Actor Richard Widmark has passed away at the age of 93 after a long illness at his home in Connecticut. He created a sensation in his Academy Ward nominated debut role as crazed killer Tommy Udo, in the 1947 film "Kiss of Death". His roles ran the gamut from gritty, film noir crime thrillers to historical epics and numerous shoot-em-up westerns.
The phrase, 'They don't make 'em like they used to', comes to mind when considering Widmark's 60+ feature films. Privately an advocate of gun control, he was always tough, iconic and uniquely original in his portrayals of cops, gunfighters and loners.
He was so fondly remembered for playing frontiersman Jim Bowie in the John Wayne directed film, "The Alamo"that along with his other movie westerns he earned a 2002 induction into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Condolences go out to his family, friends and thousands of fans.
1 comment:
Love Widmark... just watched The Cobweb about a week ago and was commenting to my wife about him and his complete originality as an actor. Too be honest though I didn't realize he was still alive!
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