Actor · Director
Orson Welles
Born 6 May 1915 · Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA — died 10 October 1985
Orson Welles (1915–1985) was an American director, actor, and writer who worked in theatre, radio, and film. He is best known for directing and starring in Citizen Kane, often ranked among the greatest films ever made. His career was marked by innovative technique and ongoing battles with studios over creative control.
Key films
Citizen Kane (1941)On Cinespective
His debut feature, which he directed and starred in; celebrated for its deep focus, non-linear storytelling and bold visual style.
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
His second film as director, famously re-edited by the studio against his wishes, a key example of his struggles.
The Third Man (1949)
As Harry Lime, he gave one of cinema's most memorable supporting performances in a classic of film noir.
Touch of Evil (1958)
A late Hollywood noir he directed and starred in, known for its virtuoso opening tracking shot.
Chimes at Midnight (1965)
His Shakespearean adaptation, in which he played Falstaff, which he regarded as among his finest achievements.
Key awards
- 1941 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay (Citizen Kane, shared with Herman J. Mankiewicz)
- 1970 Academy Honorary Award for "supreme artistry and mastery in the creation of motion pictures"
- 1975 AFI Life Achievement Award
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 347
- 1933Twelfth Night · as NarratorActor
- 1933Twelfth NightDirector
- 1934The Hearts of AgeDirector
- 1934The Hearts of Age · as DeathActor
- 1937The Spanish Earth · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1939The Green Goddess · as Rajah/NarratorActor
- 1939The Green GoddessDirector
- 1940Swiss Family Robinson · as Opening Narrator (uncredited)Actor
- 1941Citizen Kane · as Charles Foster KaneActor
- 1941Citizen KaneDirector
- 1942The Magnificent AmbersonsDirector
- 1942The Magnificent Ambersons · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1943Jane Eyre · as Edward RochesterActor
- 1943Journey into Fear · as Colonel HakiActor
- 1943Show-Business at War · as SelfActor
- 1943It's All TrueDirector
- 1944Follow the Boys · as Orson Welles (uncredited)Actor
- 1944Know Your Ally: Britain · as Narrator/Bob (helpful taxi passenger)Actor
- 1945Mexico City, Old and New · as NarratorActor
- 1946The Stranger · as Prof. Charles RankinActor
- 1946The StrangerDirector
- 1946Duel in the Sun · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1946Tomorrow Is Forever · as John Andrew MacDonaldActor
- 1946Battle for Survival · as NarratorActor
- 1947The Lady from ShanghaiDirector
- 1947The Lady from Shanghai · as Michael O'HaraActor
- 1948MacbethDirector
- 1948Macbeth · as MacbethActor
- 1949The Third Man · as Harry LimeActor
- 1949Prince of Foxes · as Cesare BorgiaActor
- 1949Black Magic · as Joseph Balsamo aka Count CagliostroActor
- 1950The Black Rose · as BayanActor
- 1950Disorder · as SelfActor
- 1950The Miracle of St. AnneDirector
- 1950The Miracle of St. Anne · as The DirectorActor
- 1951OthelloDirector
- 1951Othello · as OthelloActor
- 1952Return to Glennascaul · as NarratorActor
- 1952Trent's Last Case · as Sigsbee MandersonActor
- 1953Royal Affairs in Versailles · as Benjamin FranklinActor
- 1953Man, Beast and Virtue · as Captain Perella, the BeastActor
- 1953King Lear · as King LearActor
- 1954Trouble in the Glen · as Sanin Cejador y MenguesActor
- 1955Mr. ArkadinDirector
- 1955Mr. Arkadin · as Gregory ArkadinActor
- 1955Three Cases of Murder · as Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)Actor
- 1955Napoleon · as Sir Hudson LoweActor
- 1955Moby Dick—Rehearsed · as An Actor Manager /Father Mapple /AhabActor
- 1955Moby Dick—RehearsedDirector
- 1955The Land of the BasquesDirector
- 1955The Land of the Basques · as HimselfActor
- 1956Moby Dick · as Father MappleActor
- 1956Orson Welles and People: Camille, the Naked Lady and the Musketeers · as Self - Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1956Orson Welles and People: Camille, the Naked Lady and the MusketeersDirector
- 1956Out of Darkness · as Self - NarratorActor
- 1957Man in the Shadow · as Virgil RenchlerActor
- 1958Touch of EvilDirector
- 1958Touch of Evil · as Police Captain Hank QuinlanActor
- 1958The Vikings · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1958The Long, Hot Summer · as Will VarnerActor
- 1958The Roots of Heaven · as Cy SedgewickActor
- 1958The Fountain of YouthDirector
- 1958The Fountain of Youth · as the narratorActor
- 1958South Seas Adventure · as NarratorActor
- 1958Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina · as Self - HostActor
- 1958Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of GinaDirector
- 1958Lords of the Forest · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1959Compulsion · as Jonathan WilkActor
- 1959Ferry to Hong Kong · as Captain HartActor
- 1959High Journey · as NarratorActor
- 1960Austerlitz · as Robert FultonActor
- 1960David and Goliath · as King SaulActor
- 1960Crack in the Mirror · as Hagolin / LamerciereActor
- 1960Five Columns on the Front Page: Hong Kong as seen by Orson Welles · as Self (narrator)Actor
- 1960Five Columns on the Front Page: Hong Kong as seen by Orson WellesDirector
