Friday, February 5, 2010

Tim Holt


Tim Holt was a child actor who graduated to starring his own series of 1940's "B" westerns and to playing solid supporting roles in higher-budget A films.

Tim Holt was born Charles John Holt III on February 5, 1919 in Beverly Hills, California. The son of actor Jack Holt and Margaret Woods.

Tim Holt appeared in three films with his father: The Vanishing Pioneer (1928), The Arizona Ranger (1948) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).


Tim Holt made his film debut at age 8 in an uncredited role in French Dressing (1927). He next appeared in The Vanishing Pioneer (1928).


He was sent to study at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1936. He immediately went to work in the Hollywood film business.

After his return to Hollywood he was cast in History Is Made at Night (1937).

Tim Holt's first big break was when he was cast to play Richard 'Dick' Grosvenor III in Stella Dallas (1937) starring Barbara Stanwyck.

Tim Holt next appeared in Gold Is Where You Find It (1938) as Lanceford 'Lance' Ferris which starred Olivia de Havilland.

In 1939, he played Lieutenant Blanchard in Stagecoach.

From 1939 to 1942, he appeared in more than a dozen B Western films including Wagon Train (1940), Robbers of the Range (1941), and Land of the Open Range (1942).




In 1942 he won critical aclaim for his role George in The Magnificent Ambersons.




In 1946 he played Virgil Earp in My Darling Clementine.

Tim Holt's most famous role was as Curtin in John Huston's The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).




In 1991, Tim Holt was inducted posthumously into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

At the peak of his career in the 1940s "B" westerns, he was the "fastest draw" in the movies with the ability to draw his revolver in slightly over one-sixth of a second.

Tim Holt died February 15, 1973 at 54 years old of bone cancer.

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