But Widmark played so many heavies early in his screen career that audiences had difficulty separating the man from the despicable characters he portrayed. (1954), Take the High Ground! ", After leaving Fox, Widmark's career continued to flourish. In 1929, her mother, a former actress turned interior decorator, married the lyricist and record producer Oscar Hammerstein II. I called him George. While trying to avoid playing more low-life villains, Widmark was offered what he once called this terrible, awful racist character in No Way Out, the 1950 film that marked the big-screen debut of Poitier as a doctor in a county hospital who must deal with Widmarks character. Baseball great Sandy Koufax was Widmark's son-in-law for the decade the Dodger was married to . Declining interviews, talk-show appearances and such, Widmark lived a quiet life until his death on March 24, 2008, after complications from a fall. Richard Widmark, who died on March 24, 2008 aged 93, was nominated for an Oscar for his first film, Kiss of Death. (1975), Murder on the Orient Express Met Gala 2023 looks: See photos of the show-stopping red carpet arrivals #inline-recirc-item--id-9e9d05a2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-9e9d05a2-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d { (1968), The Way West But it is the insane laugh and curled lip that everyone remembers. //