- 1960An Arabian Night · as StorytellerActor
- 1961King of Kings · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1961The Tartars · as BurundaiActor
- 1962The Trial · as Albert HastlerActor
- 1962The TrialDirector
- 1962Lafayette · as Benjamin FranklinActor
- 1962River of the Ocean · as Narrator (English)Actor
- 1963Ro.Go.Pa.G. · as The 'Director' (segment "La ricotta")Actor
- 1963The V.I.P.s · as Max BudaActor
- 1963La ricottaActor
- 1964The Finest Hours · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1965Chimes at Midnight · as FalstaffActor
- 1965Chimes at MidnightDirector
- 1965Marco the Magnificent · as Akerman, Marco's TeacherActor
- 1965A King's Story · as NarratorActor
- 1965Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees · as Self - Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1965Americans on Everest · as Narrator- SelfActor
- 1965Profile No. 6: Orson WellesActor
- 1966A Man for All Seasons · as Cardinal WolseyActor
- 1966Is Paris Burning? · as Konsul NordlingActor
- 1966Orson Welles in Spain · as HimselfActor
- 1967Casino Royale · as Le ChiffreActor
- 1967I'll Never Forget What's'isname · as Jonathan LuteActor
- 1967The Sailor from Gibraltar · as Louis de MozambiqueActor
- 1967Ten Days That Shook the World · as NarratorActor
- 1967Disorder Is 20 Years Old · as SelfActor
- 1967Beggars Would Ride · as NarratorActor
- 1968The Immortal StoryDirector
- 1968The Immortal Story · as Charles ClayActor
- 1968House of Cards · as LeschenhautActor
- 1968Vienna · as HimselfActor
- 1968ViennaDirector
- 1968The Fight for Rome · as JustinianActor
- 1968Portrait: Orson Welles · as SelfActor
- 1968Oedipus the King · as TiresiasActor
- 1968Around the World of Mike Todd · as Self - NarratorActor
- 1969The Battle of Neretva · as ČetnikActor
- 1969Tepepa · as Colonel CascorroActor
- 1969Twelve Plus One · as MarkanActor
- 1969The Southern Star · as PlankettActor
- 1969The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal · as JustinianActor
- 1969Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1969To Build a Fire · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1969The Merchant of Venice · as ShylockActor
- 1969The Merchant of VeniceDirector
- 1970Catch-22 · as Brigadier General DreedleActor
- 1970Waterloo · as Louis XVIIIActor
- 1970Start the Revolution Without Me · as The NarratorActor
- 1970The Kremlin Letter · as BresnavitchActor
- 1970Is It Always Right to Be Right? · as NarratorActor
- 1970The Merchant of Venice (Rushes) · as ShylockActor
- 1970The Merchant of Venice (Rushes)Director
- 1970A Horse Called Nijinsky · as NarratorActor
- 1970Upon This Rock · as Michelangelo (voice)Actor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden HoneymoonActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden HoneymoonDirector
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy PrinceActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark TwainActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence DarrowActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and NoahActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little BoyActor
- 1970The Enemy Before Us · as NarratorActor
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy PrinceDirector
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark TwainDirector
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence DarrowDirector
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and NoahDirector
- 1970An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little BoyDirector
- 1971Directed by John Ford · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1971Ten Days' Wonder · as Théo Van HornActor
- 1971A Safe Place · as The MagicianActor
- 1971Sentinels of SilenceActor
- 1971Freedom River · as NarratorActor
- 1971Flame of Persia · as NarratorActor
- 1972Malpertuis · as CassaviusActor
- 1972Treasure Island · as Long John SilverActor
- 1972Necromancy · as Mr. CatoActor
- 1972Get to Know Your Rabbit · as Mr. DelasandroActor
- 1972Future Shock · as NarratorActor
- 1972The Man Who Came to Dinner · as Sheridan WhitesideActor
- 1972Jeanne Moreau : Vive le cinéma ! · as SelfActor
- 1973F for Fake · as SelfActor
- 1973F for FakeDirector
- 1973The Battle of Sutjeska · as Winston ChurchillActor
- 1973Kelly Country · as NarratorActor
- 1973Power and Corruption · as HimselfActor
- 1973The Monkey's Paw · as HostActor
- 1973The Cave · as NarratorActor
- 1974And Then There Were None · as Voice on TapeActor
- 1974Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1974The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art · as NarratorActor
- 1974A Legend a Lifetime: Citizen WellesActor
- 1975Rikki-Tikki-Tavi · as Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)Actor
- 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1975Who's Out There? · as HostActor
- 1975Magnificent Monsters of the Deep · as NarratorActor
- 1975Orson Welles - Das vermarktete Genie · as SelfActor
- 1976Voyage of the Damned · as José EstedesActor
- 1976Bugs Bunny Superstar · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1976NBC: The First Fifty Years · as Self / NarratorActor
- 1976A Mother's Tale · as NarratorActor
- 1977It Happened One Christmas · as Henry F. PotterActor
