Claim: Orson Welles was a thespian.

Charles Foster Kane is a fictional character and the subject of Orson Welles ' 1941 film Citizen Kane . The character is widely believed to be based on publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst . Welles played Kane -LRB- receiving an Oscar nomination -RRB- , with Buddy Swan playing Kane as a child . Welles also produced , co-wrote and directed the film .