Raisins
as Marcus Kleek1985 The Dreamers
as Klingsor1984 Where Is Parsifal?
as himself1984 The Road to Bresson
as himself1984 In Our Hands
as Sheriff Paisley1983 Hot Money
as Narrator1983 The Psychic Connection
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)1983 Notre Dame de la Croisette
as Richard Wagner (voice)1982 Wagner e Venezia
as Judge Rauch1982 Butterfly
as Self - Special Guest1982 World of Magic
as Aliens' Father (voice)1982 Slapstick (Of Another Kind)
as Self - Co-Host1982 Let Poland Be Poland
as Narrator (voice)1982 Genocide
as himself1981 Filming 'The Trial'
as Narrator1981 Shogun
as Self (archive footage)1981 Brasil
as Himself (host)1981 Search for the Titanic
as Presenter / Narrator (voice)1981 The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
as Narrator (voice)1981 The New Deal for Artists
as J.P. Morgan1980 The Secret of Nikola Tesla
as English Narrator1980 A Step Away
as Narrator (voice)1980 The Greenstone
as himself1979 The Orson Welles Show
as Narrator (voice)1979 To Try Again... and Succeed
as Narrator1979 The Double McGuffin
as Lew Lord1979 The Muppet Movie
as Himself (archive footage)1978 The Force Beyond
as Himself - Host1978 Tut: The Boy King
as Narratore1978 The Biggest Battle
as Host1978 Filming Othello
as Parklawn Mortuary (voice)1977 Hot Tomorrows
as Henry F. Potter1977 It Happened One Christmas
as himself1976 'F for Fake' Trailer
as José Estedes1976 Voyage of the Damned
as Self (archive footage)1975 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Narrator (voice)1975 Bugs Bunny: Superstar
as Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)1975 Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
as Host1975 Who's Out There?
as Voice on Tape1974 And Then There Were None
as Winston Churchill1973 The Battle of Sutjeska
as himself1973 F for Fake
as Narrator1973 Kelly Country
as Narrator1973 The Cave
as Narrator1972 Future Shock
as Mr. Delasandro1972 Get to Know Your Rabbit
as Long John Silver1972 Treasure Island
as Mr. Cato1972 Necromancy
as Sheridan Whiteside1972 The Man Who Came to Dinner
as Narrator1971 Freedom River
as Cassavius1971 Malpertuis
as Théo Van Horn1971 Ten Days Wonder
as Winston Churchill / George Bernard Shaw1971 London
as The Magician1971 A Safe Place
as Narrator (voice)1971 Directed by John Ford
as Brigadier General Dreedle1970 Catch-22
as Narrator1970 A Horse Called Nijinsky
as Narrator1970 The Enemy Before Us
as Michelangelo (voice)1970 Upon This Rock
as Bresnavitch1970 The Kremlin Letter
as Louis XVIII1970 Waterloo
as Narrator (voice)1969 To Build a Fire
as Markan1969 Twelve Plus One
as Shylock1969 The Merchant of Venice
as Colonel Cascorro1969 Tepepa
as Četnik1969 The Battle of Neretva
as Plankett1969 The Southern Star
as himself1968 Vienna
as Leschenhaut1968 House of Cards
as Charles Clay1968 The Immortal Story
as Tiresias1968 Oedipus the King
as Self - Narrator1968 Around the World of Mike Todd
as himself1968 Portrait: Orson Welles
as Justinian1968 The Fight for Rome
as Le Chiffre1967 Casino Royale
as Jonathan Lute1967 I'll Never Forget What's'isname
as Narrator1967 Beggars Would Ride
as Cardinal Wolsey1966 A Man for All Seasons
as himself1966 Orson Welles in Spain
as Konsul Nordling1966 Is Paris Burning?
as Narrator1965 A King's Story
as Akerman, Marco's Teacher1965 Marco the Magnificent
as Falstaff1965 Chimes at Midnight
as Narrator (voice)1964 The Finest Hours
as Max Buda1963 The V.I.P.s
as The 'Director' (segment "La ricotta")1963 Ro.Go.Pa.G.
as Albert Hastler1962 The Trial
as Benjamin Franklin1962 Lafayette
as Burundai1961 The Tartars
as Narrator (Voice)1961 King of Kings
as Robert Fulton1960 The Battle of Austerlitz
as Storyteller1960 An Arabian Night
as King Saul1960 David and Goliath
as Hagolin / Lamerciere1960 Crack in the Mirror
as Jonathan Wilk1959 Compulsion
as Captain Hart1959 Ferry to Hong Kong
as Narrator1959 High Journey
as the narrator1958 The Fountain of Youth
as Police Captain Hank Quinlan1958 Touch of Evil
as Cy Sedgewick1958 The Roots of Heaven
as Will Varner1958 The Long, Hot Summer
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)1958 The Vikings
as Narrator1958 South Seas Adventure
as Virgil Renchler1957 Man in the Shadow
as Father Mapple1956 Moby Dick
as Self - Narrator1956 Out of Darkness
as Gregory Arkadin1955 Mr. Arkadin
as Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)1955 Three Cases of Murder
as Sir Hudson Lowe1955 Napoleon
as Self - Host1955 Orson Welles' Sketch Book
as An Actor Manager / Father Mapple / Ahab1955 Moby Dick—Rehearsed
as Sanin Cejador y Mengues1954 Trouble in the Glen
as Benjamin Franklin1954 Royal Affairs in Versailles
as Captain Perella, the Beast1953 Man, Beast and Virtue
as King Lear1953 King Lear
as Sigsbee Manderson1952 Trent's Last Case
as Othello1951 Othello
as himself1950 Disorder
as Bayan1950 The Black Rose
as Harry Lime1949 The Third Man
as Joseph Balsamo aka Count Cagliostro1949 Black Magic
as Cesare Borgia1949 Prince of Foxes
as Macbeth1948 Macbeth
as Michael O'Hara1947 The Lady from Shanghai
as John Andrew MacDonald1946 Tomorrow Is Forever
as Charles Rankin1946 The Stranger
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)1946 Duel in the Sun
as Narrator1946 Battle for Survival
as Orson Welles (uncredited)1944 Follow the Boys
as Narrator/Bob (helpful taxi passenger)1944 Know Your Ally: Britain
as Edward Rochester1943 Jane Eyre
as Colonel Haki1943 Journey into Fear
as himself1943 Show-Business at War
as Narrator (voice)1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
as Charles Foster Kane1941 Citizen Kane
as Opening Narrator1940 Swiss Family Robinson
as Narrator (voice)1937 The Spanish Earth
as Death1934 The Hearts of Age