- 1977The Force Beyond · as Himself (archive footage)Actor
- 1977Hot Tomorrows · as Parklawn Mortuary (voice)Actor
- 1977The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here? · as SelfActor
- 1977The Rime of the Ancient Mariner · as NarratorActor
- 1977Tut: The Boy King · as Himself - HostActor
- 1977The Lions of Capitalism: Some Call It Greed · as NarratorActor
- 1977From Fiber to Fabric: Wool's a Natural · as NarratorActor
- 1978The Biggest Battle · as NarratoreActor
- 1978The Late Great Planet Earth · as SelfActor
- 1978Mysterious Castles of Clay · as NarratorActor
- 1978Caesar's Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles · as HimselfActor
- 1978Orson Welles at The Magic Castle · as SelfActor
- 1979The Muppet Movie · as Lew LordActor
- 1979Filming OthelloDirector
- 1979Filming Othello · as HostActor
- 1979The Double McGuffin · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1979The Orson Welles Show · as SelfActor
- 1979The Orson Welles ShowDirector
- 1979The New Media Bible: Book of Genesis · as NarratorActor
- 1979To Try Again... and Succeed · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1979Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years · as SelfActor
- 1979The Greatest Adventure--The Story of Man's Voyage to the Moon · as NarratorActor
- 1980The Secret of Nikola Tesla · as J.P. MorganActor
- 1980The Greenstone · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1980A Step Away · as English NarratorActor
- 1980Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park · as NarratorActor
- 1981History of the World: Part I · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1981The Man Who Saw Tomorrow · as Presenter / Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1981Brasil · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1981Search for the Titanic · as Self - HostActor
- 1981The New Deal for Artists · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1981A Gift of Harvest · as NarratorActor
- 1982Butterfly · as Judge RauchActor
- 1982Slapstick of Another Kind · as Aliens' Father (voice) (uncredited)Actor
- 1982Genocide · as Narrator (voice)Actor
- 1982Night of 100 Stars · as SelfActor
- 1982The Orson Welles Story · as SelfActor
- 1982The Quest for Fire Adventure · as NarratorActor
- 1982Magic with the Stars · as Self - HostActor
- 1982Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady · as SelfActor
- 1982Let Poland Be Poland · as SelfActor
- 1982Doug Henning's World of Magic · as Self - Special GuestActor
- 1982Baryshnikov in Hollywood · as Self - NarratorActor
- 1982Wagner e Venezia · as Richard Wagner (voice)Actor
- 1983Can She Bake a Cherry Pie? · as Magician (uncredited)Actor
- 1983Hot Money · as Sheriff PaisleyActor
- 1983Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française · as HimselfActor
- 1983The Witching · as Mr. CatoActor
- 1983King Penguin: Stranded Beyond the Falklands · as Self - NarratorActor
- 1983The Psychic Connection · as NarratorActor
- 1984The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh · as himselfActor
- 1984The Spirit of Charles LindberghDirector
- 1984The Road to Bresson · as SelfActor
- 1984Where Is Parsifal? · as KlingsorActor
- 1984The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail · as NarratorActor
- 1984In Our Hands · as HimselfActor
- 1984Almonds and Raisins · as NarratorActor
- 1984The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Michael Landon · as SelfActor
- 1985Orson Welles' Magic Show · as SelfActor
- 1985Orson Welles' Magic ShowDirector
- 1985The DreamersDirector
- 1985The Dreamers · as Marcus KleekActor
- 1986The Transformers: The Movie · as Unicron (voice)Actor
- 1986The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1986It's Not All True · as Himself (archive footage)Actor
- 1986It's All True: Four Men on a RaftDirector
- 1986Unseen Lollo · as HimselfActor
- 1986Unseen LolloDirector
- 1987Someone to Love · as Danny's FriendActor
- 1988On the tracks of a filmmaker · as Orson WellesActor
- 1990Welles' Language · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1990Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1990With Orson Welles: Stories from a Life in Film · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1991Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio · as Self - Professor in War of the Worlds Broadcast (archive sound)Actor
- 1991The Complete 'Citizen Kane' · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1992Don Quixote · as SelfActor
- 1992Don QuixoteDirector
- 1993La Classe américaine · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1993It's All TrueDirector
- 1993It's All True · as SelfActor
- 1993Working with Orson Welles · as Himself (Archive Footage)Actor
- 1993Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson WellesActor
- 1995Orson Welles: The One-Man BandDirector
- 1995Orson Welles: The One-Man Band · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1996The Battle Over Citizen Kane · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1997Who Is Henry Jaglom? · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1997It's All Brazil · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1997Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional · as SelfActor
