William Haines
William Haines (born January 2, 1900 in Staunton , Virginia as Charles William Haines , † December 26, 1973 in Santa Monica , California ) was an American actor . It was very popular in the late silent film era and early sound film era.
Life
Haines first worked for an investment firm in New York and won a talent competition in 1922, which earned him a contract with Goldwyn Studios . He quickly rose to become a popular star in comedies, and after the Metro merged to form MGM , Haines became one of the most famous actors alongside Ramón Novarro and John Gilbert . He had his greatest commercial success in the 1927 comedy Tell it to the Marines alongside Lon Chaney senior .
Since 1927 the studio tried to turn Haines and the up-and-coming Joan Crawford into a canvas couple, in the spirit of Janet Gaynor / Charles Farrell or Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. However, the audience did not accept the two and after three attempts the attempt was abandoned. Haines had his last major success alongside Marion Davies in Show People in 1928. A short time later he was used as the first MGM star in a sound film : Alias Jimmy Valentine . The actor later described the experience of daily hysteria on the set as "the sinking of the Titanic in slow motion."
The collaboration between the studio bosses and Haines was never entirely free of conflict, as the actor refused to deny his homosexuality . As long as the box office results were in order, he could move around the film community without major problems, but as his popularity waned, the pressure on Haines increased. When he refused to enter into a marriage of convenience in 1932 , his contract was no longer renewed. He made two more short films, only to say goodbye to the big screen. In 1950 he turned down the offer to perform on Sunset Boulevard .
Haines, who had dealt intensively with design and interior decoration during his active career , became one of the most successful interior designers in Hollywood after 1932 . He had two good friends in the actresses Marion Davies and Joan Crawford, who supported him at the beginning of his new career. Crawford once said that Haines and lifelong partner Jimmie Shields (1905–1974) would have the best marriage in Hollywood.
When Clark Gable asked Carole Lombard shortly after marrying Carole Lombard why she seemed to be friends with every man in Hollywood but didn't have a single girlfriend, Lombard replied, "I have two wonderful friends: Mitchell Leisen and Billy Haines."
Filmography
- 1923: Souls for Sale
- 1923: A Girl and Three Old Fools (Three Wise Fools)
- 1924: Three Weeks
- 1924: True As Steel
- 1924: The Midnight Express
- 1924: The Gaiety Girl
- 1924: Wine of Youth
- 1924: Circe, the Enchantress
- 1924: So This Is Marriage?
- 1924: The Wife of the Centaur
- 1925: A Fool and His Money
- 1925: Who Cares
- 1925: The Denial
- 1925: A Slave of Fashion
- 1925: Fighting the Flames
- 1925: The Tower of Lies
- 1925: Little Annie Rooney
- 1925: Sally, Irene and Mary
- 1926: Mike
- 1926: The Thrill Hunter
- 1926: Memory Lane
- 1926: Brown of Harvard
- 1926: Lovey Mary
- 1926: Tell It to the Marines
- 1927: A Little Journey
- 1927: Slide, Kelly, Slide
- 1927: Spring Fever
- 1928: Der Schlauberger (West Point)
- 1928: The Smart Set
- 1928: Telling the World
- 1928: Excess Baggage
- 1928: Things are happening in Hollywood (Show People)
- 1928: aka Jimmy Valentine
- 1929: The Hollywood Revue of 1929
- 1929: The Duke Steps Out
- 1929: A Man's Man
- 1929: Speedway
- 1929: Navy Blues
- 1930: The Girl Said No.
- 1930: Way Out West
- 1930: Remote Control
- 1931: A Tailor Made Man
- 1931: Hollywood jewel theft (The Stolen Jools)
- 1931: Just a Gigolo
- 1931: New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford
- 1932: Are You Listening?
- 1932: Fast Life
- 1934: Young and Beautiful
- 1934: The Marines Are Coming
Web links
- William Haines in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Pictures by William Haines In: Virtual History
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Haines, William |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Haines, Charles William (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US-American actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 2, 1900 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Staunton , Virginia |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 26th 1973 |
| Place of death | Santa Monica , California |