(1999), Sidney Poitier: The Defiant One He told an interviewer in later years: "She wanted to be this great star but acting just scared the hell out of her. He laughs and, for just a moment, there is a hint in his voice of that snicker that made him famous. During her six-year marriage to Fonda, Susan helped to bring up both children, and they are still close to her. (1955), Broken Lance (1989), Once Upon a Texas Train He was so uncomfortable in the role that he reportedly apologized to Poitier - in his feature film debut - after shooting every scene. In 1938, he moved to New York City, where his college sweetheart and future wife, Jean Hazlewood, was studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her zodiac sign is Pisces. She was the third wife of actor Henry Fonda, with whom she adopted a daughter, Amy (born 1953), and the second wife of actor Richard Widmark. Feature debut, "Kiss of Death"; instantly achieve star status; also received Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor, First films in which he received top billing, "Down to the Sea in Ships" and "Slattery's Hurricane", Appeared in "Take the High Ground"; first film not at Twentieth Century-Fox, Formed production company, Heath Productions, Last film at Twentieth Century-Fox for several years, "The Last Wagon", First film as co-producer (also actor), "Time Limit"; sole directorial effort for Karl Malden, Served as vice president of Widmark Cattle Enterprises, Last featuring producing credit, "The Bedford Incident"; also starred, Portrayed Sergeant Don Madigan opposite Henry Fonda in "Madigan", Made TV acting debut in the miniseries, "Vanished", Recreated the role of Sergeant Don Madigan for the short-lived NBC television series, "Madigan", Cast in Sidney Lumet's "Murder on the Orient Express" based on the 1934 novel by Agatha Christie, Last received top billing in features in "The Sell Out" and "To the Devil, a Daughter", Last feature film for seven years, "Against All Odds", Returned to feature films after a seven-year absence to play a Senator in "True Colors", Appeared as himself in the documentary, "Wild Bill, Hollywood Maverick: The Life and Times of William A. Wellman". Declining interviews, talk-show appearances and such, Widmark lived a quiet life until his death on March 24, 2008, after complications from a fall. HARTFORD, Conn. - Richard Widmark, who made a sensational film debut as the giggling killer in "Kiss of Death" and became a Hollywood leading man in "Broken Lance," ''Two Rode Together" and 40. She was his college sweetheart. AP Photo/United Artists In this 1962 image. His first was a comedy hit on Broadway, "Kiss and Tell." I wanted so badly to be in them. (1959), The Law and Jake Wade (1959), The Trap Susan Blanchard and Richard Widmark were married for 8 years before Richard Widmark died aged 93. Widmark was born in the farming community of Sunrise, Minnesota, where his Swedish-born father ran the general store. It seems incredible to me that we are the only civilized nation that does not put some effective control on guns.". Which is to say she was not at all Widmark's type. (1958), Saint Joan His original ambition was to become a lawyer, so he enrolled at Lake Forest. Widmarks wife Jean died in 1997. Susan Blanchard (born Susan Jacobson) is an American socialite and former lyricist and theatrical producer. In his later years, Widmark divided his time between a ranch in Hidden Valley, Calif., and a farm in Connecticut. She is married to actor Charles Frank, who played her onscreen husband Dr. Jeff Martin #2 on All My Children. (1971), Two Rode Together - Behind-the-Scenes Photos, Here are a few publicity stills from MGM's. (1949), The Street with No Name (1991), Cold Sassy Tree But Daryl Zanuck at Fox insisted that I do the film, so they used a wig to lower my forehead, and that gave me a harder appearance.". So smooth. "None. Can it really be that there were no sparks between them? Rejected by the Army because of a punctured eardrum, Widmark began appearing in theater productions in 1943. (1954), Hell and High Water (1961), The Alamo "I always had crazy laughs," he recalls with a smile. (1955), A Prize of Gold One of his biggest hits came in 1968 when he played the title role in the New York cop story Madigan. In 1972, Widmark reprised the role in a TV series of the same name that ran on NBC for a year. Jane was only 12 when her father wed for the third time. (1969), A Talent For Loving The teasing and the name-calling didn't bother him. Trivia. (1955), Vanished display: none; And that, he said, is the way he played the part in the movie. "Ford didn't move the camera, he moved the people. Women of a certain age swoon whenever they spot this matinee idol of their younger days, and film buffs of all ages regard him with awe. She had trouble remembering lines. But that's why the last five years of her life were so tragic. Married in September 1999 in Roxbury, Connecticut; formerly married to Henry Fonda. Susan Blanchard (socialite) was married to Henry Fonda for 6 years, and Richard Widmark for 9 years. But there's a new He said