- 1998The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts · as Self - Roaster (archive footage)Actor
- 1999According to Occam's RazorActor
- 1999Hi-FiActor
- 1999One Man Band · as Presenter / VariousActor
- 1999One Man BandDirector
- 2000Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2000Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote · as Self (Archive footage)Actor
- 2000Moby Dick · as Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage)Actor
- 2000Moby DickDirector
- 2001A Huey P. Newton Story · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2001The Paranormal Peter Sellers · as Self (Archive footage)Actor
- 2001NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3 · as NarratorActor
- 2002Lost in La Mancha · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2002Filming 'The Trial'Director
- 2002Filming 'The Trial' · as SelfActor
- 2002Heart of the Festival · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2002The Movie Movie (An Excerpt) · as Archival FootageActor
- 2003The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2004The UFO Conspiracy · as Self (archive sound)Actor
- 2004The Hitch Hiker · as Ronald AdamsActor
- 2005Filmmakers vs. Tycoons · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005The WellActor
- 2005The Other Side of Welles · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005Lost in "The Thinking" · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2005Orson Welles Talks With Roger Hill · as (Self)Actor
- 2005Orson Welles Talks With Roger HillDirector
- 2005Orson Welles UncutActor
- 2007Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story · as Self (archive)Actor
- 2007The DeepDirector
- 2007The Deep · as Russ BrewerActor
- 2009Lucifer et moi · as (archive footage 1982)Actor
- 2009Hollywood sul TevereActor
- 2010Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff · as Genghis Khan / Bayan (archive footage)Actor
- 2010Jucy · as Elephant Lamp (archive sound)Actor
- 2010Orson Welles: The Paris Interview · as HimselfActor
- 2011Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure · as SelfActor
- 2012Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2012The Shadow Knows · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2012Magic Mirror MazeActor
- 2013Jodorowsky's Dune · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2013Too Much Johnson · as Keystone Kop (uncredited)Actor
- 2013Too Much JohnsonDirector
- 2014Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles · as Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage)Actor
- 2014Alfonso Sansone: Producer by Chance · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2015This Is Orson Welles · as SelfActor
- 2016Decadence and Downfall: The Shah of Iran's Ultimate Party · as Self (archive footage) (voice)Actor
- 2016Embers & Dust · as Professor Richard Pierson / Self (voice) (archive sound)Actor
- 2017The Magic History of CinemaActor
- 2018The Other Side of the WindDirector
- 2018The Other Side of the Wind · as Journalist (uncredited)Actor
- 2018They'll Love Me When I'm Dead · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2018The Eyes of Orson Welles · as Self - Filmmaker / Various Roles (archive footage)Actor
- 2018Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit · as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)Actor
- 2019Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil" · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2020Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2020Hopper/WellesDirector
- 2020Hopper/Welles · as SelfActor
- 2021The Real Charlie Chaplin · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2021Tall Tales: The Ireland of Orson Welles · as SelfActor
- 2021Parkinson at 50 · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021Morceaux de Cannes · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2021My Guest is Orson WellesActor
- 2021The Blinding of Isaac Woodard · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2022Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2022Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2022American: An Odyssey to 1947 · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2022The Welles Raft · as Himself (Archive Footage)Actor
- 2023Looking Back Before You Leap · as General Zaroff (voice)Actor
- 2023It's Pretty, but is it Art? · as Self (voiceover)Actor
- 2023From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight · as FalstaffActor
- 2024Jim Henson Idea Man · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2024The Battle of Grovers Mill · as Radio Host (voice) (archival footage)Actor
- 2024Aliens Uncovered: Close Encounters · as SelfActor
- 2024Othelo The Great · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2025WeirdWorld · as Troy2000 (Archive footage)Actor
- 2025The Scorpion and the Frog · as Narrator (archive footage)Actor
- 2025Human Nature in Eleven Parts · as Narrator "The Scorpion and the Frog" (archive footage)Actor
- 2026Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas · as Self / The Director / Sir John Falstaff (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 2026The Making Of · as Self (archival)Actor
- 2026War of the Worlds · as narratorActor
- 2028Charmed Lives: A Family Romance · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.