Richard Widmark 1914-2008

**Joakim Lundberg** · 27th March 2008, 01:01 AM

Hollywood actor Richard Widmark passed away earlier today at the age of 93 after a long illness. Mr Widmark co-starred with Mr Lee in
To the Devil-A Daughter in 1976 playing the part of John Verney. And in 1979 in Bear Island also with Mr Lee.
He was nown for roles in film noir thrillers from his debut in Kiss of Death in 1947.
The role in Kiss of Death earned him an academy award for best supporting actor. He was very outspoken about the movie industry. He said in 1987:
"I now find the whole moviemaking process irritating.
" I don't have the patience anymore".

He is survived by his wife Susan Blanchard.

**Isabel Alves** · 27th March 2008, 01:27 AM

Lamentable! I just saw To the Devil a Daughter with him, but I appreciated the his work a lot

**Helen Dyer** · 27th March 2008, 02:23 AM

Yes, it is sad to hear of Mr. Widmark's passing. I have enjoyed a number of his performances. I think some of his comments about 'movie making' were excellent.

Helen

**christian gonzalo irigoyen** · 27th March 2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joakim Lundberg

Hollywood actor Richard Widmark passed away earlier today at the age of 93 after a long illness. Mr Widmark co-starred with Mr Lee in
To the Devil-A Daughter in 1976 playing the part of John Verney. And in 1979 in Bear Island also with Mr Lee.
He was nown for roles in film noir thrillers from his debut in Kiss of Death in 1947.
The role in Kiss of Death earned him an academy award for best supporting actor. He was very outspoken about the movie industry. He said in 1987:
"I now find the whole moviemaking process irritating.
" I don't have the patience anymore".

He is survived by his wife Susan Blanchard.

Dear Joakim,
A grat actor is gone! But his magic is here beside us!
I always remember Mr. Widmark in Murder on the Orient Express (1974). It´s a special movie to my for two reason: one, an Agatha Christie´s novel, two: another master of The Acting, Antonhy Perkins.

All the best,

Christian

**Matt Gemmell** · 27th March 2008, 10:00 AM

Another great movie star gone. Sad news but a wonderful age to get to. I always liked Widmark better as the bad guy. He had one of the best sneers ever to come out of Hollywood.

**Steve Thompson** · 27th March 2008, 10:39 AM

Sad news. I think he was a fine actor, and very underrated. He was able to play a variety of parts, and could be intense with it.

**Joakim Lundberg** · 27th March 2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian gonzalo irigoyen

Dear Joakim,
A grat actor is gone! But his magic is here beside us!
I always remember Mr. Widmark in Murder on the Orient Express (1974). It´s a special movie to my for two reason: one, an Agatha Christie´s novel, two: another master of The Acting, Antonhy Perkins.

All the best,

Christian

That is one of my favourite movies. Widmark is excellent as always. But I only watch it due to Ingrid Bergmans wonderful performance as miss Olsson. Outstanding. Yes all the great ones are gone but the work is among us which is so rewarding.

**Stuart Ball** · 27th March 2008, 05:23 PM

Another sad loss to the movie profession. Richard Widmark was one of those actors that could always be relied upon to give a fine performance - no matter what production he was in.

**christian gonzalo irigoyen** · 27th March 2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joakim Lundberg

That is one of my favourite movies. Widmark is excellent as always. But I only watch it due to Ingrid Bergmans wonderful performance as miss Olsson. Outstanding. Yes all the great ones are gone but the work is among us which is so rewarding.

God save you, Joakim Lundberg from Stockholm, Sweden
All the best my dear friend!

Christian

**Andrés Verdú** · 27th March 2008, 06:26 PM

Hello everyone,

Thank you, Joakim, for writing this tribute. I have only just found out this very sad news about Richard Widmark passing away. A brilliant actor who will be very sadly missed, I am sure. I watched To The Devil: A Daughter only the other day. Ironically, a week ago another actor from this film, Brian Wilde, passed away too, aged 80; another sad loss. Brian Wilde was perhaps most familiar to the public as "Mr Barraclough" in Porridge and as "Foggy Dewhirst" in Last of the Summer Wine. I've taken a few screen captures from the film, including one of Richard Widmark and Brian Wilde together, which appear below:

Left to right: Derek Francis, Richard Widmark, and Brian Wilde (holding The Grimoire of Astaroth)

Richard Widmark (1914-2008) RIP
Brian Wilde (1927-2008) RIP

With saddest affection,

Andrés

**Joakim Lundberg** · 27th March 2008, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian gonzalo irigoyen

God save you, Joakim Lundberg from Stockholm, Sweden
All the best my dear friend!

Christian

All the best Christian.

I'm afraid I've written wrongly about Widmark winning an academy award for Kiss of Death. He was nominated.

Thank you André for letting us know about Brian Wilde as well. To the Devil A- Daughter is a very strong film and I wished it could have been better since Dennis Weathly was very unhappy about the film. He was so pleased about The Devil Rides Out. But it was also the end of an era in Cinema.
Hammer Films went bankrupt and this was their last film.
Thank you also for mentioning Brian Wilde. I have a radio play he did in 1989.
Alan Bennetts Say Something Happened with Thora Hird and Imelda Staunton. It's highly recommended.
For those of you who haven't seen To the Devil-A Daughter
it's scary and both Mr Lee and Mr Widmark are fantastic.