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Orson Welles
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 - October 10, 1985) was an American multi-talented artistic dynamo who made his indelible mark in acting, directing, writing, and producing. He is best known for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre, in particular, his 1941 film, 'Citizen Kane' which often cited as the greatest film ever made.
At a tender age of 21, Welles remarked his notability in the theatrical landscape by directing high-profile stage productions for the Federal Theatre Project in New York City. The brilliance of his innovative directorial style was further recognized when at 23, his radio adaptation of H.G.Wells's novel 'The War of the Worlds' caused quite a stir, making him genuine overnight radio sensation. His first film, 'Citizen Kane,' at age 26, which he co-wrote, produced, directed, and acted broke new grounds in film-making and is still celebrated for its pioneering techniques. In an illustrious career, Welles directed 13 features, each one revealing his distinctive artistic vision. However, Welles remained an outsider to the studio system and often found himself confronting for creative control on his projects with major film studios and independent financiers across Europe. Despite such tussles, Welles left a rich legacy of films.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Orson Welles, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Orson Welles rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: George Orson Welles
Born: Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Citizenship: United States
Birthday: May 6, 1915
Occupations: Director, actor, writer, producer
Years Active: 1931–1985
Children: 3
Spouses: Virginia Nicolson, Rita Hayworth, Paola Mori
External Links and Streaming Options
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Awards and Nominations Received by Orson Welles
Explore the awards, honors, and nominations Orson Welles has earned across their acting career. From prestigious wins to critical acclaim, see how their talent has been recognized by the film industry and major award bodies.
Movies Featuring Orson Welles
Chimes at Midnight
F for Fake
The Third Man
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Stranger
Touch of Evil
A Man for All Seasons
Casino Royale
The V.I.P.s
American: An Odyssey to 1947
Citizen Kane
Orson Welles: The Paris Interview
Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen
Too Much Johnson
Embers & Dust
Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
This Is Orson Welles
The Eyes of Orson Welles
The Welles Raft
Moby Dick
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
Rita
Lost in “The Thinking”
The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles
The UFO Conspiracy
Filmmakers vs. Tycoons
Shōgun
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
Filming ‘The Trial’
Notre Dame de la Croisette
Night of 100 Stars
The Secret of Nikola Tesla
The New Deal for Artists
Butterfly
Enchanted Journey
Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française
The Witching
The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh
Where Is Parsifal?
The Road to Bresson
The Dreamers
With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film
The Quest for Fire Adventure
Genocide
Orson Welles’ Magic Show
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
It’s All True: Four Men on a Raft
Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind
Brasil
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Someone to Love
Slapstick of Another Kind
It’s Not All True
Hopper/Welles
Parkinson at 50
The Blinding of Isaac Woodard
Othelo The Great
AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special
Journey into Fear
The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal
Filming Othello
The Battle of Austerlitz
It’s All True
The Cave
Black Magic
King of Kings
Freedom River
The Battle of Sutjeska
The Tartars
The Late Great Planet Earth
The Kremlin Letter
Ten Days’ Wonder
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
Trouble in the Glen
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Ten Days That Shook the World
Bugs Bunny Superstar
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
The Cave: a parable told by Orson Welles
The Merchant of Venice
House of Cards
Napoleon
A Woman Called Moses
Tepepa
Twelve Plus One
La Ricotta
The Orson Welles Show
Caesar’s Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles
Who’s Out There?
Know Your Ally: Britain
Orson Welles in Spain
It Happened One Christmas
Is It Always Right to Be Right?
Future Shock
Moby Dick
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
King Lear
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Waterloo
The Sailor from Gibraltar
Disorder
The Trial
Ro.Go.Pa.G.
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
Tomorrow Is Forever
London
The Immortal Story
Flame of Persia
Directed by John Ford
David and Goliath
Around the World with Orson Welles
Ferry to Hong Kong
I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname
Man, Beast and Virtue
To Build a Fire
Othello
Show-Business at War
It’s All Brazil
Is Paris Burning?
