Tim Holt was a popular American actor who starred in many western movies during the 1940s and early 1950s. He is best remembered for his roles in the film classics The Magnificent Ambersons (1942) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). But what was the cause of his death and how did he cope with his illness? Here is a brief overview of his life and career, as well as the details of his tragic demise.
Early Life and Career
Tim Holt was born Charles John Holt III on February 5, 1919, in Beverly Hills, California. He was the son of actor Jack Holt and Margaret Woods. He accompanied his father on location since his early years, and even appeared in an early silent film. He was educated at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, graduating in 1936.
He made his debut as Anne Shirley’s suitor in Stella Dallas (1937) for Sam Goldwyn. He then scored his first major role in The Law West of Tombstone (1938), the first of many action and western dramas he would star in. He also appeared in I Met My Love Again (1938), Gold is Where You Find It (1938), Sons of the Legion (1938), and The Law West of Tombstone (1938).
He gained more recognition when he played the role of George Minafer, the spoiled grandson of a wealthy family, in Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). He also impressed critics and audiences with his performance as Bob Curtin, a young prospector who teams up with Humphrey Bogart’s character in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).
Military Service and Later Career
Holt interrupted his acting career to serve in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He flew combat missions in the Pacific Theater and earned several decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He returned to Hollywood after the war and resumed his work in western films.
He signed a contract with RKO Pictures and became one of their leading stars of B-westerns. He appeared in 46 westerns for RKO between 1940 and 1952, most of them featuring his sidekick Chito Rafferty, played by Richard Martin. Some of his notable films during this period include Along the Rio Grande (1941), Thunder Mountain (1947), Gunplay (1951), and Road Agent (1952).
He also starred in some non-western films, such as Hitler’s Children (1943), a propaganda film about Nazi Germany; My Darling Clementine (1946), a western directed by John Ford; and The Monster That Challenged the World (1957), a science fiction horror film.
Personal Life and Death
Holt was married three times and had four children: three sons (one to his first marriage), and a daughter. His first wife was Virginia Ashcroft, whom he married in 1938 and divorced in 1944. His second wife was Alice Harrison, whom he married in 1944 and divorced in 1952. His third wife was Berdee Stephens, whom he married in 1952 and remained with until his death.
Holt retired from acting in 1960 and moved to Oklahoma, where he managed a radio station. He also worked as a rancher and a rodeo performer. He was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1972 and underwent several surgeries and treatments. However, his condition worsened and he died on February 15, 1973, at the age of 54. He was buried at Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah, Oklahoma.
According to Find a Grave, his grave marker reads: “He left us laughing”.
