Welles, Orson, 1915-1985

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Actor, writer, director, and producer for stage, radio, and film.

From the description of Papers, 1930-1959. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 31734907

George Orson Welles, named for his parents' friend George Ade, was born on May 6, 1915, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A child prodigy aided and encouraged by guardian Maurice Bernstein and teacher Roger Hill, Welles had considerable writing and acting experience before the age of twenty. Through the years this multi-talented artist has acted and directed on the stage, in radio, film and television; has made several recordings; has authored plays, film scripts, and a newspaper column; and, as a political activist, contributed considerable energy to the 1944 presidential campaign in support of Franklin Roosevelt.

From the guide to the Welles mss., 1930-1950, (Bulk 1936-1947), (Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington))

Welles' career began with the Federal Theatre Project, when he was in his twenties; he is remembered for the political musical The Cradle Will Rock, and for his staging of Macbeth with an all-African American cast. With John Houseman, he founded the Mercury Theatre in 1937; the Mercury's radioplay of H.G. Wells' alien invasion story The War of the Worlds aired in October 1938. Welles is probably best known for his cinematic work as both an actor and a director, including films such as Citizen Kane (1941), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965). After an extensive career on stage, screen, and airwaves, Welles died of a heart attack on October 10, 1985 at his home in Hollywood.

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Birth 1915-05-06

Death 1985-10-10

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English

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