Biography of actor joseph cotten
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cotten (1905 – 1994)
Biography and Career Overview
Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. was born on May 15, 1905, in Petersburg, Virginia, United States. Raised in a well-to-do Southern family, he was immersed in an environment of culture and arts from a young age. His interest in acting sparked early, leading him to participate in local theater productions. Despite this early interest, Cotten initially pursued a career in advertising after attending the Hickman School of Expression in Washington D.C. and later working as a critic for the Miami Herald.
Path Towards Success
Cotten's passion for acting couldn't be suppressed for long. He moved to New York City in the 1930s, a decision that marked the true beginning of his acting career. His break came when he met Orson Welles, with whom he would form a lasting professional relationship. Cotten joined Welles’ Mercury Theatre, contributing significantly to its productions. His Broadway appearances in plays like "The Shoemaker's Holiday" and "Julius Caesar" brought him critical acclaim.
The transition to the silver screen came with the legendary film "Citizen Kane" (1941), where Cotten's portrayal of Jedediah Leland earned him significant recognition. This was followed by a string of successful films, including "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Shadow of a Doubt". His ability to bring depth to complex characters solidified his status as a prominent Hollywood actor.
Personal Life and Marriages
Joseph Cotten's personal life was as eventful as his career. He was married three times. His first marriage was to Lenore Kipp in 1931, but it ended in divorce. His second marriage was brief, to actress Allene Roberts. His most enduring and well-known marriage was to British actress Patricia Medina in 1960. This marriage lasted until his death and was a significant part of his personal life.
Passions
Apart from acting,
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Duel in the Sunand, Journey into Fear (1943), Love Letters (1945), Portrait of Jennie (1948) and The Third Man (1949).
Cotten was born in Petersburg, Virginia on May 15, 1905. He was married to Lenore Kipp from 1931 until her death in 1960. Then he was married to Patricia Medina from 1960 until his death in 1994. Cotten died on February 6, 1994 from pneumonia caused by throat cancer in Los Angeles, California, aged 88.
Other websites
[change | change source]Media related to Joseph Cotten at Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Cotten
American actor (1905–1994)
Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. (May 15, 1905 – February 6, 1994) was an American film, stage, radio and television actor. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original stage productions of The Philadelphia Story (1939) and Sabrina Fair (1953). He then gained worldwide fame for his collaborations with Orson Welles on Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), and Journey into Fear (1943), in which Cotten starred and for which he was also credited with the screenplay.
Cotten went on to become one of the leading Hollywood actors of the 1940s, appearing in films such as Shadow of a Doubt (1943); Gaslight (1944); Love Letters (1945); Duel in the Sun (1946); The Farmer's Daughter (1947); Portrait of Jennie (1948), for which he won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor; The Third Man (1949), alongside Welles; and Niagara (1953). One of his final films was Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (1980).
Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited him as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
Early life
Wedding of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, with best man Cotten (September 7, 1943)
Joseph Cheshire Cotten Jr. was born on May 15, 1905, in Petersburg, Virginia, United States, the first of three sons born to Joseph Cheshire Cotten Sr., an assistant postmaster, and Sally Willson Cotten. He had two brothers, Whitworth W. "Whit" and Samuel W. Cotten. Both were engineers. Cotten grew up in the Tidewater region and showed an aptitude for drama and a gift for storytelling.
In 1923, when Cotten was 18, his family arranged for him to receive private lessons at the Hickman School of Expression in Washington, D.C., and underwrote his expenses. Cotten served in the First Motion Picture Unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces during Joseph Cheshire Cotten was an American stage and screen actor. He is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Orson Welles, which included Citizen Kane, The Third Man, and Journey Into Fear, which Cotten wrote. He received his start on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair, and became a recognizable Hollywood star in his own right with films such as Shadow of a Doubt and Portrait of Jennie. Cotten died in February 1994 of pneumonia, aged 88. With Hitchcock... Alfred Hitchcock Presents... Selection of film frames: Joseph Cotten (click image to view larger version or refresh thumbnails)... Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...Joseph Cotten born 15/May/1905
Petersburg, Virginiadied 06/Feb/1994
Westwood, CaliforniaBiography
Filmography
Film Frames
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Radio Adaptations
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