I looked too intellectual to play the character. //]]>, Check out our New "Top 10 Greatest Celebrity Studs". When he remarried in 1999, he chose as his bride an old family friend, Susan Blanchard, now 74. [CDATA[ This article about an American television actor is a stub. Susan Blanchard's relationship with Richard Widmark ended when Richard Widmark died on March 24, 2008. Blanchard appeared in the television commercial spokesperson for No Nonsense, a brand of pantyhose, from 1976 to 1982. After a career in radio drama and theater, Widmark moved to films as Tommy Udo, who delighted . (1977), The Domino Principle Even the more positive roles he played tended towards a high-strung, neurotic intensity that became a trademark. The lean and rugged Widmark, who director Samuel Fuller once said walks and talks like no one else, was known to be equally at home astride a horse in films such as William Wellmans Yellow Sky, John Fords Cheyenne Autumn and Two Rode Together, John Waynes The Alamo and the star-studded epic How the West Was Won.. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. "Then, when she finally would show up, she was a nervous wreck. Susan Blanchard (socialite) (born 1928), who married actors Henry Fonda, Michael Wager, and Richard Widmark Susan Blanchard (actress) (born 1944), American actress known for role on All My Children in the 1970s Blanchard Ryan (Susan Blanchard Ryan, born 1967), American actress who starred in the 2003 film Open Water (1963), Two Rode Together I'm always pleased to have an excuse to visit. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. This near-forgotten drama cast him as a race-baiting thug bent on avenging his brother who died while being treated by a black surgeon (Sidney Poitier). Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. But Widmark, who had been a nut for films since he saw his first one at age 3, said he loved making movies. Famous first scene in which Jean Peters and two FBI guys (Willis Bouchey, Jerry O'Sullivan) are among the straphangers, when pickpocket Richard Widmark appears, after which she calls Joey (Richard Kiley), in writer-director Samuel Fuller's, Pickup On South Street -- (Movie Clip) Tiger's Waiting, Pickpocket Skip (Richard Widmark) returns to his waterfront hide-out, discovers he's scored some microfilm, and greets cops Winocki (Milburn Stone) and Mac (Henry Slate) in Samuel Fuller's, Pickup On South Street (1953) -- (Movie Clip) A Girl Makes Mistakes, Writer-director Sam Fuller is all business as pickpocket Skip (Richard Widmark) revives Candy (Jean Peters), having knocked her out when she arrived at his waterfront shack to retrieve her wallet, in, To the Devil, a Daughter - (Original Trailer), An occult writer (Richard Widmark) fights to save a friend's daughter from Satanists in, Pickup on South Street - (Original Trailer), A pickpocket (Richard Widmark) accidently steals microfilm from the purse of a Communist spy in Samuel Fuller's, A terrorist spreads a climate of fear by attacking amusement parks across the U.S. in, O. Henry's Full House - (Original Trailer), Five stories reveal O. Henry's gift for the surprise ending with the help of five directors and a host of stars in, A suave Mexican cattleman (William Holden) inadvertently gets involved in the Civil War in, A doctor (Genevieve Bujold) investigates a series of strange deaths and disappearing bodies at her hospital in, A married couple endures endless red tape when they try to adopt a child in, A reluctant calvary Captain must track a defiant tribe of migrating Cheyennes in, Bedford Incident, The - (Original Trailer), A U.S. destroyer has a nuclear showdown with a Russian submarine in, Davey Crockett (John Wayne) and Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark) join the fight for Texas' independence from Mexico in, Murder on the Orient Express - (Original Trailer), Belgian detective Hercule Poirot investigates the murder of a mysterious businessman on a train ride in, Law and Jake Wade, The - (Original Trailer), An outlaw (Richard Widmark) forces his reformed buddy (Robert Taylor) to lead him to buried loot in. Tough, mean, devious and smart; all words that could be used to describe the sort of characters Richard Widmark was identified with. I don't have the patience anymore. "I'm happy to admit that I'm an Anglophile. One thing's for sure, I definitely won't be popping the question!". (1954), Garden of Evil Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM. He forged an early relationship with director Elia Kazan during his Broadway run, but it was the postwar years that saw him in his first movie roles. How to watch the event in the UK and US, Fatal Attraction, review: Eighties reboot has nothing new to say but it sure is steamy, Succession, episode 6, review: Matthew Macfadyen is the real star of this all-round masterclass, Marilyn Monroe at 90: Celebrating her best style moments. For two years after that picture, you couldnt get me to smile. All they want to do is move the camera around like it was on a rollercoaster. I was a little self-conscious in that part. His sole Academy Award nomination was for best actor in a supporting role for. But it has a familiar ring to it now, and is no longer frightening. (1973), The Moonshine War (Featurette) Among the films he produced and starred in were Time Limit (1957), directed by Malden; and The Secret Ways (1961), a Cold War thriller with a script written by Widmarks wife, Jean. The younger child of Dorothy Kiaora Blanchard and Henry Jacobson. