William Haines - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I was born to a middle class family in Stanton, Virginia on January 2, 1900. I often claim my birthdate is January 1, 1900 and since there is no birth record for me this is hard to disprove! As a teenager I took a job in a dynamite factory and it was there that I opened my very first "dance hall" -- hence beginning my life of gay debauchery! It wasn't long before I moved to New York City and was "discovered" on the streets by a talent scout. It was here that I also met the love of my life, Jimmie Shields.
Once I was discovered in NYC, I soon moved to Los Angeles and started work in movies in 1922. It wasn't until 1926's Brown Of Harvard that made William Haines a household name! I was soon dubbed "The Wisecracker" and often played cocky, but loveable, youths who always got the girl in the end. I had a string of hit movies in the late 1920s including Tell It To The Marines (1926), Slide, Kelley, Slide (1927), West Point (1928), and the ever-popular Show People (1928). When sound came in in 1928, I was the very first MGM star to speak in a film. That film was the partial-talkie Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928).
From Speedway (1929), my last silent film.

My Interests

Decorating, hanging out with my upper-class fag hags, throwing upscale parties, being a social snob, acting in movies, sinning, critiquing your bad taste, tearing you down with my sharp wit.

I'd like to meet:

Sound didn't harm my career -- at first. I was voted the most popular movie star of 1930 and audiences still couldn't get enough of my "Wisecracker" persona, even though it came off as obnoxious in the sound era. I think my movie mistake came in late 1930 with the film Way Out West. It was unlike any role I had ever played and it had overtly gay undertones. I don't think 1930 was ready for such a film and it was the first William Haines movie to not make a profit. By this time, the Depression was beginning to tighten and people were more conservative than ever. My "Wisecracker" was not appreciated at this time.
I tried my hand at more serious roles. Just A Gigolo (1931), New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford (1931), and Are You Listening? (1931) in which I murder my wife, were all changes of pace for me. But audiences did not want to see me in these kinds of roles. All the movies lost money. Are You Listening? was a Robert Mongomery reject, whom MGM was grooming to take my place. He was my one true rival in Hollywood.
My movie career officially ended in 1934 with the establishment of the Production Code. Mr. Mayer told me to either marry a woman or tear up my contract. I chose the latter. I wasn't about to give up whom I loved most -- Jimmie Shields! That was okay, though. I soon started my Interior Decorating business; a business that welcomed gays. I stayed in this business for the rest of my life, earning more money, success, and adulation that my movie career ever gave me. Friends like Joan Crawford made sure I always had work!
It turned out to be a good life. And I got the last laugh. I died happy and rich on December 26, 1973. My lover of almost 50 years, Jimmie Shields, took his own life in early 1974, stating "it's no fun without Billy." We are together even in death. Happy.
From my very first talkie Navy Blues (1929).

Movies:

The Marines Are Coming (1934),Young and Beautiful (1934),Fast Life (1932),Are You Listening? (1932),New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford (1931), Just a Gigolo (1931),A Tailor Made Man (1931),Remote Control (1930),Way Out West (1930),The Girl Said No (1930),Navy Blues (1929),Speedway (1929),A Man's Man (1929),The Duke Steps Out (1929), Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928),Show People (1928),Excess Baggage (1928),Telling the World (1928),The Smart Set (1928),West Point (1928),Spring Fever (1927),Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927),A Little Journey (1927),Tell It to the Marines (1926),Lovey Mary (1926),Brown of Harvard (1926),Memory Lane (1926),The Thrill Hunter (1926),Mike (1926),Sally, Irene and Mary (1925),Little Annie Rooney (1925),The Tower of Lies (1925),Fighting the Flames (1925),A Slave of Fashion (1925),The Denial (1925),Who Cares (1925),A Fool and His Money (1925),The Wife of the Centaur (1924),So This Is Marriage? (1924), Circe, the Enchantress (1924),Wine of Youth (1924), The Gaiety Girl (1924), The Midnight Express (1924), True As Steel (1924),Three Weeks (1924), Three Wise Fools (1923),Souls for Sale (1923),Lost and Found on a South Sea Island (1923), Brothers Under the Skin (1922)

Television:

I enjoy Turner Classic Movies these days. Where else can you see mine and other fabulous films?

Books:

Heroes:

Miss Joan Crawford, my darling "Cranberry", has been there for me since day one and has supported everything I've ever done. How could such a strong woman NOT be my hero? Here's to you, Joan!