Born: May 15, 1905 – Died: February 6, 1994
Joseph Cheshire Cotten, Jr. was born on May 15, 1905, in Petersburg, Virginia, to Sally Whitworth (Willson) and Joseph Cheshire Cotten, Sr. He hailed from a well-to-do Southern family and was the eldest of three sons. Growing up, Cotten discovered his passion for storytelling and performing acts for his family. He studied acting at the Hickman School of Expression in Washington, D.C. and later pursued a career in advertising. However, his love for acting led him to New York, where he made his Broadway debut in 1930. Cotten's significant contributions to the entertainment industry include his iconic role as Holly Martins in "The Third Man" (1949), and collaborations with director Orson Welles in films such as "Citizen Kane" (1941) and "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942).
Early Life and Career
Joseph Cheshire Cotten, Jr. was born on May 15, 1905, in Petersburg, Virginia, to parents Sally Whitworth (Willson) and Joseph Cheshire Cotten, Sr. He grew up in a well-to-do Southern family and was the eldest of three sons. Cotten developed a passion for storytelling and performing at a young age, often entertaining his family with recitations and acts. He attended the Hickman School of Expression in Washington, D.C. to study acting.
After completing his studies, Cotten initially pursued a career in advertising. However, his desire to pursue acting led him to New York, where he made his Broadway debut in 1930. He gained experience by appearing in a variety of plays and expanded his acting repertoire.
Cotten's career gained significant momentum when he began collaborating with director Orson Welles. He starred in Welles's iconic film "Citizen Kane" in 1941, playing the role of Jedediah Leland, Kane's loyal friend and theater critic. The film, often hailed as one of the greatest of all time, had a profound impact on Cotten's career and solidified his status as a talented actor.
One of Cotten's most memorable roles came in the film "The Third Man" (1949), where he portrayed the character of Holly Martins. This role further established him as a respected actor and contributed to his growing fame in Hollywood.
Throughout his career, Cotten received several awards and accolades. While he was never nominated for an Academy Award, he won three other notable awards for his performances. He received the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his role in "Portrait of Jennie" and earned two New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Actor for his performances in "The Third Man" and "Portrait of Jennie."
In his personal life, Cotten was married three times. He first married Lenore LaMont in 1931, with whom he had a stepdaughter. They divorced in 1960. Cotten then married British actors Patricia Medina in 1960 until his death in 1994. Cotten also had a daughter, Catherine, from another relationship.
Apart from acting, Cotten had a passion for gardening and entertaining friends. He also showcased his writing skills by publishing an autobiography titled "Vanity Will Get You Somewhere" in 1987.
Joseph Cotten had a lasting impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry. He was celebrated for his versatile acting skills, often portraying complex and memorable characters. His association with Orson Welles and his collaboration on films like "Citizen Kane" and "The Magnificent Ambersons" further solidified his place in cinematic history. Cotten is revered as an icon and a legend in the industry, leaving a significant mark on the world of film and theater.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Survivor | Priest |
| 1981 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Col. van Ryker |
| 1981 | Delusion | Ivar Langrock |
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate | The Reverend Doctor |
| 1980 | Casino (TV Movie) | Ed Booker |
| 1979–1980 | Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) | Lionel | Edward |
| 1980 | The Hearse | Walter Prichard |
| 1978–1979 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) | Thomas Cummings | Simon Grant |
| 1979 | Churchill and the Generals (TV Movie) | Gen. George C. Marshall |
| 1979 | Guyana: Cult of the Damned | Richard Gable |
| 1979 | Concorde Affaire '79 | Milland |
| 1979 | The Island of the Fishmen | Prof. Ernest Marvin |
| 1978 | Indagine su un delitto perfetto | Sir Arthur Dundee |
| 1978 | Caravans | Crandall |
| 1978 | Last In, First Out | Foster Johnson |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) | Weldon Rathbone |
| 1977 | Aspen (TV Mini Series) | Horton Paine |
| 1977 | Airport '77 | Nicholas St. Downs III |
| 1977 | Twilight's Last Gleaming | Arthur Renfrew - Secretary of State |
| 1976 | Freedom Is (TV Movie) | (voice) |
| 1976 | Alle origini della mafia (TV Mini Series) | The Envoy |
| 1976 | A Whisper in the Dark | The Professor |
| 1976 | The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (TV Movie) | Dr. Joseph Francis Condon |
| 1975 | Syndicate Sadists | Paternò |
| 1974 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) | Warner Jameson |
| 1973 | A Delicate Balance | Harry |
| 1973 | Soylent Green | William R. Simonson |
| 1973 | The Timber Tramps | Greedy sawmill mogul |
| 1973 | The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) | John R. James |
| 1973 | The Devil's Daughter (TV Movie) | Judge Weatherby |
| 1972 | The Scopone Game | George |
| 1972 | Baron Blood | Baron Otto von Kleist | Alfred Becker |
| 1972 | Doomsday Voyage | Captain Jason |
| 1972 | The Screaming Woman (TV Movie) | George Tresvant |
| 1971 | Lady Frankenstein | Baron Frankenstein |
| 1971 | The Abominable Dr. Phibes | Dr. Vesalius |
| 1971 | Journey to Murder | Jeff Wheeler (Do Me a Favor and Kill Me) |
