Orson Welles was an American actor, director, and writer, known for his remarkable contributions to theater, radio, and film. He had a troubled childhood; his father was an alcoholic, and his mother passed away when he was young. At the age of 11, he enrolled at Todd Seminary for Boys, where his teacher, Roger Hill, introduced him to drama. Soon after graduating, he traveled to the United Kingdom and auditioned for a role. He made his stage debut at 16, in Dublin, performing at the Gate Theatre.