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William B. Davidson

Acting 59 (deceased) years old Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA ★ 0.4
Born: June 15, 1888
Died: September 28, 1947

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William B. Davidson (June 16, 1888 – September 28, 1947) was an American film actor.

Davidson attended Columbia University where he played football. He became a popular football star. This fame eventually led to his foray into motion pictures after he had spent some time as a lawyer. He started in films in 1914 with Vitagraph and supported well known stage and film actresses such as Ethel Barrymore, Mabel Taliaferro, Charlotte Walker, Olga Petrova, Viola Dana, June Caprice, Edna Goodrich, and Mae West. He appeared in 318 films between 1915 and 1949.

He was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and died in Santa Monica, California. His first Hollywood film was For the Honor of the Crew. Afterward, he appeared in many films, his best-known role was perhaps the Ship's captain in The Most Dangerous Game. He remained in show business until his sudden death after surgery in 1947.

Filmography

Acting Credits (250)

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her Self (archive footage) 1994
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? Self (archive footage) 1975
MGM Parade
MGM Parade 1955
The Judge Steps Out
The Judge Steps Out Colonel Bright (uncredited) 1947
That Hagen Girl
That Hagen Girl Mr. Bowman (uncredited) 1947
That's My Man
That's My Man Steward 1947
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
Dick Tracy's Dilemma Peter Premium 1947
The Plainsman and the Lady
The Plainsman and the Lady Russell 1946
My Darling Clementine
My Darling Clementine Saloon Owner (uncredited) 1946
The Cat Creeps
The Cat Creeps James Walsh 1946
Ding Dong Williams
Ding Dong Williams Mr. Saul Dana 1946
Blonde Alibi
Blonde Alibi Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited) 1946
The Notorious Lone Wolf
The Notorious Lone Wolf Inspector Crane (as William Davidson) 1946
They Were Expendable
They Were Expendable Hotel Manager (uncredited) 1945
Sing Your Way Home
Sing Your Way Home F.T. Johnson 1945
Tell It to a Star
Tell It to a Star Brannigan 1945
Blonde Ransom
Blonde Ransom Police Captain 1945
Dillinger
Dillinger Bank President (uncredited) 1945
Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial Evidence Board of Appeals Chairman 1945
The Man Who Walked Alone
The Man Who Walked Alone Governor 1945
See My Lawyer
See My Lawyer Judge 1945
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village Dance Director 1944
In Society
In Society Parker 1944
Make Your Own Bed
Make Your Own Bed Mr. Linklater 1944
A Night of Adventure
A Night of Adventure Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited) 1944
Shine on Harvest Moon
Shine on Harvest Moon Tim Donovan (uncredited) 1944
Up in Arms
Up in Arms Maxwell (uncredited) 1944
Over the Wall
Over the Wall Warden Ed 1943
Murder on the Waterfront
Murder on the Waterfront Capt. Towne 1943
The Good Fellows
The Good Fellows Blake 1943
Hers to Hold
Hers to Hold Al 1943
Mission to Moscow
Mission to Moscow Senator (uncredited) 1943
Calaboose
Calaboose Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson) 1943
Truck Busters
Truck Busters Stephen S. Gray 1943
Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim Donovan (uncredited) 1942
Careful, Soft Shoulders
Careful, Soft Shoulders Mr. Aldrich 1942
The Magnificent Dope
The Magnificent Dope Mr. Reindel 1942
The Affairs of Martha
The Affairs of Martha Homer Jacell 1942
In This Our Life
In This Our Life Jim Purdy 1942
Larceny, Inc.
Larceny, Inc. McCarthy 1942
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine Cyrus Ballard 1942
The Male Animal
The Male Animal Alumnus 1942
Over My Dead Body
Over My Dead Body Crole (as William Davidson) 1942
Remember the Day
Remember the Day Committeeman 1941
Keep 'Em Flying
Keep 'Em Flying Gonigle 1941
The Great Man's Lady
The Great Man's Lady Sen. Knobs 1941
Three Girls About Town
Three Girls About Town Labor Leader 1941
Uncle Joe
Uncle Joe Mr. Day 1941
Week-End in Havana
Week-End in Havana Captain Moss 1941
Sun Valley Serenade
Sun Valley Serenade Jack Murray 1941
Highway West
Highway West Gorman 1941
Hold That Ghost
Hold That Ghost Moose Matson 1941
Three Sons o' Guns
Three Sons o' Guns Henry Baxter 1941
In the Navy
In the Navy Capt. Richards (uncredited) 1941
Thieves Fall Out
Thieves Fall Out Harrison "Harry" Eckles 1941
The Lady from Cheyenne
The Lady from Cheyenne Nye Dunbar 1941
Man-Made Monster
Man-Made Monster District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley 1941
San Francisco Docks
San Francisco Docks Dist. Atty. Craig 1940
