Orson Welles
Age: N/A | From: Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Джордж Орсон Уэллс , George Orson Welles , O. W. Jeeves , 오슨 웰즈 , 오손 웰스 , اورسون ولز
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 371
TV Involvements: 50
Most Famous Work
Biography
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality, Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century, especially for his significant and influential early work—despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood. His distinctive directorial style featured layered, nonlinear narrative forms, innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots, and long takes. Welles's long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios. Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased. He has been praised as a major creative force and as "the ultimate auteur." After directing a number of high-profile theatrical productions in his early twenties, including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock, Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring. Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated, they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety. Citizen Kane (1941), his first film with RKO, in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane, is often considered the greatest film ever made. Several of his other films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1974), are also widely considered to be masterpieces. In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics, and a wide survey of critical consensus, best-of lists, and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time. Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States. Well known for his baritone voice, Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time. He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety shows in the war years.
Most Famous Work
Magnum, P.I.
(1980) Robin Masters (voice)
American Experience
(1988) Self (archive footage)
Night Gallery
(1970) Narrator
The Name of the Game
(1968) Narrator
Dinah!
(1974) Self
Omnibus
(1967) Self - Presenter
Shōgun
(1980) Narrator
Citizen Kane
(1941) Charles Foster KaneActing
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Narrator "The Scorpion and the Frog" (archive footage) | |
| Narrator (archive footage) | ||
| 2024 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Radio Host (voice) (archival footage) | ||
| Self | ||
| 2023 | Falstaff | |
| Self (voiceover) | ||
| General Zaroff (voice) | ||
| 2022 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Himself (Archive Footage) | ||
| 2021 | N/A | |
| Self | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 2020 | Self | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 2019 | (archive footage) | |
| 2018 | Journalist (uncredited) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage) | ||
| Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) | ||
| 2017 | N/A | |
| 2016 | Professor Richard Pierson / Self (voice) (archive sound) | |
| 2015 | Self | |
| 2014 | Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 2013 | Keystone Kop | |
| Self - Filmmaker (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 2012 | N/A | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| (archive footage) | ||
| 2011 | Himself | |
| 2010 | Genghis Khan / Bayan (archive footage) | |
| Himself | ||
| 2009 | (archive footage 1982) | |
| 2007 | Russ Brewer | |
| 2005 | Self (archive footage) | |
| (Self) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| N/A | ||
| 2004 | Ronald Adams | |
| Self (archive sound) | ||
| 2003 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2002 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 2001 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| Self (Archive footage) | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 2000 | Self (Archive footage) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage) | ||
| 1999 | N/A | |
| N/A | ||
| 1998 | Self - Roaster (archive footage) | |
| 1997 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self | ||
| 1996 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 1995 | Self (archive footage) | |
| 1993 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Self | ||
| N/A | ||
| Himself (Archive Footage) | ||
| 1992 | Self | |
| 1991 | Self - Professor in War of the Worlds Broadcast (archive sound) | |
| 1990 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 1988 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Orson Welles | ||
| 1987 | Danny's Friend | |
| 1986 | Himself (archive footage) | |
| Unicron (voice) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| 1985 | Narrator | |
| N/A | ||
| Orson Welles | ||
| Marcus Kleek | ||
| Self | ||
| 1984 | N/A | |
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Himself | ||
| Klingsor | ||
| himself | ||
| 1983 | Mr. Cato | |
| Narrator | ||
| Self - Narrator | ||
| Himself | ||
| Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | ||
| Sheriff Paisley | ||
| 1982 | Aliens' Father (voice) | |
| Richard Wagner (voice) | ||
| Self | ||
| Self | ||
