Orson Welles was an American filmmaker best known for his many box office failures. Welles was born to his mother, a concert pianist, and his father, an inventor, but was orphaned at age 15. Welles travelled throughout Europe after graduating high school, trying to break into stage acting. Welles first film was Citizen Kane, which, technically, was a commercial failure, but has garnered many films regardless. After Citizen Kane, Welles subsequent features were also failures and he banished himself to Europe. Despite having many, many box office failures, Orson Welles has received lifetime achievement awards which helped to bolster his reputation.