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Judd Clifton Holdren (October 16, 1915 – March 11, 1974) was an American film actor best known for his starring roles in the serials Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (1951), Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952), The Lost Planet (1953), and the semi-serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953). He committed suicide in 1974.
Judd Holdren | |
|---|---|
 Holdren in 1950 | |
| Born | October 16, 1915 |
| Died | March 11, 1974 (aged 58) |
| Resting place | Valhalla Memorial Park |
| Years active | 1949-1963 |
Early life
editHe was born near Villisca, Iowa, the fifth of 10 children in a farming family, and showed early interest in an acting career. He dropped out of high school to travel to Omaha, Nebraska, where he studied at the Omaha Playhouse.
During World War II, he served in the United States Coast Guard on the USS General H. B. Freeman (AP-143), then moved to Hollywood. While in the Coast Guard, he rose to the rank of commander. His first regular employment there was as a male model.
Career
editMost of his early film parts were uncredited bits, including All the King's Men (1949) and Francis the Talking Mule (1950). However, he got lead roles in Purple Heart Diary (1951) co-starring Frances Langford, and Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (1951) the serial version of the adventures of Captain Video, becoming the third actor (after Richard Coogan and Al Hodge) to assume the role of the heroic Captain. Holdren portrayed Aramis in the Three Musketeers adventure film Lady in the Iron Mask (1952) starring Louis Hayward as D'Artagnan and Patricia Medina in the titular role. After The Lost Planet (1953), Holdren tried to maintain a foothold in feature films and TV, but with limited success.
He appeared in a number of ongoing TV series, such as Dragnet and The Lone Ranger, but usually in bit parts, often uncredited. His last significant film appearances were in very minor roles in feature films like Jeanne Eagels (1957), Ice Palace (1960), and The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960). The rapidity of his descent is indicated by the fact that in Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (1953) he plays the lead role and Richard Crane plays his (semi-comical) sidekick, whereas in the TV series Rocky Jones Space Ranger (1953–54) Richard Crane plays the lead role and Holdren has a walk-on part in two episodes as "Ranger Higgins".
After 1960, Holdren became a full-time insurance salesman. During his Hollywood years, he was seen in public as the escort of many different Hollywood beauties, but he never married.
Death
editHoldren committed suicide on March 11, 1974, by a gunshot to the head.
He is buried at Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | All the King's Men | Politician | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Francis | First Ambulance Man | Uncredited |
| Rocketship X-M | Reporter #3 | Uncredited | |
| Lonely Heart Bandits | Trooper | Uncredited | |
| Frisco Tornado | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Revenue Agent | Squad Car Officer | Uncredited | |
| Mystery Submarine | Wireless Operator | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | The Lady Pays Off | Face | |
| Purple Heart Diary | Lt. Mike McCormick | ||
| Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere | Captain Video | Serial | |
| 1952 | Gold Fever | Jud Jerson | |
| Lady in the Iron Mask | Aramis | ||
| Zombies of the Stratosphere | Larry Martin | ||
| 1953 | The Lost Planet | Rex Barrow | Serial |
| Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe | Commando Cody | Serial | |
| 1954 | This Is My Love | Doctor Raines | |
| 1957 | Spoilers of the Forest | Mr. Peyton | Uncredited |
| Jeanne Eagels | Young Actor on Equity Board | Uncredited | |
| The Amazing Colossal Man | Robert Allen | Uncredited | |
| 1958 | Space Master X-7 | First Officer Jared | Uncredited |
| The Buccaneer | Maj. Reed | ||
| The Power of the Resurrection | Temple Officer | ||
| 1959 | The FBI Story | Party Guest | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Ice Palace | Muriel's Escort | Uncredited |
| The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond | Haberdashery Clerk | Uncredited | |
| 1963 | Critic's Choice | 2nd Opponent | Uncredited, (final film role) |