BILL HOLDEN KEPT ONE SECRET TO THE VERY END

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000302720002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 19, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/20: CIA-RDP90-00552R000302720002-7
ARSICLY
ON ?Ana
BALTIMORE SUN
19 August 1983
STAT
B i 11 Ilolden the actress. "Get him over here." he CIA connection. Shortly after
Michael Klassman flew from Los Mr.TKlassman began treating William
Angeles to the island of Hawaii. Holden for alcoholism, the psycholo-
Producer Irwin Allen asked him { gist was visited at his Beverly Hills
not to identify himself to Mr. Holden office by two well-dressed, fully
kept one secret for fear of upsetting him, and for the credentialed men from the federal
first two days, Mr. Klassman merely ' government. They explained that Mr.
observed on the movie set. By the . Holden was a public figure who had
t o the very end third day he had made his conclusion: performed certain international eer-
William Holden was in a severe stage ' vices for the United States, and they
of alcoholism. Mr. Klassman's over- inquired about Mr. Klassman's as. whelming impression was not that sociation'with him. Mr, Klassman ex.
Mr. Holden seemed to be a roaring plained he was a licensed marriage,
be
Golden Boy drunk, but that he was a "little boy family and .dilld counselor, -and treatment of
The untold story of William Holden lost?0 outlined his proposed
Mr. Klassman s relationship with t .the actor's drinking problem. The
While he was filming "The Day the World Bill Holden remained casual for, the government men seemed satisfied,
Ended" in 1980, it was obvious that William ' remaining two weeks at the Hawaii and they leis
Holden was becoming dangerous not only to location. The company returned to Bill Holden maintained big secrecy
himself but to those around him A of onlylo- -Hollywood for additional sequences on governmental ymatters during tbe'
gist was hired and Mr. Holden continued to at the Burbank Studios and MGM months of
see him after the filming. Two government Mr. Klassman remained on the set "I'm telling you Intimacies that I
to observe Mr. Holden. have never shared with anyone," Bill
agents visited the psychologist's once and One morning, a second assistant . Holden often told Mr. Klassman. But
explained that Mr. Holden "had performed
certain international services for the United director- whispered to assistant direr-
for Andy Stone: "I think we've got a drunk or sober -and Mr. Klassman
States," of which he should not speak during ;problem with Bill Holden." Mr. Stone -saw him both wars - Bill Holden
therapy. r Mr. Hilden's death in Novem- ? never talked about the CIA. On a few
ber, 1981, , director Billy Wilder commented: went to Mr. Holden 's motor home and occasions he mentioned memories
" .. To be killed by a bottle of vodka and a found him totally drunk that seemed to cause him great pain.
night table - what a lousy fadeout for, a Mr. Klassman stepped forward, He spoke of being in the Congo and
telling producer Allen and director witnessing the beheading of two black
great guy... Goldstone: "I won't continue unless leaders he had headi He started to
? you let me take over. This man is a mention a tragedy in Kuala Lumpur,
By Bob Thomas danger to himself and to the rest of then said, "But I can't talk about
Production for "The Day the World Ended" ; the company. He must be hospitalized that"
(1980) began at Kona on the island of Hawaii. - now." He had traveled to countries of
Congenial during the social times, Bill Hold- On the first night at St. John's de-
Asia and Africa before they were ap-
en seemed tentative and uneasy on the movie toxification unit in Santa Monica, Mr. proved for American tourists, and'
locations. His morale leaped when actress Stefa- Klassman identified himself to Mr. was able to meet heads of state wher-
nie Powers arrived in Hawaii. Holden, fearing the star would rage ever he went It seemed logical that
After she returned to California, the actor about being spied upon. Instead, Bill e could have the caroler of that
seemed to withdraw into himself, cloaked in Holden merely grinned. "You're he inform have ion. But Bill carrier of was
melancholy. His fellow workers Jacqueline Bis- good," he said. "You know what I'm too much o patriot i divulge such
set and Paul Newman feared he wanted to re- i ;about, don't you?" things to anyone. Mr. Klassman be-a to
turn to his condominium and drink. When Miss "Supposing I had walked up to you lieved that the hoarding of those pain-
Bisset saw Bill Holden in a bar with a glass of ; in Hawaii," Mr. Klassman said, "and ful secrets contributed to the actor's
wine in his hand, her heart sank ' I had said, 'Hi, I'm Michael Klass- unrest
His drinking worsened. He spent hours alone man. I'm a psychologist and drug The therapy sessions began after
in his dressing room. When he emerged,'e was counselor, and I'm here toy help you.' the conclusion of sessions
Day tWorld
uncharacteristically loud and boisterous. He ar. What would you have said?" the and co " ed ay the intensely rod
rived on time and knew his lines but his diction Go -' yourself."' Po y
- "That's what I thought." the next four - months, s radicall
was blun-ed, , his movements unsure. One day Bill Holden consented to go into thereafter. The pair met at Bill Hold-
when the company was filming atop a cliff, Bill "I'll . en's Palm Springs house and some-
Holden playfully pushed two of the actors to. therapy with Mr. Klassman. tell times talked for 16 hours at a time.
ward the brink. No one fell, but the incident sob- you right now there are certain areas In their early sessions, Mr. Holden
ered everyone present, except him. of my life that I can't talk about," he was indeed elusive. Mr. Klassman
Director James Goldstone grew increasingly said to Mr. Klassmau at the outset of learned to recognize the star's "auto-
concerned, not only for the progress of the pro- their therapy sessions. "Over the matic face," the one he could flash so
duction but for the safety of the actor and other years I have done certain things, per- winningly in movie roles and elev -
formed certain missions for the gov- sion interviews. During their encoun-
members of the company. Ava Ready, who was ernment that are so secret that I
playing a role in the film, told d the director about ters in Palm Springs, the therapist
can't talk about them to anyone, even purposely worked long hours, realiz-
a seling and the treatment of alcoholics and drug you. So don't ask me." ing that be needed to break down the
addicts. He was Michael Jay Klassman, a psy. barriers that Mr. Holden had created
chologist and therapist who was also an expert during a lifetime of denial. Often the
in psychodrama and had conducted perform- breakthrough came at 3 in the morn-
ances in Los Angeles theate's. thg
"Call him," the desperate Mr. Goldstone told _CQNTXVLWD'
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/20: CIA-RDP90-00552R000302720002-7