Overview (3)
| Born | in Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Died | in San Juan Capistrano, California, USA (congestive heart failure) |
| Birth Name | David Jack Holt |
Mini Bio (1)
Actor, songwriter ("What Every Girl Should Know"), author and publisher, David Holt was educated at Long's Professional School and the Westlake College of Music in Hollywood. He was a child actor on the stage and in early films, and composed special material. Later he became the general manager and co-owner of a music-publishing company. Joining ASCAP in 1952, his chief musical collaborators included Johnny Mercer, Robert Wells, Sammy Cahn, Paul Francis Webster and Dok Stanford. His other popular-song compositions include "Anyone Can Fall in Love".
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Hup234!
Trivia (14)
In the early 60s he went into the real estate business, retiring in 1985.
Began composing at age 14 and wrote material at one point for Doris Day.
Child actor of the 30s whose career as a troublemaker didn't last much past his teens. Brother of child actress Betty Holt.
Children: Lamont, Janna, Hayley, Tina.
Had been cast as the lead in David Copperfield (1935), but producer David O. Selznick, who developed misgivings about having an American youngster portray a quintessentially British boy, gave the lead role to English child actor Freddie Bartholomew instead.
Co-wrote "The Christmas Blues" with Sammy Cahn, which was heard on the soundtrack of L.A. Confidential (1997).
Was working on his autobiography, "The Holts of Hollywood" at the time of his death.
A naturally talented youngster, he was once touted by Paramount Pictures as the "male Shirley Temple."
One of his first jobs was as a body double for Cheetah the chimpanzee in Tarzan the Fearless (1933) starring Buster Crabbe. He was 6 years old.
Eventually abandoned acting to become a much respected jazz pianist and composer.
Often mistakenly listed as being related to the more well known Holt acting family - Jack Holt, Tim Holt and Jennifer Holt. He wasn't.
David was survived by his four children: Lamont Wilson, Janna Ryer, Hayley Martin and Tina Cardiel; and seven grandchildren.
Appeared in three movies nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Pride of the Yankees (1942), The Human Comedy (1943) and Battleground (1949).
Personal Quotes (2)
Because I could dance my folks went through hell so I could be in movies. But I didn't dance in pictures. I cried! At one point I had polio, which I believe was a result of the stress I felt in the studios. My parents broke up. My father resented that I was paid so much more than he was. When it was all over there was no money.
On adjusting to public school: "My life was hell. My mother made me wear short pants - white short pants. Every boy in that school wanted to punch out the 'movie star,' 'cry-baby,' 'sissy,' and most of them tried. Fortunately, I had been scheduled to do a picture with Max Baer that was cancelled when he lost the championship. But we'd gotten friendly and he taught me how to box - really box. I whipped more asses at that school."