| Self - Narrator | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| Self | ||
| Self - Special Guest | ||
| Judge Rauch | ||
| Self | ||
| Host | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1981 | Narrator | |
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Himself (host) | ||
| Pippo | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Self | ||
| Presenter / Narrator (voice) | ||
| 1980 | Robin Masters (voice) | |
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| J.P. Morgan | ||
| English Narrator | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| 1979 | Narrator | |
| Self | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| Lew Lord | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1978 | Narrator (voice) | |
| N/A | ||
| Host | ||
| Narratore | ||
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Himself - Host | ||
| Himself | ||
| 1977 | Henry F. Potter | |
| Narrator | ||
| Himself (archive footage) | ||
| Parklawn Mortuary (voice) | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1976 | José Estedes | |
| Self / Narrator | ||
| 1975 | Self | |
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| Self (archive footage) | ||
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice) | ||
| Host | ||
| 1974 | Narrator | |
| N/A | ||
| Self | ||
| Voice on Tape | ||
| Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | ||
| 1973 | Himself | |
| Narrator | ||
| Self | ||
| Self - Host | ||
| Self | ||
| Winston Churchill | ||
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1972 | Sheridan Whiteside | |
| Long John Silver | ||
| Mr. Cato | ||
| Mr. Delasandro | ||
| Self | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1971 | Winston Churchill / George Bernard Shaw | |
| Théo Van Horn | ||
| The Magician | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| N/A | ||
| Self | ||
| N/A | ||
| Cassavius | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1970 | N/A | |
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Louis XVIII | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Brigadier General Dreedle | ||
| The Narrator | ||
| Bresnavitch | ||
| Michelangelo (voice) | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1969 | Narrator (voice) | |
| Shylock | ||
| Markan | ||
| Četnik | ||
| Plankett | ||
| Justinian | ||
| Colonel Cascorro | ||
| Narrator (voice) | ||
| 1968 | Justinian | |
| N/A | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Leschenhaut | ||
| Self - Narrator | ||
| Self - Guest | ||
| Charles Clay | ||
| Self | ||
| Tiresias | ||
| Self | ||
| Himself | ||
| 1967 | Jonathan Lute | |
| Narrator | ||
| Self - Presenter | ||
| Self | ||
| Le Chiffre | ||
| Louis de Mozambique | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1966 | Cardinal Wolsey | |
| Konsul Nordling | ||
| Himself | ||
| 1965 | Falstaff | |
| Self - Narrator (voice) | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator- Self | ||
| Akerman, Marco's Teacher | ||
| N/A | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1964 | Narrator (voice) | |
| Himself | ||
| 1963 | Self (archive footage) | |
| Max Buda | ||
| The 'Director' (segment "La ricotta") | ||
| 1962 | Narrator (English) | |
| Self | ||
| Self | ||
| Self - Guest Host | ||
| Albert Hastler | ||
| Benjamin Franklin | ||
| 1961 | Self | |
| Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | ||
| Burundai | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1960 | Robert Fulton | |
| Storyteller | ||
| Hagolin / Lamerciere | ||
| King Saul | ||
| 1959 | Narrator | |
| Captain Hart | ||
| Jonathan Wilk | ||
| 1958 | Narrator (voice) | |
| Cy Sedgewick | ||
| the narrator | ||
| Self - Host | ||
| N/A | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | ||
| Will Varner | ||
| Police Captain Hank Quinlan | ||
| 1957 | Virgil Renchler | |
| 1956 | Self - Narrator | |
| Father Mapple | ||
| Self | ||
| Self | ||
| 1955 | Host: Orson Welles | |
| Himself | ||
| Oscar Jaffe | ||
| Gregory Arkadin | ||
| An Actor Manager /Father Mapple /Ahab | ||
| Himself - Host | ||
| Self - Host | ||
| Sir Hudson Lowe | ||
| Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment) | ||
| 1954 | Sanin Cejador y Mengues | |
| Self | ||
| Benjamin Franklin | ||
| 1953 | King Lear | |
| Captain Perella, the Beast | ||
| Narrator | ||
| 1952 | King Lear | |
| Sigsbee Manderson | ||
| 1951 | Sheridan Whiteside | |
| Othello | ||
| Orson Welles | ||
| 1950 | Self | |
| Bayan | ||
| Self - Panelist | ||
| 1949 | Cesare Borgia | |
| Harry Lime | ||
| Joseph Balsamo aka Count Cagliostro | ||
| 1948 | Macbeth | |
| Self | ||
| 1947 | Michael O'Hara | |
| 1946 | Narrator (voice) (uncredited) | |
| Narrator | ||
| Prof. Charles Rankin | ||
| John Andrew MacDonald | ||
| 1945 | Narrator | |
| 1944 | Orson Welles (uncredited) | |
| Narrator/Bob (helpful taxi passenger) | ||
| 1943 | Edward Rochester | |
| Self | ||
| Colonel Haki | ||
| 1942 | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1941 | Charles Foster Kane | |
| 1940 | Opening Narrator | |
| 1937 | Narrator (voice) | |
| 1934 | Death | |
| 1933 | Narrator | |
| N/A | ||
| Narrator | ||
| Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Writing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Original Story | |
| 2018 | Screenplay | |
| 2014 | Characters | |
| 2013 | Screenplay | |
| 2008 | Original Concept | |
| 2007 | Screenplay | |
| Original Concept | ||
| 2002 | Screenplay | |
| 2000 | Theatre Play | |
| 1999 | Writer | |
| 1998 | Writer | |
| 1997 | Writer | |
| Original Concept | ||
| 1992 | Screenplay | |
| 1986 | Writer | |
| 1985 | Writer | |
| Writer | ||
| 1979 | Writer | |
| 1978 | Writer | |
| 1976 | Writer | |
| 1973 | Screenplay | |
| Writer | ||
| 1972 | Writer | |
| 1971 | Writer | |
| 1970 | Writer | |
| 1969 | Screenplay | |
| 1968 | Screenplay | |
| Screenplay | ||
| Writer | ||
| 1966 | Scenario Writer | |
| 1965 | Screenplay | |
| 1962 | Screenplay | |
| 1961 | Writer | |
| 1958 | Writer | |
| Writer | ||
| Screenplay | ||
| Screenplay | ||
| 1955 | Writer | |
| Screenplay | ||
| Story | ||
| Writer | ||
| Writer | ||
| 1951 | Screenplay | |
| 1949 | Writer | |
| 1948 | Screenplay | |
| 1947 | Screenplay | |
| Story | ||
| 1946 | Co-Writer | |
| 1943 | Screenplay | |
| 1942 | Screenplay | |
| 1941 | Screenplay | |
| 1934 | Writer | |
| 1933 | Adaptation | |
| Original Concept | ||
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Directing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Director | |
| 2018 | Director | |
| 2013 | Director | |
| 2007 | Director | |
| 2005 | Director | |
| 2003 | Director | |
| 2000 | Director | |
| 1993 | Director | |
| 1992 | Director | |
| 1986 | Director | |
| 1985 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1984 | Director | |
| 1981 | Director | |
| 1979 | Director | |
| 1978 | Director | |
| 1973 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| 1971 | Director | |
| 1970 | Director | |
| 1969 | Director | |
| 1968 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| 1967 | Director | |
| 1965 | Director | |
| 1964 | Director | |
| 1962 | Director | |
| 1961 | Director | |
| 1960 | Director | |
| 1958 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| 1955 | Director | |
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| Director | ||
| 1951 | Director | |
| 1948 | Director | |
| 1947 | Director | |
| 1946 | Director | |
| 1943 | Director | |
| 1942 | Director | |
| 1941 | Director | |
| 1934 | Director | |
| 1933 | Director | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Crew
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Thanks | |
| 2018 | Thanks | |
| Thanks | ||
| 2015 | Thanks | |
| 2014 | Thanks | |
| 2012 | Thanks | |
| 2011 | Thanks | |
| 2010 | Thanks | |
| Thanks | ||
| Thanks | ||
| Thanks | ||
| 2001 | Thanks | |
| 1998 | Thanks | |
| 1993 | Thanks | |
| 1989 | Thanks | |
| Thanks | ||
| 1988 | Thanks | |
| 1985 | Thanks | |
| 1982 | Other | |
| 1981 | Thanks | |
| 1974 | Thanks | |
| 1966 | Additional Writing | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Sound
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 2016 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 2012 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 1996 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 1994 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 1970 | Music Arranger | |
| 1964 | Theme Song Performance | |
| 1958 | Music Arranger | |
| Music Arranger | ||
| 1955 | Theme Song Performance | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Editing
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Editor | |
| 2013 | Editor | |
| 2000 | Editor | |
| 1992 | Editor | |
| 1975 | Editorial Services | |
| 1973 | Editor | |
| 1971 | Editor | |
| 1970 | Editor | |
| 1969 | Editor | |
| 1964 | Editor | |
| 1962 | Editor | |
| 1955 | Editor | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Production
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Producer | |
| 2007 | Producer | |
| 1992 | Producer | |
| 1985 | Producer | |
| 1981 | Producer | |
| 1971 | Producer | |
| 1970 | Producer | |
| 1969 | Producer | |
| 1968 | Producer | |
| 1964 | Producer | |
| 1958 | Producer | |
| Producer | ||
| 1955 | Producer | |
| 1951 | Producer | |
| 1948 | Producer | |
| 1947 | Producer | |
| 1943 | Associate Producer | |
| Producer | ||
| 1942 | Producer | |
| 1941 | Producer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Creator
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Creator | |
| 1973 | Creator | |
| 1968 | Creator | |
| 1964 | Creator | |
| 1955 | Creator | |
| Creator | ||
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Art
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Production Design | |
| 1958 | Production Design | |
| 1955 | Production Design | |
| Art Direction | ||
| 1949 | Production Design | |
| 1948 | Set Designer | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Costume & Make-Up
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Costume Design | |
| 1955 | Costume Design | |
| 1948 | Costume Design | |
| 1933 | Costume Design | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Camera
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Additional Camera | |
| 1942 | Additional Photography | |
| 1933 | Director of Photography | |
| Year | Role | Movie/Tv |