Holt, Tim

See Eastern Oklahoma County for more about Tim Holt including census copies.

The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
December 23, 1972 page 1

Tim Holt In Hospital
Ex-Actor Fighting Cancer

Shawnee - Tim Holt...seriously ill in Shawnee Medical Center suffering from bone cancer...

The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 16, 1973 page 1, 2 (photo)

Tim Holt Dead

Former western movie actor Tim Holt died Thursday in Shawnee Memorial Hospital after a lengthy bout with cancer.

The 54 year old Holt's problem with the disease began last August when he began experiencing a great deal of pain. He was admitted to the hospital in late November.

Holt, whose movie career began in 1935 was noted for his portrayals in westerns, including "Stagecoach" with John Wayne and "My Darling Clementine" with Henry Fonda.

Of the approximately 130 pictures he made, he was probably best known for his role as an itinerant American searching for gold in Mexico in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre."

"I think 'Treasure' was his favorite role," his wife, the former Berdee Stephens, said "because of working with Humphrey Bogart and the two Hustons, Walter and John."

Holt was also known for an out-of-character role as a Nazi officer in "Hitler's Children" in 1943. The highly successful anti-Nazi picture was made shortly before Holt entered the U. S. Army Air corps.

He served in the South Pacific as a lieutenant and flew several missions over Japan as a bombardier on B-29s.

Holt was born in Hollywood and was the son of silent film western star Jack Holt. He came to Oklahoma in 1947 when "I met a girl who worked for the school board... and decided to stay here," he said.

He commuted back and forth to California until 1954 when he gave up motion pictures for good.

Holt was never known for his love of the limelight. "I never did feel there was anything mystic about Hollywood," he once said. "I never really did like it."

In recent years Holt, who made his home in Harrah, concentrated mainly on radio work in the Oklahoma City area, with occasional side trips to California to appear in television shows.

He originally started with KLPR AM in 1961 and went to KEBC AM last year as advertising manager.

Holt was elected to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and was a member of the Screen Actor's Guild.

Services are tentatively planned for 2 pm Monday at the Harrah United Methodist Church with burial in Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah directed by Wilson Funeral Home, Harrah.

Other survivors include three sons, Lance, Roseland, NY; and Jack and Jay, both of the home; a daughter, Bryanna, of the home, and a sister, Mrs. Jennifer Holt Cardinal, Santa Barbara, California.

The Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 20, 1973 page 7

Holt Funeral Quiet, Dignified

Tim Holt, the cowboy movie actor who shunned the limelight and chose the community of Harrah as his home, was buried in the cemetery there Monday. His funeral undoubtedly was one he would have approved of.

For two hours Monday afternoon, friends came to the United Methodist Church of Harrah to pay their respects. There was no fanfare, no sermon. There was no service.

In a room at the back of the sanctuary, Holt's wife, the former Berdee Stephens, surrounded by members of the family, greeted visitors.

Some of them then went to sit for a few minutes in the sanctuary, where Holt's body lay in a closed, flag draped coffin. The sanctuary was filled with sprays of flowers sent by friends and admirers...

It was Mrs. Holt's decision not to have a formal service.... He died Thursday, 10 days after reaching the age of 54...

When the casket was finally rolled out the door, Holt's wife, his three sons, Lance, Jack and Jay, his daughter, Bryanna, his sister, Mrs. Jennifer Cardinal, and other members of the family followed it slowly.

Only the family went to the cemetery.

Contributed by Marti Graham, November 2003. Information posted as courtesy to researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.