Joseph Cotten was born on May 15, 1905 in Petersburg, Virginia. On February 6, 1994 Joseph Cotten passed away in Westwood, California from pneumonia.

A Former stage and radio actor, one of Orson Welles' Mercury Players, followed his mentor to Hollywood and made his film debut in Welles' classic CITIZEN KANE.

Cotten's began to alternate leading roles with supporting parts in the 1950s, and eventually started making foreign-made crime dramas, horror movies, and Hollywood produced telefilms.

In the film RKO Joseph Cotten is portrayed by Angus Wright in 1999 (TV) and by Tim Robbins in MALICE IN WONDERLAND (1985-TV).

In the 1960s Joseph Cotten hosted and narrated the well-remembered TV series HOLLYWOOD AND THE STARS.

Joseph Cotten autobiography, Vanity Will Get You Somewhere, was published in 1987.