William Hawks

William Bellinger Hawks (January 29, 1901 – January 10, 1969) was an American film producer.

For the American politician and businessman William T. Hawks, see Bill Hawks.

William Hawks
Born
William Bellinger Hawks

(1901-01-29)January 29, 1901
Neenah, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 1969(1969-01-10) (aged 67)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
EducationYale University[1]
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1930–1958
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1929; div. 1936)​
    Virginia Walker
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1938; div. 1942)​
      Frances Koshland Judge
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1951⁠–⁠1969)​
      Relatives

      Career

      Hawks attended Yale University,[1][3] where he was a member of Scroll and Key[4] and graduated in 1923.[5][6][7] In his early career, Hawks was a stockbroker.[8][9][10] By the early 1930s, Hawks was a Hollywood talent agent and, as such, brought novelist William Faulkner to his brother Howard Hawks' attention in 1932, becoming Faulkner's Hollywood agent.

      He created United Producers Corporation in 1940[11] with Charles Boyer, Ronald Colman, Irene Dunne, Anatole Litvak, and Lewis Milestone. They intended to produce ten films for RKO Pictures.[3] My Life with Caroline was the first of the intended series, thus Hawks became a film producer.

      Personal life
      Wedding portrait of Love and Hawks

      Hawks married actress Bessie Love at St. James' Episcopal Church in South Pasadena, California, on December 27, 1929.[12] Mary Astor, Carmel Myers, and Norma Shearer were her bridesmaids, and Howard Hawks and MGM wunderkind Irving Thalberg ushered. Mary Astor was William's sister-in-law, married to brother Kenneth Hawks. Their reception was held at the Ambassador Hotel.[13]

      Hawks and Love then lived at the Havenhurst Apartments in Hollywood.[14][15] They had a daughter, Patricia Hawks (February 19, 1932, Los Angeles), who had some bit parts in 1952 movies.[2] They divorced in 1936.[2]

      He married actress Virginia Walker (July 31, 1916, Boston, Massachusetts – December 23, 1946, Los Angeles) in late June 1938 in Mexico.[16] She had played Miss Alice Swallow in the 1938 comedy film Bringing Up Baby, her first film role.[16] They divorced in 1942.[17]

      He was married to Boston socialite Frances Koshland Judge (1916–1993)[18] on October 3, 1951, in West Los Angeles by Municipal Judge Louis Kaufmann.[19]

      Hawks died in Santa Monica, California, of a respiratory illness, on January 10, 1969.[1]

      Croquet

      He was a member of the United States Croquet Association and was inducted posthumously into their Croquet Hall of Fame in 1981,[20] as was brother Howard in 1980.[21] He often played with actor George Sanders,[22] who was also a posthumous 1980 inductee.[23] Hawks most often played with a Jaques mallet,[20] as did Sanders.[23]

      Filmography

      References
      1. "Obituaries". Variety. Vol. 253, no. 9. Los Angeles. January 15, 1969. p. 94.
      2. Kidd, Charles (1986). "Howard Hawks and Mary Astor". Debrett Goes to Hollywood. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 67. ISBN 0-312-00588-1.
      3. Parsons, Louella O. (May 6, 1940). "Independent Signs Ronald Colman". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. p. 18.
      4. "Yale 'Tap Day' Brings Honors to Rowing Men". New York Tribune. New York, N.Y. May 18, 1923. p. 9.
      5. "Miss Esther Butterworth Married in Rose Garden". The New York Herald Tribune. New York, N.Y. June 10, 1925. p. 15.
      6. "New York's Smart Set". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. July 25, 1926. p. 76.
      7. "Helen Jenkins and E. C. Smith to Wed at Madison Aug. 19". New York Herald Tribune. New York, N.Y. July 18, 1926. p. 17.
      8. "Bessie Love to Marry: Screen Actress Announces Betrothal to William Hawks, Broker". The New York Times. New York, N.Y. November 13, 1929. p. 25.
      9. "Bessie Love Is Wed to William Hawks: Stars Are Bridesmaids at Marriage of Girl Who Made 'Comeback'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. December 28, 1929. p. 7.
      10. Peak, Mayme (December 16, 1929). "Christmas Chimes Will Be Followed by Wedding Bells in Land of the Movies". The Boston Globe. Boston, Mass. p. 23.
      11. "Hollywood News". New York Herald Tribune. May 6, 1940. p. 12.
      12. Love, Bessie (1977). From Hollywood with Love: An Autobiography of Bessie Love. London: Elm Tree Books. p. 125. OCLC 734075937.
      13. "Film Star Will Attend Bride at Hollywood Social Event". The Washington Post. Washington D.C. December 27, 1929. p. 1.
      14. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2008). Celebrities in the 1930 Census. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 978-0-7864-3411-4.
      15. Ellenberger, Allan R. (September 25, 2008). "Bessie Love in the 1930 Census". Hollywoodland.
      16. "Bessie Love's Former Husband Weds Actress". The Hartford Courant. June 29, 1938. p. 4.
      17. "Divorces". Billboard. Vol. 54, no. 46. November 14, 1942. p. 54.
      18. "Obituaries/Funeral Announcements". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. November 24, 1993. p. VCA16A.
      19. "Former Boston Debutante Wed to Film Writer". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. October 4, 1951. p. A14.
      20. "William 'Bill' Hawks". United States Croquet Association.
      21. "Howard Hawks". United States Croquet Association.
      22. Aronson, Harvey (September 3, 1966). "Wicket World". Newsday. Long Island, N.Y. p. 3W.
      23. "George Sanders". United States Croquet Association.
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