TV Shows/Series with Orson Welles as Actor(32)

as Self (archive footage)2013 Talking Pictures
as Narrator1981 Tales of the Klondike
as Narrator1980 Shogun
as Narrator (voice)1978 A Woman Called Moses
as himself1971 V.I.P. Schaukel
as Narrator1968 The Name of the Game
as Self - Guest1968 The Dick Cavett Show
as Himself (archive footage)1963 Hollywood and the Stars
as himself1962 The Merv Griffin Show
1961 Tempo
as himself1956 The Steve Allen Show
as himself1956 Cinépanorama
as Host: Orson Welles1955 Around the World with Orson Welles
as Oscar Jaffe1955 Ford Star Jubilee
as King Lear1952 Omnibus
as Sheridan Whiteside1951 Hallmark Hall of Fame
as himself1951 I Love Lucy
as Self - Panelist1950 What's My Line?
as himself1948 The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self / King Lear1948 The Ed Sullivan Show

Movies with Orson Welles as Crew(144)

Writing/Original Concept2023 Something Else
Directing/Director2020 Hopper/Welles
Sound/Theme Song Performance2019 Halston
Crew/Thanks2019 Cerné par le diable
Directing/Director2018 The Other Side of the Wind
Editing/Editor2018 The Other Side of the Wind
Writing/Screenplay2018 The Other Side of the Wind
Crew/Thanks2018 Silent Times
Sound/Theme Song Performance2016 Passage to Mars
Writing/Characters2014 Citizen Vader
Directing/Director2013 Too Much Johnson
Editing/Editor2013 Too Much Johnson
Production/Producer2013 Too Much Johnson
Writing/Screenplay2013 Too Much Johnson
Crew/Thanks2012 The Debridement of Rome
Crew/Thanks2011 Incident at Barstow
Crew/Thanks2010 Dahmer vs. Gacy
Writing/Original Concept2008 F for favor
Directing/Director2007 The Deep
Production/Producer2007 The Deep
Writing/Screenplay2007 The Deep
Writing/Original Concept2007 The Hitchhiker
Writing/Screenplay2002 The Magnificent Ambersons
Directing/Director2000 Moby Dick
Editing/Editor2000 Moby Dick
Writing/Theatre Play2000 Moby Dick
Writing/Writer1999 The Big Brass Ring
Crew/Thanks1998 As Long as He Lives
Writing/Writer1998 The Way to Santiago
Writing/Original Concept1997 The Hearts of Age
Writing/Writer1997 The Big Brass Ring
Sound/Theme Song Performance1996 Treasury of Children's Stories
Directing/Director1993 It's All True
Directing/Director1992 Don Quixote
Editing/Editor1992 Don Quixote
Production/Producer1992 Don Quixote
Writing/Screenplay1992 Don Quixote
Crew/Thanks1989 Continental
Crew/Thanks1989 Dieter & Andreas
Crew/Thanks1988 Waxwork
Directing/Director1985 Orson Welles' Magic Show
Production/Producer1985 Orson Welles' Magic Show
Writing/Writer1985 Orson Welles' Magic Show
Directing/Director1985 The Dreamers
Writing/Writer1985 The Dreamers
Directing/Director1984 The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh
Crew/Other1982 Trick or Treats
Directing/Director1981 Filming 'The Trial'
Production/Producer1981 Filming 'The Trial'
Directing/Director1979 The Orson Welles Show
Writing/Writer1979 The Orson Welles Show
Directing/Director1978 Filming Othello
Writing/Writer1978 Filming Othello
Directing/Director1976 'F for Fake' Trailer
Production/Producer1976 'F for Fake' Trailer
