About
Orson Welles, born George Orson Welles on May 6, 1915, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and died on October 10, 1985, in Hollywood, is a major figure in cinema and theater. He co-founded the Mercury Theatre in 1937 and gained fame with his radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds (1938), which caused public panic. His first film, Citizen Kane (1941), which he co-directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred in, is considered a world benchmark. He later directed The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), and Chimes at Midnight (1965). He received an Honorary Oscar in 1971 and the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award in 1975.
* 1915-05-06 — † 1985-10-10
Major works
- Citizen Kane (1941)film
- The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)film
- The Lady from Shanghai (1947)film
- Touch of Evil (1958)film
- Chimes at Midnight (1965)film
Key milestones
- 1938Broadcast of the radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds, causing public panic.
- 1941Release of Citizen Kane, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
- 1971Received an Honorary Academy Award for superlative artistry and versatility.
Themes
Power and corruptionMemory and subjectivityTheater and cinemaNarrative innovationAmbition and decline
Sources: id.loc.gov · afi.com · aaspeechesdb.oscars.org
