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Joseph Cotten (I) (1905–1994)

Actor | Soundtrack | Writer

Before Joseph Cotten became a movie actor, he worked in advertising, as a theatre critic and began acting on stage. He got his chance at the movies due his friendship with Orson Welles, which began with their time at the Federal Theatre in 1936 and lasted until Welles' death. He is probably best remembered from roles of Jed Leland in Citizen Kane... See full bio »

Born:

Joseph Cheshire Cotten
in Petersburg, Virginia, USA

Died:

(age 88) in Westwood, California, USA
Still of Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten in Gaslight Still of Anne Baxter and Joseph Cotten in The Magnificent Ambersons Still of Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten and Everett Sloane in Citizen Kane Still of Joseph Cotten and Vincent Price in The Abominable Dr. Phibes
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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (132 titles)
1981 The Survivor
Priest
 
1981 Delusion
Ivar Langrock
 
1981 The Love Boat (TV series)
Col. van Ryker
– The Duel/Two for Julie/Aunt Hilly (1981) … Col. van Ryker
 
1981 Churchill and the Generals (TV movie)
Gen. George C. Marshall
 
1980 Heaven's Gate
The Reverend Doctor
 
1980 Casino (TV movie)
Ed Booker
 
1980 The Hearse
Walter Prichard
 
1979-1980 Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)
Edward / Lionel
– Depart in Peace (1980) … Lionel
– Edward the Conqueror (1979) … Edward
 
1978-1979 Fantasy Island (TV series)
Simon Grant / Thomas Cummings
– The Wedding (1979) … Thomas Cummings
– Return to Fantasy Island (1978) … Simon Grant
 
1979 Guyana: Cult of the Damned
Richard Gable
 
1979 Concorde Affaire '79
Milland
 
1979 Screamers
Prof. Ernest Marvin
 
1978 Indagine su un delitto perfetto
Sir Arthur Dundee
 
1978 Caravans
Crandall
 
1978 Last In, First Out
Foster Johnson
 
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV series)
Weldon Rathbone
– Arson and Old Lace (1978) … Weldon Rathbone
 
1977 Aspen (TV mini-series)
Horton Paine
 
1977 Airport '77
Nicholas St. Downs III
 
1977 Twilight's Last Gleaming
Arthur Renfrew - Secretary of State
 
1976 Origins of the Mafia (TV mini-series)
The Envoy
– Gli antenati (1976) … The Envoy
 
1976 Un sussurro nel buio
The Professor
 
1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case (TV movie)
Dr. Joseph Francis Condon
 
1976 Freedom Is (TV movie) (voice)
 
1975 Timber Tramps
Greedy sawmill mogul
 
1975 Syndicate Sadists
Paternò
 
1974 The Rockford Files (TV series)
Warner Jameson
– This Case Is Closed (1974) … Warner Jameson
 
1973 A Delicate Balance
Harry
 
1973 Soylent Green
William R. Simonson
 
1973 The Streets of San Francisco (TV series)
John R. James
– A Collection of Eagles (1973) … John R. James
 
1973 The Devil's Daughter (TV movie)
Judge Weatherby
 
1972 Lo scopone scientifico
George
 
1972 Doomsday Voyage
Captain Jason
 
1972 Baron Blood
Baron Otto von Kleist / Alfred Becker
 
1972 The Screaming Woman (TV movie)
George Tresvant
 
1971 Lady Frankenstein
Baron Frankenstein
 
1971 The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Dr. Vesalius
 
1971 NET Playhouse (TV series)
Narrator
– Trail of Tears (1971) … Narrator
 
1971 Journey to Murder
Jeff Wheeler (Do Me a Favor - Kill Me!)
 
1971 City Beneath the Sea (TV movie)
Dr. Ziegler
 
1971 Do You Take This Stranger? (TV movie)
Dr. Robert Carson
 
1971 Assault on the Wayne (TV movie)
Admiral
 
1970 The Virginian (TV series)
Judge Hobbs / Judge Will McMasters
– Gun Quest (1970) … Judge Hobbs
– A Time of Terror (1970) … Judge Will McMasters
 
1970 Tora! Tora! Tora!
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson
 
1968-1970 It Takes a Thief (TV series)
Mr. Jack / Col. Heinrich
– Beyond a Treasonable Doubt (1970) … Mr. Jack
– To Sing a Song of Murder (1970) … Mr. Jack
– To Lure a Man (1969) … Mr. Jack
– Hans Across the Border: Part 2 (1968) … Col. Heinrich
– Hans Across the Border: Part 1 (1968) … Col. Heinrich
 
