Orson Welles
He shattered cinematic conventions at 25 with 'Citizen Kane,' a film that forever changed how stories are told on screen.
1915–1985 (age 70)·American actor and filmmaker·Birthday: May 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Orson Welles was a force of nature who seemed to operate on a scale larger than life itself. He began as a theatrical wunderkind, founding the Mercury Theatre and causing a national panic with his 1938 radio broadcast of 'The War of the Worlds.' Hollywood beckoned, and at 25, he co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in 'Citizen Kane,' a film whose innovative narrative structure and deep-focus photography redefined the possibilities of the medium. Yet that very triumph set a standard he would spend a lifetime grappling with, as studio interference and his own sprawling ambitions led to a career of magnificent, often unfinished projects. From the shadowy labyrinths of 'The Third Man' to his own later, self-financed works, Welles remained a brilliant, uncompromising artist whose influence echoes in every ambitious filmmaker who followed.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Orson was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Orson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Orson's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 60
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 70
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote, directed, produced, and starred in 'Citizen Kane' (1941), frequently cited as the greatest film ever made.
- Directed and starred in 'The Magnificent Ambersons' (1942), a landmark of American cinematic tragedy.
- Delivered the unforgettable performance of Harry Lime in Carol Reed's 'The Third Man' (1949).
- Won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for 'Citizen Kane'.
- His 1938 'The War of the Worlds' radio broadcast demonstrated the potent power of mass media.
Did You Know?
He performed magic tricks professionally as a young man and was a lifelong enthusiast of the art.
He provided the voice for the planet-eating robot Unicron in the 1986 animated film 'The Transformers: The Movie'.
He was a frequent guest on 'The Dean Martin Show' and appeared in numerous television commercials in his later years.
He narrated the 1983 rock concept album 'The Man Who Saw Tomorrow' based on the writings of Nostradamus.
“I hate television. I hate it as much as peanuts. But I can't stop eating peanuts.”