Writing/Writer1976 'F for Fake' Trailer
Editing/Editorial Services1975 3 A.M.
Directing/Director1973 F for Fake
Editing/Editor1973 F for Fake
Writing/Writer1973 F for Fake
Writing/Writer1972 Treasure Island
Production/Producer1971 Freedom River
Directing/Director1971 London
Editing/Editor1971 London
Writing/Writer1971 London
Directing/Director1969 The Merchant of Venice
Editing/Editor1969 The Merchant of Venice
Production/Producer1969 The Merchant of Venice
Writing/Screenplay1969 The Merchant of Venice
Directing/Director1968 Vienna
Production/Producer1968 Vienna
Writing/Writer1968 Vienna
Directing/Director1968 The Immortal Story
Writing/Screenplay1968 The Immortal Story
Crew/Additional Writing1966 The Bible: In the Beginning...
Costume & Make-Up/Costume Design1965 Chimes at Midnight
Directing/Director1965 Chimes at Midnight
Writing/Screenplay1965 Chimes at Midnight
Directing/Director1962 The Trial
Editing/Editor1962 The Trial
Writing/Screenplay1962 The Trial
Directing/Co-Director1962 No Exit
Art/Production Design1958 The Fountain of Youth
Directing/Director1958 The Fountain of Youth
Production/Producer1958 The Fountain of Youth
Sound/Music Arranger1958 The Fountain of Youth
Writing/Writer1958 The Fountain of Youth
Directing/Director1958 Touch of Evil
Writing/Screenplay1958 Touch of Evil
Art/Production Design1955 Mr. Arkadin
Art/Art Direction1955 Mr. Arkadin
Costume & Make-Up/Costume Design1955 Mr. Arkadin
Directing/Director1955 Mr. Arkadin
Editing/Editor1955 Mr. Arkadin
Production/Producer1955 Mr. Arkadin
Writing/Screenplay1955 Mr. Arkadin
Writing/Story1955 Mr. Arkadin
Directing/Co-Director1955 Three Cases of Murder
Sound/Theme Song Performance1955 Three Cases of Murder
Directing/Director1955 Orson Welles' Sketch Book
Directing/Director1955 Moby Dick—Rehearsed
Writing/Writer1955 Moby Dick—Rehearsed
Directing/Director1951 Othello
Production/Producer1951 Othello
Writing/Screenplay1951 Othello
Art/Production Design1949 Portrait of a Murderer
Writing/Writer1949 Portrait of a Murderer
Art/Set Designer1948 Macbeth
Costume & Make-Up/Costume Design1948 Macbeth
Directing/Director1948 Macbeth
Production/Producer1948 Macbeth
Writing/Screenplay1948 Macbeth
Writing/Story1947 Monsieur Verdoux
Directing/Director1947 The Lady from Shanghai
Production/Producer1947 The Lady from Shanghai
Writing/Screenplay1947 The Lady from Shanghai
Directing/Director1946 The Stranger
Writing/Co-Writer1946 The Stranger
Production/Associate Producer1943 Jane Eyre
Production/Producer1943 Journey into Fear
Writing/Screenplay1943 Journey into Fear
Camera/Additional Photography1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
Directing/Director1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
Production/Producer1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
Writing/Screenplay1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
Directing/Director1941 Citizen Kane
Production/Producer1941 Citizen Kane
Writing/Screenplay1941 Citizen Kane
Directing/Director1934 The Hearts of Age
Writing/Writer1934 The Hearts of Age
Directing/Director1933 Twelfth Night