1970 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Henry 'Harry' Worthington Rayner
– The King of Denmark (1970) … Henry 'Harry' Worthington Rayner
 
1970 Cutter's Trail (TV movie)
Gen. Spalding
 
1969 The Grasshopper
Richard Morgan
 
1969 The Lonely Profession (TV movie)
Martin Bannister
 
1969 Latitude Zero
Capt. Craig McKenzie/Cmdr. Glenn McKenzie
 
1969 Keene
 
1968 White Comanche
Sheriff Logan
 
1968 Journey to the Unknown (TV series)
Jeff Wheeler
– Do Me a Favor and Kill Me (1968) … Jeff Wheeler
 
1968 Ironside (TV series)
Dr. Benjamin Stern
– Split Second to an Epitaph: Part 1 (1968) … Dr. Benjamin Stern
– Split Second to an Epitaph: Part 2 (1968) … Dr. Benjamin Stern
 
1968 Petulia
Mr. Danner
 
1968 Gangster '70
Destil
 
1968 Alexander the Great (TV movie)
Antigonus
 
1968 Off to See the Wizard (TV series)
General Antigonus
– Alexander the Great (1968) … General Antigonus
 
1967 Jack of Diamonds
As
 
1967 Cimarron Strip (TV series)
Nathan Tio
– The Search (1967) … Nathan Tio
 
1967 Brighty of the Grand Canyon
Jim Owen
 
1967 Hellbenders
Col. Jonas
 
1967 Some May Live
Col. Woodward
 
1966 The Oscar
Kenneth Regan
 
1965 The Tramplers
Temple Cordeen
 
1965 The Money Trap
Dr. Horace Van Tilden
 
1965 The Great Sioux Massacre
Maj. Reno
 
1964 Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Drew
 
1963 77 Sunset Strip (TV series)
Arnold Buhler
– By His Own Verdict (1963) … Arnold Buhler
 
1963 The Great Adventure (TV series)
Capt. Meehan / Captain Meehan
– The Massacre at Wounded Knee (1963) … Captain Meehan
– The Death of Sitting Bull (1963) … Capt. Meehan
 
1961-1962 Wagon Train (TV series)
Captain Dan Brady / John Augustus
– The John Augustus Story (1962) … John Augustus
– The Captain Dan Brady Story (1961) … Captain Dan Brady
 
1962 Saints and Sinners (TV series)
Preston Cooper
– The Man on the Rim (1962) … Preston Cooper
 
1962 Dr. Kildare (TV series)
Charles Ladovan
– The Administrator (1962) … Charles Ladovan
 
1961 Theatre '62 (TV series)
– Notorious (1961)
 
1961 Bus Stop (TV series)
Professor Wheelwright
– Cherie (1961) … Professor Wheelwright
 
1961 The Last Sunset
John Breckenridge
 
1961 The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV series)
Mac McClay
– The Hitch-Hiker (1961) … Mac McClay
 
1960 Checkmate (TV series)
Dr. George Mallinson
– Face in the Window (1960) … Dr. George Mallinson
 
1960 The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV series)
Charles Lawrence / Dick Burlingame
– Dark Fear (1960) … Charles Lawrence
– The Blue Goose (1960) … Dick Burlingame
 
1960 The Angel Wore Red
Hawthorne
 
1955-1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV series)
Courtney Masterson / Tony Gould / William Callew
– Dead Weight (1959) … Courtney Masterson
– Together (1958) … Tony Gould
– Breakdown (1955) … William Callew
 
1959 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV series)
Black McSween
– The Day the Town Stood Up (1959) … Black McSween
 
1956-1959 The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV series)
Clint Anderson / Edward Pritchard / Frank Parsons / …
– High Green Wall (1959)
– The Case of the Girl on the Elsewhere (1957) … Reed
– The Secret of Polanta (1957) … Reed Murrow
– A Case of Sudden Death (1957) … Clint Anderson
– The Case of the Absent Man (1957) … Ray Barnes
See all 14 episodes »
 
1958 From the Earth to the Moon
Victor Barbicane
 
1958 Touch of Evil
Coroner (uncredited)
 
1958 Suspicion (TV series)
Gregg Carey
– The Eye of Truth (1958) … Gregg Carey
 
1958 Zane Grey Theater (TV series)
Ben Harper
– Man Unforgiving (1958) … Ben Harper
 
1957 Schlitz Playhouse (TV series)
– Neighbors (1957)
 
1957 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Robert Rainey
– The Edge of Innocence (1957) … Robert Rainey
 
