Orson Welles was a producer.
Citizen Kane is a 1941 American mystery drama film by Orson Welles , its producer , co-screenwriter , director and star . George Orson Welles ( [ ˈwɛlz ] May 6 , 1915 -- October 10 , 1985 ) was an American actor , director , writer , and producer who worked in theatre , radio , and film . His first film was Citizen Kane ( 1941 ) , which he co-wrote , produced , directed , and starred in as Charles Foster Kane . Welles followed up Citizen Kane with 12 other feature films , the most acclaimed of which include The Magnificent Ambersons ( 1942 ) , Touch of Evil ( 1958 ) , and Chimes at Midnight ( 1966 ) .