William Haines was an American actor who is best known for Show People, Little Annie Rooney, and Are You Listening?. He was born Charles William Haines on January 2, 1900, in Staunton, Virginia, and passed away on December 26, 1973, in Santa Monica, California.
Personal and Family Life
William Haines left home as a teenager and moved to New York City, where he mingled with future Hollywood stars like Cary Grant and designer Orry-Kelly. He had a long-term relationship with Jimmie Shields that lasted 50 years. Despite his success in films, his career faced challenges due to his refusal to conform to MGM’s expectations regarding his personal life.
Career
Haines began his film career during the silent era and quickly became a major box-office draw, often competing with stars like Joan Crawford. However, his career declined in the early 1930s, particularly after a notable clash with MGM chief Louis B. Mayer over Haines’ sexuality and romantic relationship. After leaving MGM, he found success as an interior designer, working on projects for prominent figures and establishments.
Death and Legacy
William Haines died from lung cancer on December 26, 1973. His partner, Jimmie Shields, tragically took his own life just months after Haines’ death. Despite being an early advocate for LGBTQ acceptance in Hollywood, Haines’ contributions and story remain overlooked in many historical accounts.
Filmography
Title
Release Date
Character
Show People
1928-11-20
Billy Boone
The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929-11-23
Self
Free and Easy
1930-03-22
A Guest
West Point
1928-01-07
Brice Wayne
Little Annie Rooney
1925-10-18
Joe Kelly
Speedway
1929-10-07
Bill Whipple
Are You Listening?
1932-03-21
Bill Grimes
Young and Beautiful
1934-09-16
Robert Preston
The Marines Are Coming
1934-11-19
Lt. William ‘Wild Bill’ Traylor
Way Out West
1930-08-02
Windy
Remote Control
1930-11-15
William J. Brennan
Just a Gigolo
1931-06-06
Robert Brummel
Wine of Youth
1924-09-15
Hal Martin
The Smart Set
1928-03-24
Tommy Van Buren
Spring Fever
1927-10-22
Jack Kelly
The Girl Said No
1930-03-15
Tom Ward
Fast Life
1932-12-16
Sandy
Tell It to the Marines
1926-12-23
Private Skeet Burns
The Tower of Lies
1925-10-10
August
Navy Blues
1929-12-20
Jack Kelly
New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford
1931-10-03
Wallingford
Brown of Harvard
1926-05-02
Tom Brown
Three Weeks
1924-02-10
Curate
True As Steel
1924-04-20
Gilbert Morse
Three Wise Fools
1923-08-19
Gordon Schuyler
Souls for Sale
1923-04-22
Pinkey – Assistant Director
The Duke Steps Out
1929-03-19
Duke
Alias Jimmy Valentine
1928-11-15
Jimmy Valentine
Excess Baggage
1928-09-28
Eddie Kane
The Stolen Jools
1931-04-04
Bill Haines
Slide, Kelly, Slide
1927-03-12
Jim Kelly
1925 Studio Tour
1925-04-09
Self (uncredited)
A Little Journey
1927-01-01
George Manning
A Tailor-Made Man
1931-03-28
John Paul Bart
Telling the World
1928-06-30
Don Davis
A Slave of Fashion
1925-08-23
Dick Wayne
Sally, Irene and Mary
1925-12-27
Jimmy Dungan
The Midnight Express
1924-06-01
Jack Oakes
Memory Lane
1926-02-01
Joe Field
Circe the Enchantress
1924-10-06
William Craig
Out of the Closet, Off the Screen: The Life of William Haines
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