| 1971 | City Beneath the Sea (TV Movie) | Dr. Ziegler |
| 1971 | Do You Take This Stranger? (TV Movie) | Dr. Robert Carson |
| 1971 | Assault on the Wayne (TV Movie) | Admiral |
| 1970 | The Virginian (TV Series) | Judge Hobbs | Judge Will McMasters |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Henry L. Stimson |
| 1970 | The Grasshopper | Richard Morgan |
| 1970 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) | Narrator |
| 1968–1970 | It Takes a Thief (TV Series) | Mr. Jack | Col. Heinrich |
| 1970 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) | Henry 'Harry' Worthington Rayner |
| 1970 | Cutter's Trail (TV Movie) | Gen. Spalding |
| 1969 | Keene | Unknown |
| 1969 | The Lonely Profession (TV Movie) | Martin Bannister |
| 1969 | Latitude Zero | Capt. Craig McKenzie | Cmdr. Glenn McKenzie |
| 1968 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) | Guest Performer (uncredited) |
| 1968 | Journey to the Unknown (TV Series) | Jeff Wheeler |
| 1968 | Ironside (TV Series) | Dr. Benjamin Stern |
| 1968 | White Comanche | Sheriff Logan |
| 1968 | Petulia | Mr. Danner |
| 1968 | Gangsters '70 | Destil |
| 1968 | Off to See the Wizard (TV Series) | General Antigonus |
| 1967 | Jack of Diamonds | Ace |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip (TV Series) | Nathan Tio |
| 1967 | Some May Live | Col. Woodward |
| 1967 | The Hellbenders | Colonel Jonas |
| 1966 | Brighty of the Grand Canyon | Jim Owen |
| 1966 | The Oscar | Kenneth Regan |
| 1965 | The Tramplers | Temple Cordeen |
| 1965 | The Money Trap | Dr. Horace Van Tilden |
| 1965 | The Great Sioux Massacre | Major Reno |
| 1964 | Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte | Dr. Drew Bayliss |
| 1963 | Alexander the Great (TV Movie) | Antigonus |
| 1963 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) | Arnold Buhler |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) | Captain Meehan |
| 1961–1962 | Wagon Train (TV Series) | John Augustus | Captain Dan Brady |
| 1962 | Saints and Sinners (TV Series) | Preston Cooper |
| 1962 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) | Charles Ladovan |
| 1961 | Theatre '62 (TV Series) | Alex Sebastian |
| 1961 | Bus Stop (TV Series) | Professor Wheelwright |
| 1961 | The Last Sunset | John Breckenridge |
| 1961 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV Series) | Mac McClay |
| 1960 | Checkmate (TV Series) | Dr. George Mallinson |
| 1960 | The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV Series) | Charles Lawrence | Dick Burlingame |
| 1960 | The Angel Wore Red | Hawthorne |
| 1955–1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Courtney Masterson | Tony Gould | William Callew |
| 1959 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) | Black McSween |
| 1958 | From the Earth to the Moon | Victor Barbicane |
| 1958 | Touch of Evil | Coroner (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Suspicion (TV Series) | Gregg Carey |
| 1958 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Ben Harper |
| 1957 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1957 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Robert Gideon Rainey |
| 1957 | Telephone Time (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1957 | Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (TV Series) | Bruce Malone |
| 1955–1957 | The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV Series) | Reed | Reed Murrow | Clint Anderson ... |
| 1957 | The Halliday Brand | Daniel Halliday |
| 1954–1956 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Private Harris | Captain | Paul Henty |
| 1955–1956 | Star Stage (TV Series) | Narrator | Alexander Holmes |
| 1956 | The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) | John Ashburn |
| 1956 | The Killer Is Loose | Detective Sam Wagner |
| 1956 | The Bottom of the Bottle | Pat 'P.M.' Martin |
| 1955 | Celebrity Playhouse (TV Series) | Marshal Fenton Lockhart |
| 1955 | The Best of Broadway (TV Series) | Dan McCorn |
| 1955 | Bedevilled | Flight Announcer at the airport (voice, uncredited) |
| 1955 | Special Delivery | John Adams |
| 1954 | Producers' Showcase (TV Series) | Grant Matthews |
| 1953 | A Blueprint for Murder | Whitney 'Cam' Cameron |
| 1953 | Egypt by Three | Narrator |
| 1953 | Niagara | George Loomis |
| 1952 | The Steel Trap | Jim Osborne |
| 1952 | Untamed Frontier | Kirk Denbow |
| 1951 | Othello | Senator (uncredited) |
| 1951 | The Man with a Cloak | Dupin |
| 1951 | Peking Express | Michael Bachlin |
| 1951 | Half Angel | John Raymond Jr. |
| 1950 | Walk Softly, Stranger | Chris Hale aka Steve |
| 1950 | Two Flags West | Col. Clay Tucker |
| 1950 | Gone to Earth | Opening Narration Spoken by |
| 1950 | September Affair | David Lawrence |
| 1949 | Beyond the Forest | Doctor Lewis Moline |
| 1949 | Under Capricorn | Sam Flusky |
| 1949 | The Third Man | Holly Martins |
| 1948 | Portrait of Jennie | Eben Adams |
| 1947 | The Farmer's Daughter | Glenn Morley |
| 1946 | Duel in the Sun | Jesse McCanles |
| 1945 | Love Letters | Alan Quinton |
| 1944 | I'll Be Seeing You | Zachary Morgan |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away | Lt. Tony Willett |
| 1944 | Gaslight | Brian Cameron |
| 1943 | Hers to Hold | Bill Morley |
| 1943 | Shadow of a Doubt | Charlie Oakley |
| 1943 | Journey Into Fear | Howard Graham |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Ambersons | Eugene Morgan |
| 1941 | Lydia | Michael |
| 1941 | Citizen Kane | Jedediah Leland | Screening Room Reporter |
| 1938 | Too Much Johnson | Augustus Billings |
| 1937 | Seeing the World: Part One - A Visit to New York, N.Y. (Short) | Unknown |
General:
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