1957 Telephone Time (TV series)
– The Man the Navy Couldn't Sink (1957)
 
1957 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre (TV series)
Bruce Malone
– Contact (1957) … Bruce Malone
 
1957 The Halliday Brand
Daniel Halliday
 
1954-1956 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Captain / Hanly / Private Harris
– The Enemies (1956) … Private Harris
– H.M.S. Marlborough Will Enter Port (1956) … Captain
– The High Green Wall (1954) … Hanly
 
1955-1956 Star Stage (TV series)
Alexander Holmes / Narrator
– The Man in the Black Robe (1956) … Narrator
– The U.S. vs Alexander Holmes (1955) … Alexander Holmes
– On Trial (1955)
 
1956 The Killer Is Loose
Detective Sam Wagner
 
1956 The Ford Television Theatre (TV series)
John Ashburn
– Man Without a Fear (1956) … John Ashburn
 
1956 The Bottom of the Bottle
Pat 'P.M.' Martin
 
1955 Celebrity Playhouse (TV series)
Marshal Fenton Lockhart
– Showdown at San Pablo (1955) … Marshal Fenton Lockhart
 
1955 The Best of Broadway (TV series)
Dan McCorn
– Broadway (1955) … Dan McCorn
 
1955 Bedevilled
Flight Announcer at the airport (voice) (uncredited)
 
1955 Special Delivery
John Adams
 
1954 Producers' Showcase (TV series)
Grant Matthews
– State of the Union (1954) … Grant Matthews
 
1953 A Blueprint for Murder
Whitney 'Cam' Cameron
 
1953 Egypt by Three
Narrator
 
1953 Niagara
George Loomis
 
1952 The Steel Trap
Jim Osborne
 
1952 Untamed Frontier
Kirk Denbow
 
1952 The Wild Heart
Narrator
 
1952 Othello
Senator (uncredited)
 
1951 The Man with a Cloak
Dupin/Edgar Allan Poe
 
1951 Peking Express
Michael Bachlin
 
1951 Half Angel
John Raymond Jr.
 
1950 Walk Softly, Stranger
Chris Hale aka Steve
 
1950 Two Flags West
Col. Clay Tucker
 
1950 September Affair
David Lawrence
 
1949 Beyond the Forest
Doctor Louis Moline
 
1949 Under Capricorn
Sam Flusky
 
1949 The Third Man
Holly Martins
 
1948 Portrait of Jennie
Eben Adams
 
1947 The Farmer's Daughter
Glenn Morley
 
1946 Duel in the Sun
Jesse McCanles
 
1945 Love Letters
Allen Quinton
 
1944 I'll Be Seeing You
Zachary Morgan
 
1944 Since You Went Away
Lt. Tony Willett
 
1944 Gaslight
Brian Cameron
 
1943 Hers to Hold
Bill Morley
 
1943 Shadow of a Doubt
Uncle Charlie
 
1943 Journey Into Fear
Howard Graham
 
1942 The Magnificent Ambersons
Eugene
 
1941 Lydia
Michael Fitzpatrick
 
1941 Citizen Kane
Jedediah Leland
 
1938 Too Much Johnson (short)
Augustus Billings
 
1937 Seeing the World: Part One - A Visit to New York, N.Y. (short)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
1944 Since You Went Away (music: "Kaiser-Walzer Emperor Waltz op.437" 1889 - uncredited / performer: "Together" 1928 - uncredited, "Kaiser-Walzer Emperor Waltz op.437" 1889 - uncredited / "Together" 1928 - uncredited)
 
1942 The Magnificent Ambersons (performer: "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" 1892 - uncredited)
 
Show ShowWriter (2 titles)
1943 Journey Into Fear (screenplay)
 
1942 The Magnificent Ambersons (additional scenes - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (2 titles)
2009 The New Bike (short) (acknowledgment)
 
1994 Jimmy Hollywood (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (31 titles)
1992 The 37th Annual Thalians Ball (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1991 The 8th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1987 The 4th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1986 The 3th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1985 All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan (TV movie)
Himself
 
1979 The RKO Years (TV documentary)
Himself Host
 
1979 Food, Wine & Friends (TV series)
Himself
 
1978 Looks Familiar (TV series)
Himself - Guest
– Episode dated 14 December 1978 (1978) … Himself - Guest
 
1978 Over Easy (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 11 September 1978 (1978) … Himself
 
1975 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Orson Welles (TV special)
Himself
 
