Contents
Orson Welles
Directing and starring in Citizen Kane.
The War of the Worlds · Citizen Kane
- Born
- 6 May 1915
- Birthplace
- Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
- Died
- 10 October 1985
More people
Orson Welles
Orson Welles was an American filmmaker and performer whose work crossed theatre, radio and cinema. Bold staging and narrative experiments made him influential, even as financing problems repeatedly disrupted projects.
Early life
Early performance
Developed interests in acting, music and magic as a child.
Theatre abroad
Acted at Dublin’s Gate Theatre while still a teenager.
Career
- 1930s
Stage and radio
Built a New York reputation and co-founded the Mercury Theatre.
- 1939–1940s
Hollywood contract
Joined RKO and began directing feature films.
- Late 1940s onwards
Independent production
Worked across Europe and America, often acting to finance directing projects.
Selected work
The War of the Worlds
Radio adaptation using simulated news bulletins.
Citizen Kane
A reporter investigates a magnate’s life through conflicting memories.
Touch of Evil
A border-town thriller about corruption and moral compromise.
Beyond work
Magic
Maintained a lifelong interest in stage illusion.
Unfinished films
Several ambitious projects remained incomplete when he died.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Carl Van Vechten. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
