William haines actor biography

It was made in a Poverty Row studio in Haines was blacklisted in Hollywood for moral corruption. Haines and Shields began careers as interior designers and antique dealers. Hollywood celebrities went to their businesses. Inneighbors accused the two men of seeking sex with their son. They were beaten. Their close friends wanted them to prosecute.

They declined. Haines served in World War II. The couple settled into the Hollywood community in Brentwood. Their business made money and they retired in the early s. Haines and Shields remained together for the rest of their lives. Joan Crawford described them as "the happiest married couple in Hollywood. Soon afterward, Shields, who suffered from what many believe to have been Alzheimer's diseaseput on Haines' pajamastook an overdose of pills, and crawled into their bed to die.

They were buried side by side in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery. William Haines Designs is still in operation. Contents move to sidebar hide. He left his Virginia home while still a teenager. Following the path of many show business hopefuls, he traveled to New York City. His first movie appearances were in bit and supporting parts for Goldwyn Productions in and Haines was born on January 2,in Staunton, Virginia.

William haines actor biography: Charles William Haines was an

After appearing in a series of small roles, Haines achieved his breakthrough with The Midnight Express infollowed by Little Annie Rooney with Mary Pickford, and continued his success with Brown of Harvard in by which time he was a big star. Inon a trip to New York, Haines met Shields who traveled back to Hollywood with him and worked as his stand-in for a while.

The two would stay together for 47 years till Haines died. He is gigantic of stature — with extraordinary large bone structure, together with a deep resonant voice. He is muscular without being athletic, yet when he walks there is a certain grace that suggests delicacy.

William haines actor biography: Charles William Haines (January

There is masculinity in his actions, yet a definite tendency toward femininity in his thoughts …. He is candid to a fault. Louis B. Mayerthe studio head at MGM, delivered an ultimatum to Haines: choose between a sham lavender marriagehis relationship with Shields or his relationship with the sailor. Haines chose Shields and they remained together in a private relationship for 47 years.

Haines continued to receive offers for film roles. During production of Sunset Boulevardhe was offered a cameo role in the film, which he declined.

William haines actor biography: Born in Staunton, Virginia, William Haines

He later said, "It's a rather pleasant feeling of being away from pictures and being part of them because all my friends are. I can see the nice side of them without seeing the ugly side of the studios. Haines and Shields began a successful dual career as interior designers and antique dealers. After a neighbor accused the two of propositioning her son, about 30 local residents including members of a white supremacist group called "The White Legion" dragged the two men from their home in El Porto near the city of Manhattan Beach this was before El Porto became a part of that city and beat them.

William haines actor biography: Charles William "Billy" Haines (January 2,

The child molestation accusations against Haines and Shields were unfounded and the case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence. In reality, the boy had been chasing Haines' dog on the beach and Haines paid the child six cents to go home; this was misinterpreted as a proposition. Warner remodeled his estate inhe hired Haines as interior decorator.

The couple finally settled in the west Los Angeles community of Brentwood and their business prospered until their retirement in the early s, except for a brief interruption when Haines served in World War II. Known for his impeccable taste in interior design and love for vintage pieces, Haines worked closely with his friend Joan Crawford — whom he teasingly called Cranberry — to renovate her Brentwood home.

His unconventional choice of an all-white decor for her living room caused a sensation and helped launch his interior design career, working for Carole Lombard next. General reference: [ 28 ]. Haines and Shields — [ citation needed ] remained together until Haines' death. Joan Crawford described them as "the happiest married couple in Hollywood.

In Shields and Haines both travelled to Europe. Haines was diagnosed with lung cancer in the summer of He would spend the month in hospital until he died on December 26,at pm, of sudden cardiac arrest with Shields beside him. Following Haines's death, his partner Shields struggled to cope. At pm on March 6,Shields began drinking and died of acute barbiturate intoxication.

He left a note, inscribed:. I now find it impossible to go it alone, I am much too lonely. For his contribution to the motion-picture industry, William Haines has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at Hollywood Blvd. William Haines Designs remains in operation, with main offices in West Hollywood and an additional showroom in New York.

Playwright Claudio Macor created the biographical drama The Tailor-Made Man in the mids in London, telling the william haines actor biography of Haines' discovery in a talent contest, his movie career, its curtailment by Louis B. Mayer, and Haines' re-invention as an interior designer. The play tells the story of his year relationship with Jimmie Shields.

It was revived in a successful anniversary production in at London's White Bear Theatre, directed by Bryan Hodgson. Into tie-in with the anniversary production, the definitive playscript was published by theatrical publisher Oberon Books. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version.

In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. American actor and interior designer. For other people named William Haines, see William Haines disambiguation.