Welles, (George) Orson 1915-1985. US actor
and director. He produced a radio version of
H G Wells's novel The War of the Worlds 1938.
He then produced, directed, and starred in
Citizen Kane 1941, in which he used
innovative lighting techniques, camera angles
and movements, creating a landmark in the
history of cinema, yet he directed very few
films subsequently in Hollywood. His numerous
performances as an actor include the
character of Harry Lime in The Third Man
1949. In 1937 he founded the Mercury Theater,
New York, with John Houseman, where their
repertory productions included a modern-dress
version of Julius Caesar. The realistic radio
broadcast of H G Wells's The War of the
Worlds in 1938 caused panic and fear of
Martian invasion in the USA. He directed the
films The Magnificent Ambersons 1942, The
Lady From Shanghai 1948 with his wife Rita
Hayworth, Touch of Evil 1958 and Chimes at
Midnight 1967, a Shakespeare adaptation. As
his career declined he became a familiar
voice and face in US television commercials,
and made guest appearances on television
shows. A child prodigy, Welles made his
acting debut at 16 in Dublin and toured with
Katherine Cornell's company in the US.