Mr. Arkadin
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles
Crack in the Mirror
Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali
The Vikings
Vienna
Malpertuis
In the Land of Don Quixote
Start the Revolution Without Me
Portrait: Orson Welles
The Long, Hot Summer
The Hearts of Age
The Battle of Neretva
Hot Tomorrows
The Lady from Shanghai
Don Quixote
The Force Beyond
Sentinels of Silence
The Challenge… A Tribute to Modern Art
Jane Eyre
Macbeth
The Fountain of Youth
Treasure Island
Prince of Foxes
The Roots of Heaven
The Fight for Rome
Necromancy
Three Cases of Murder
The Scorpion and the Frog
Return to Glennascaul
Lafayette
Hi-Fi
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
And Then There Were None
The Battle of Grovers Mill
Compulsion
The Finest Hours
Oedipus the King
La Classe américaine
The Southern Star
Working with Orson Welles
Follow the Boys
A Safe Place
The Black Rose
The Spanish Earth
The Double McGuffin
Twelfth Night
Mysterious Castles of Clay
Duel in the Sun
Marco the Magnificent
South Seas Adventure
Trent’s Last Case
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Orson Welles, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2023
American: An Odyssey to 1947
Self
Othelo The Great
Self (archive footage)
AFI Life Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary Special
Self (archive footage)
2018
Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
The Eyes of Orson Welles
Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage)
2000
Moby Dick
Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage)
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
Self (archive footage)
1993
It’s All True
Self
Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles
La Classe américaine
Self (archive footage)
Working with Orson Welles
Himself (Archive Footage)
1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Self (archive footage)
It’s All True: Four Men on a Raft
It’s Not All True
Himself (archive footage)
1983
Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française
Himself
The Witching
Mr. Cato
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Orson Welles (uncredited)
1982
Night of 100 Stars
Self
The Quest for Fire Adventure
Narrator
Genocide
Narrator (voice)
Slapstick of Another Kind
Aliens' Father (voice)
1981
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
Presenter / Narrator (voice)
Filming ‘The Trial’
Self
Notre Dame de la Croisette
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The New Deal for Artists
Narrator (voice)
Butterfly
Judge Rauch
Enchanted Journey
Pippo
Brasil
Self (archive footage)
1978
Filming Othello
Host
The Late Great Planet Earth
Self
Caesar’s Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles
Himself
Mysterious Castles of Clay
Narrator
1977
It Happened One Christmas
Henry F. Potter
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Narrator
Hot Tomorrows
Parklawn Mortuary (voice)
The Force Beyond
Himself (archive footage)
1975
F for Fake
Bugs Bunny Superstar
Narrator (voice)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)
Who’s Out There?
Host
1973
The Cave
Narrator
The Battle of Sutjeska
Winston Churchill
The Cave: a parable told by Orson Welles
Narrator
1972
Future Shock
Narrator
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Treasure Island
Long John Silver
Necromancy
Mr. Cato
1971
Freedom River
Narrator
Ten Days’ Wonder
Théo Van Horn
London
Winston Churchill / George Bernard Shaw
Flame of Persia
Narrator
Directed by John Ford
Narrator (voice)
Malpertuis
Cassavius
Sentinels of Silence
A Safe Place
The Magician
1970
The Kremlin Letter
Bresnavitch
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Is It Always Right to Be Right?
Narrator
Waterloo
Louis XVIII
Start the Revolution Without Me
The Narrator
1969
The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal
Justinian
The Merchant of Venice
Shylock
Tepepa
Colonel Cascorro
Twelve Plus One
Markan
To Build a Fire
Narrator (voice)
Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali
Narrator (voice)
The Battle of Neretva
Četnik
The Southern Star
Plankett
1968
House of Cards
Leschenhaut
The Immortal Story
Charles Clay
Vienna
Himself
Portrait: Orson Welles
Self
The Fight for Rome
Justinian
Oedipus the King
Tiresias
1967
Chimes at Midnight
Casino Royale
Ten Days That Shook the World
Narrator
The Sailor from Gibraltar
Louis de Mozambique
I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname
Jonathan Lute
1960
The Battle of Austerlitz
Robert Fulton
David and Goliath
King Saul
Crack in the Mirror
Hagolin / Lamerciere
1958
Touch of Evil
The Vikings
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Long, Hot Summer
Will Varner
The Fountain of Youth
the narrator
The Roots of Heaven
Cy Sedgewick
South Seas Adventure
Narrator
1954
Trouble in the Glen
Sanin Cejador y Mengues
Three Cases of Murder
Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)
Royal Affairs in Versailles
Benjamin Franklin
1953
King Lear
King Lear
Man, Beast and Virtue
Captain Perella, the Beast
Return to Glennascaul
Narrator
1946
The Stranger
Tomorrow Is Forever
John Andrew MacDonald
Duel in the Sun
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
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