Richard Widmark

Richard Widmark grew up in Princeton, IL and attended Lake Forest (IL) College, where he first began acting. He taugh acting at Lake Forest after graduation until 1938, when he made his radio debut in New York in "Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories". Widmark made his Broadway stage debut in 1943 in "Kiss and Tell". He had been rejected as unsuitable for military service because of a perforated eardrum. In 1947, Widmark got his big break, making film history as Tommy Udo in "Kiss of Death". He began a seven year contract with 20th Century Fox. Richard Widmark's hand and footprints were cast in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1949. After his contract with Fox expired, Widmark went independent. He first appeared on TV in "The Lucy Show" in 1955. He began producing films in the late-1950's. His film career slowed after the 1970's, but he remained active in television movies. Widmark starred in his own TV series in 1972, "Madigan", of which six episodes were produced. In Fall, 1988, American Movie Classics (cable) aired the "Richard Widmark Film Festival."