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He died about six months later of complications. It's good - except for the climate. Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at age 84 I played the part the way I did because the script struck me as funny and the part I played made me laugh, the guy was such a ridiculous beast. Tennis star Serena Williams, supermodel Karlie Kloss unveil baby bumps at the Met Gala Her film credits include Russkies (1987), again opposite her husband Charles Frank, and the John Carpenter films Prince of Darkness (1987) and They Live (1988). In fact, it was Susan who came to the rescue of the Fonda children Jane and Peter after their mother committed suicide. Although his friends included such rough-and-tumble characters as Robert Mitchum, Widmark always preferred to live in the slow lane, keeping clear of scandal. Hair Color Light Brown Eye Color Blue Sexual Orientation Straight He knew what he was doing, he could do it well, and he hated anyone he worked with who wasnt prepared, because he came ready to go., Sidney Poitier, who acted in three films with Widmark, told The Times that Widmark left his mark as a very fine actor.. Susan Blanchard studied at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Formerly married to baseball player Sandy Koufax. (1984), The Final Option } Family (1) Spouse Richard Widmark (27 September 1999 - 24 March 2008) (his death . Another time I was having dinner in a restaurant when this big guy came over and knocked me right out of my chair.. He also lent his voice to narrate several wildlife documentaries. His political views were again reflected in TV projects like "All God's Children" (ABC, 1980) and "A Gathering Of Old Men" (CBS, 1987). He enrolled in a pre-law course at Lake Forest College in Illinois, where he won awards in oratory contests. With a touching note of fondness in his voice, he recalls how smitten he was by the big screen. Fuller was adept at weaving subtexts into his stories; he slyly poked at the Red-baiters in a scene where two FBI men earnestly try to appeal to Skip's (Widmark's) sense of duty to country. 1928) Susan Blanchard's Relationships (3) Richard Widmark, fdd 26 december 1914 i Sunrise Township, Chisago County, Minnesota, dd 24 mars 2008 i Roxbury, Connecticut, var en amerikansk skdespelare. Here, take that, you little squirt, she said. "Well, Marilyn herself wasn't obsessed with me," Widmark hastens to point out. He turned instead to the stage in 1943, and his name was soon splashed across Broadway marquees, appearing in productions such as "Kiss and Tell," "Dunnigan's Daughter" and "Kiss Them For Me." Impossible, really. A lot of actors dont know what to do with themselves when they retire; they have no other life. (1968), The Way West (1985), Against All Odds (1988), A Gathering of Old Men A Quote From A "Grieving" Widow "It was a big shock but he was 93" Susan Blanchard Widmark March 27, 2008 The warmth of her sentiment absolutely overwhelms me 59 10 comments Share Susan Blanchard is currently available. It's weird, the effect actors have on an audience. He was appearing in the Chicago company of "Dream Girl" with June Havoc when 20th Century Fox signed him to a seven-year contract. After all those years of loving movies and watching them at the end of a long day, I find now that I can't sit through many of them. 2023 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. After a career in radio drama and theater, Widmark moved to films as Tommy Udo, who delighted in pushing an old lady in a wheelchair to her death down a flight of stairs in the 1947 thriller "Kiss of Death." More about Richard Widmark edit Dating History Met Gala 2023 looks: See photos of the show-stopping red carpet arrivals Reportedly conflicts between the stars were rife on-set (although publicly Widmark blamed them on Wayne's lack of directorial skills). With a very few special people, something happens between the lens and the film that is pure magic. (1960), Warlock Susan Blanchard Michael Wager Age -4873 days Born Wednesday 29 Apr 1925 Died 26 Dec 1911 Start a FameChain Other Partners Professional Partners Siblings Other Partners Married 1999 - 2008 Richard Widmark Divorced 1 child together married 28 Dec 1950 divorce May 1956 Henry Fonda Professional Partners Susan Blanchard Siblings Susan Blanchard Age 91 Richard Widmark established himself as an icon of American cinema with his debut in the 1947 film noir, - IMDb Mini Biography By: Martin Lewison and Jon C. Hopwood, Despite playing heartless killers and bigots on film, he personally denounced all kinds of violence and the usage of guns. As he strolls through the restaurant, the