TV Shows/Series with Orson Welles as Crew(24)

Crew/Thanks2015 Bucket
Crew/Thanks2010 Beer and Board Games
Crew/Thanks2010 L'antre du Mea
Creator/Creator1985 Scene of the Crime
Crew/Thanks1985 Moonlighting
Crew/Thanks1974 Crónicas fantásticas
Directing/Director1973 Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
Writing/Screenplay1973 Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
Creator/Creator1973 Orson Welles' Great Mysteries
Sound/Theme Song Performance1964 Shindig!
Editing/Editor1964 In the Land of Don Quixote
Directing/Director1964 In the Land of Don Quixote
Production/Producer1964 In the Land of Don Quixote
Camera/Additional Camera1964 In the Land of Don Quixote
Creator/Creator1964 In the Land of Don Quixote
Directing/Director1961 Tempo
Writing/Writer1961 Tempo
Directing/Director1958 Colgate Theatre
Writing/Screenplay1958 Colgate Theatre
Production/Producer1958 Colgate Theatre
Sound/Music Arranger1958 Colgate Theatre
Directing/Director1955 Around the World with Orson Welles

Full Name: Orson George Welles
Born: Thursday, 05/06 1915 (May) in Kenosha, Wisconsin (United States of America (USA))
Died: Thursday, 10/10 1985 (October) in Los Angeles (aged: 70)
Zodiac sign: Taurus (Chinese zodiac sign: Rabbit)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Educated at: Todd Seminary for Boys, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Member of: Académie des beaux-arts
Represented by: Light Cone
Spouses (current/former): Rita Hayworth, Paola Mori, Virginia Nicolson
Children: Beatrice Welles, Rebecca Welles
Father: Richard Head Welles
Mother: Beatrice Ives Welles
Student of: Boris Anisfeld
Other names for Orson Welles (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Орсон Уэллс"
"Джордж Орсон Уэллс"
"George Orson Welles"
"O. W. Jeeves"
"오슨 웰스"
"오슨 웰즈"
"오손 웰스"
Orson Welles frequently works together with these people:
Gary Graver (36x, Crew)
Oja Kodar (27x, Actress)
John Huston (22x, Actor)
Peter Bogdanovich (20x, Actor)
Charlton Heston (16x, Actor)
Maurice Evans (15x, Actor)
Louis Nicoletti (14x, Cast)
Jeanne Moreau (13x, Actress)
Peter Ustinov (13x, Actor)
Julie Harris (13x, Actress)
Joseph Cotten (12x, Actor)
Tom Poston (12x, Actor)
WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:813, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 03/16/2024