1973 F for Fake (documentary)
Special Participant
 
1972 It's Your Bet (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 13 November 1972 (1972) … Himself
 
1972 V.I.P.-Schaukel (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Episode #2.5 (1972) … Himself
 
1969 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.211 (1969) … Himself
 
1969 The Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.16 (1969) … Himself
 
1969 Hollywood: The Selznick Years (TV documentary)
Himself (also archive footage)
 
1968 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.11 (1968) … Himself
– Episode #2.10 (1968) … Himself
 
1966 Cinema (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Joseph Cotten (1966) … Himself
 
1964 The Linkletter Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 21 May 1964 (1964) … Himself
 
1963-1964 Hollywood and the Stars (TV series)
Narrator / Host / Himself - Host / …
– The Wild and Wonderful Thirties (1964) … Narrator
– The Great Directors (1964) … Narrator
– What a Way to Go: An Extravaganza in the Making (1964) … Host / Narrator
– The Odyssey of Rita Hayworth (1964) … Himself - Host
– The Oscars - Moments of Greatness: Part 2 (1964) … Himself-Narrator
See all 31 episodes »
 
1964 The Celebrity Game (TV series)
Himself - Celebrity Panelist
– Episode dated 3 May 1964 (1964) … Himself - Celebrity Panelist
 
1963 Stump the Stars (TV series)
Himself - Guest Panelist
– Episode dated 15 April 1963 (1963) … Himself - Guest Panelist
 
1963 To Tell the Truth (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 28 January 1963 (1963) … Himself
 
1961 Password All-Stars (TV series)
Himself
– Audrey Meadows vs. Joseph Cotten … Himself
 
1956-1959 The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Eleanor (1959) … Himself - Host
– Fatal Charm (1957) … Himself - Host
– The Deadly Chain (1957) … Himself - Host
– The Gentle Voice of Murder (1957) … Himself - Host
– Alibi for Murder (1957) … Himself - Host
See all 18 episodes »
 
1959 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 11 January 1959 (1959) … Himself - Mystery Guest
 
1957 The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.30 (1957) … Himself
 
1955-1956 The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Broken Arrow (1956) … Himself - Host
– The Ox-Bow Incident (1955) … Himself - Host
 
1955 The Loretta Young Show (TV series)
Himself - Guest Host
– Reunion (1955) … Himself - Guest Host
 
1954 Light's Diamond Jubilee (TV documentary)
Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (17 titles)
2010 Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story (documentary)
Whitney 'Cam' Cameron
 
2009 O.W. Kenosha (video short)
 
2009 A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (TV documentary)
 
2007 Kinomagazin (TV series documentary)
 
2006 A Sense of Carol Reed (video documentary short)
Holly Martins
 
2005 Premio Donostia a Willem Dafoe (TV movie)
 
2005 Filmmakers vs. Tycoons (documentary)
Holly Martins (in 'The Third Man')
 
2004 Shadowing the Third Man (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2001 Backstory (TV series documentary)
 
1995 The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1994 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1994 The 66th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
1991 Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (documentary)
Baron Frankenstein
 
1983 Arena (TV series documentary)
 
1968 Split Second to an Epitaph (TV movie)
Dr. Ben Stern
 
1967 Lionpower from MGM (short)
Ace of Diamonds (uncredited)
 
1967 Historia de la frivolidad (TV movie)
Actor in censored film (uncredited)
 

Related Videos

Lady Frankenstein -- When Dr. Frankenstein is killed by a monster he created, his daughter and his lab assistant Marshall continue his experiments... Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season 3: Episode 15 -- A man is trapped in an office with the body of the woman he just murdered. Citizen Kane -- Watch the trailer for the Orson Welles classic Citizen Kane.
See all 26 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1937) Stage: Appeared (as "Publius") in "Julius Caesar" on Broadway. Tragedy (revival). Written by William Shakespeare. Incidental music by Marc Blitzstein. Assistant Director: Hiram Sherman. Directed by Orson Welles. Mercury Theatre (moved to the National Theatre in March 1938 to... See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Print Biography  | See more »

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[on Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte] Bette [Davis] is determined to make her mark on this picture, and Joan [Crawford] is determined to do the same and not be, how shall I put it, gobbled up by Bette, but for heaven's sake, don't quote me. See more »

Trivia:

Before his celebrated appearance as Charles Foster Kane's best friend, Jed Leland, in Citizen Kane, he appears as one of the reporters in the March of Time parody sequence early in the film. He is seated in the back of the projection room, in the last row at the far left, and is only clearly visible in one shot... See more »

Trademark:

Distinctive, almost raspy, deep voice. See more »

Star Sign:

Taurus