young staff bow respectfully and the older guests say hello in wide-eyed wonder. One son with second husband. (1952), The Frogmen Among them: "The Street With No Name," "Road House," "Yellow Sky," "Down to the Sea in Ships," "Slattery's Hurricane," "Panic in the Streets," "No Way Out," "The Halls of Montezuma," "The Frogmen," "Red Skies of Montana," "My Pal Gus" and the Samuel Fuller film noir "Pickup on South Street.". Susan Blanchard Entertainment - Producer Why Famous: Ex spouse of Henry Fonda Age: 95 (b. Susan Blanchard Age 91 Born Thursday 08 Mar 1928 Start a FameChain His Other Children Peter Fonda born 1940, died 2019, age 79 with Frances Fonda American Actor Son of Henry Fonda and Brother to Jane Fonda Jane Fonda born 1967, age 51 with Frances Fonda American Actress Henry Fonda's Daughter Frances Brokaw born 1931, died 2008, age 76 He was 93. Susan Blanchard. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. Widmark's wife, Susan Blanchard, says the actor died at his home in Connecticut on Monday. He played a rabid racist in Joseph L. Mankiewiczs No Way Out (1950), an obsessed prosecutor in Stanley Kramers Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), an authoritarian Navy destroyer captain during the Cold War in James B. Harris The Bedford Incident (1965) and a tough New York City police detective in Don Siegels Madigan (1968). Richard Widmark, who died onMarch 24, 2008 aged 93, was nominated for an Oscar for his first film, Kiss of Death. [on his giggling psychopathic killer in his debut film. It was "No Way Out" (1950), however, that provided a good angle on Widmark's off-screen nature. I let 'em have it in the belly, so they can roll around for a long time thinkin' it over.". I suppose I wanted to act in order to have a place in the sun. When I finally came to Hollywood, I thought I was in seventh heaven, he told The Times in 1987. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. Nervy and charismatic, he auditioned for the lead role in "Counselor at Law," a popular 1930s play, seeing that playing an attorney onstage was more enticing than actually working as one. Half sister of Jamie Hammerstein. She would not provide details of his illness and said funeral arrangements are private. (1981), All God's Children He is best known for his role as Tommy Udo in his first movie, Kiss of Death. While trying to avoid playing more low-life villains, Widmark was offered what he once called this terrible, awful racist character in No Way Out, the 1950 film that marked the big-screen debut of Poitier as a doctor in a county hospital who must deal with Widmarks character. They had been married for 8.6 years. Their longest marriage has been 9 years to Richard Widmark. Two stepsiblings: William and Alice Hammerstein. Id always lived in small towns, and acting meant having some kind of identity.. I hate that.". (1965), Flight From Ashiya The main thing was that, almost overnight, he became a film star, and that was his aim from the start. Add an Affair, Check out our New "Top 10 Worst Celebrity Cheaters", Go To Susan Blanchard's ProfileGo To Richard Widmark's Profile, "We are happy with the place we are right now, but perhaps we will tie the knot someday. He was a damn good actor, Malden told The Times. / CBS/AP. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. He nods and ruefully admits: "I'm such a dinosaur. His hero was Spencer Tracy. (1947), Jack Palance: From Grit to Grace Characters played by Widmark were often tough. She is an actress, known for, Had an adopted daughter, Amy Fisher (ne Fonda; b.November 1953), with her ex-1st husband. The Sixties and Seventies saw Widmark more choosy about his roles, often playing more generous characters. (1976), The Last Day morality today. (1948), Kiss of Death (1977), To the Devil, a Daughter The son of a commercial traveller, he attended a small college in Illinois, where the local drama teacher encouraged him to consider a career in the theatre. He was 93. He also apologized profusely to. He explained to Parade magazine in 1987: "I've discovered in my dotage that I now find the whole moviemaking process irritating. Widmark's wife, Susan Blanchard, said he died Monday. Over the span of 50 years, he went from being a film noir icon to an actor with a broader range and scope, but still brought a readily-identifiable style to each movie he was in. Add a child for this couple. (1974), Brock's Last Case I haven't been on a ship in 30 years.". I sold the ranch in California, and we live here all year. "That damned laugh of mine!" Susan Blanchard (1999-2008) - In 1999, he married socialite and former lyricist and theatrical producer Susan Blanchard (ne Jacobson). They had been married for 8.6 years. Born Dec. 26, 1914 in Princeton, IL, to a traveling salesman of Swedish descent, young Widmark moved around to South Dakota, Missouri and the Chicago, IL area in his early years. (1997), Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick Acting with him was like skating on ice. Baseball great Sandy Koufax was Widmark's son-in-law for the decade the Dodger was married to . //