Joseph Cotten American stage and film actor Date of Birth: 15.05.1905 Country: USA

Biography of Joseph Cotten

Joseph Cheshire Cotten was born on May 15, 1905, in Petersburg, Virginia. He was the son of Sallie Bartlett Willson and Joseph Cheshire Cotten Sr. After graduating from the Hickman School of Speech and Expression in Washington, D.C., Cotten worked as an advertising agent. Inspired by his position as a theater critic, Joseph decided to pursue a career in theater, first in Virginia and later in New York. He made his Broadway debut in 1930, where he met Orson Welles. In 1937, Cotten became a member of Welles' theater company, "Mercury," and received leading roles in productions like "Shoemaker's Holiday" and "Julius Caesar." He gained recognition on Broadway for his performances in "The Philadelphia Story" and "Sabrina Fair."

As a friend of Orson Welles, Cotten played several leading roles in films such as "Citizen Kane" (1941), "The Magnificent Ambersons" (1942), "Journey into Fear" (1943), and "The Third Man" (1949). Without any protection, Cotten became a star in the crime film "Shadow of a Doubt" (1943), the drama "Love Letters" (1945), and the fantasy film "Portrait of Jennie" (1948).

In 1941, Cotten took on the screenplay for the thriller "Journey into Fear," with Orson Welles helping in its development and serving as a producer. The film starred Dolores del Río and was successful upon its release in 1943. After the release of "Journey into Fear," Cotten and Welles did not collaborate for six years.

In addition to his film work, Cotten appeared in television series such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "General Electric Theater." In 1960, he married British actress Patricia Medina after the death of his first wife, Lenore Kipp, from leukemia earlier that year. After a brief hiatus from acting, Cotten returned to the screen and portrayed Dr. Drew Bayliss in the classic horror film "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" alongside Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, and Agnes Moorehead.

One of his last films, the Western drama "Heaven's Gate" (1980), received harsh criticism in the United States. At the age of 75, Cotten and his wife lived in seclusion in their Los Angeles home. In 1987, his autobiography, "Vanity Will Get You Somewhere," became a bestseller. Joseph Cotten passed away on February 6, 1994, at the age of 88, from pneumonia caused by throat cancer. Despite his lengthy career and active involvement in the film industry, his most significant accolade was the Volpi Cup at the Venice International Film Festival for his work in "Portrait of Jennie."