Remarkable Facts About Orson Welles
“Even if the good old days never existed, the fact that we can conceive such a world is, in fact, an affirmation of the human spirit.”
Perhaps best known for writing, directing, and starring in what is generally referred to as the greatest film of all time, Orson Welles is no slouch when it comes to lifetime achievements.
Who else could incite one of the most infamous cases of mass hysteria with just his commanding voice?
After a childhood spent sick and bedridden, he went on to become one of the most in-demand men in Hollywood in his time, and is remembered for his rare talent and distinctive style. Here are 42 remarkable facts about Orson Welles.
Orson Welles Facts
42. When He Was Young
Welles was born in 1915 to an inventor father and a pianist mother. Sadly, his mother passed when he was just nine years old, with his father passing six years later.
Welles must have picked up some of his mother’s talent, as he also could play the piano. Family friend Dr.
Maurice Bernstein took him in when he became orphaned and, recognizing his talents, enrolled him in the Todd School in Illinois where Welles realized his interest in theater.
41. When Welles Wasn’t Well
When Welles was a child, he suffered from a number of ailments. Malaria, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, asthma and sinus headaches were all among them.
He also suffered from backaches that were found to be caused by congenital anomalies in the spine. If all that wasn’t enough, he also had flat feet, which led to problems with his feet and ankles. He spent much of his childhood bedridden.
40. Little White Lie
His father had left him a small inheritance after his death, and, following his time at the Todd School, he traveled to Europe. He wound up in Dublin, where he lied to a theatre manager, saying he was a Broadway star.
He would be, in a few years, but at the time, his statement wasn’t quite true. Welles actually hadn’t acted in any production ever.
He was given a chance after proving himself worthy during an audition, but Ireland sent him packing when they denied him a work permit a year later.