Charter Pilot
Charter Pilot Mr. Wentworth 1940
A Night at Earl Carroll's
A Night at Earl Carroll's Mayor Green of San Bernardino 1940
Lady with Red Hair
Lady with Red Hair Stock Company Manager (uncredited) 1940
Tin Pan Alley
Tin Pan Alley Hotel Manager 1940
Sandy Gets Her Man
Sandy Gets Her Man Councilman Charles J. Clark 1940
Seven Sinners
Seven Sinners Police Chief 1940
Hired Wife
Hired Wife Mumford (as William Davidson) 1940
Maryland
Maryland John Addison 1940
My Love Came Back
My Love Came Back Agent 1940
Sailor's Lady
Sailor's Lady Judge Hinsdale 1940
Florian
Florian Archduke Franz Ferdinand 1940
Girl in 313
Girl in 313 George Grayson 1940
Lillian Russell
Lillian Russell President Cleveland 1940
On Their Own
On Their Own Judge Bull 1940
Half a Sinner
Half a Sinner Slick 1940
Granny Get Your Gun
Granny Get Your Gun Fitzgerald 1940
My Little Chickadee
My Little Chickadee Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited) 1940
Invisible Stripes
Invisible Stripes Montgomery (uncredited) 1939
The Honeymoon's Over
The Honeymoon's Over Crane 1939
Private Detective
Private Detective Inspector Evans 1939
Smashing the Money Ring
Smashing the Money Ring Warden Denby 1939
Honeymoon in Bali
Honeymoon in Bali Store Detective 1939
Dust Be My Destiny
Dust Be My Destiny Work Farm Warden 1939
Hidden Power
Hidden Power Foster 1939
Each Dawn I Die
Each Dawn I Die Bill Mason 1939
Indianapolis Speedway
Indianapolis Speedway Duncan Martin 1939
Naughty But Nice
Naughty But Nice Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher 1939
On Trial
On Trial Mr. Gray 1939
Sudden Money
Sudden Money Sam 1939
Three Smart Girls Grow Up
Three Smart Girls Grow Up Stock Broker 1939
Blondie Meets the Boss
Blondie Meets the Boss Elderly Man in Café (uncredited) 1939
Tail Spin
Tail Spin Sales Manager (Uncredited) 1939
Blackwell's Island
Blackwell's Island Hempel 1939
They Made Me a Criminal
They Made Me a Criminal Ennis 1939
Off the Record
Off the Record Scotty 1939
Illegal Traffic
Illegal Traffic Dalton 1938
There Goes My Heart
There Goes My Heart Skipper Jackson (uncredited) 1938
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off Ellory Bugs 1938
Letter of Introduction
Letter of Introduction Mr. Raleigh (uncredited) 1938
Racket Busters
Racket Busters Trucking Chairman (uncredited) 1938
Cowboy from Brooklyn
Cowboy from Brooklyn Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey 1938
Blockade
Blockade Commandant 1938
You and Me
You and Me N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited) 1938
Cocoanut Grove
Cocoanut Grove Hawtrey 1938
The Jury's Secret
The Jury's Secret Page 1938
Hollywood Hotel
Hollywood Hotel Director Kelton 1938
Sergeant Murphy
Sergeant Murphy Maj. Gruff (uncredited) 1938
Love on Toast
Love on Toast Jonathan 1937
The Hurricane
The Hurricane The Bully (uncredited) 1937
Something to Sing About
Something to Sing About Mr. Richards (as William Davidson) 1937
Behind the Mike
Behind the Mike Cyrus Wittles 1937
It Happened in Hollywood
It Happened in Hollywood Al Howard 1937
Paradise Isle
Paradise Isle Hoener 1937
Easy Living
Easy Living Mr. Hyde 1937
Ever Since Eve
Ever Since Eve Henderson 1937
Marry the Girl
Marry the Girl Drake 1937
The Road Back
The Road Back Bartscher 1937
Melody for Two
Melody for Two Mr. Hale 1937
Let Them Live
Let Them Live The Editor 1937
Marked Woman
Marked Woman Bob Crandall 1937
Midnight Court
Midnight Court Alfred H. Kruger 1937
Gold Diggers of 1937
Gold Diggers of 1937 Andy Callahan 1936
Earthworm Tractors
Earthworm Tractors Mr. Jackson 1936
Satan Met a Lady
Satan Met a Lady City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited) 1936
The Big Noise
The Big Noise Welford Andrews 1936
Murder by an Aristocrat
Murder by an Aristocrat Bayard Thatcher 1936
Fatal Lady
Fatal Lady Detective (uncredited) 1936
The Singing Kid
The Singing Kid Barney Hammond 1936
Road Gang
Road Gang Attorney General Mardsen 1936
Love on a Bet
Love on a Bet A.W. Hutchinson 1936
You May Be Next!
You May Be Next! Official (uncredited) 1936
Dangerous
Dangerous Reed Walsh 1935
Show Them No Mercy!
Show Them No Mercy! Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson) 1935
In Person
In Person Director Bill Sutter (uncredited) 1935
Special Agent
Special Agent Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer 1935
Redheads on Parade
Redheads on Parade Theatre Manager 1935
Woman Wanted
Woman Wanted Collins 1935
Oil for the Lamps of China
Oil for the Lamps of China E.H. Swaley 1935
Go Into Your Dance
Go Into Your Dance Tom McGee 1935
A Night at the Ritz
A Night at the Ritz Connolly 1935
Straight from the Heart
Straight from the Heart Prosecuting Attorney 1935
Death Flies East
Death Flies East Police Captain Barrie 1935
Sweet Music
Sweet Music Billie Madison 1935
Devil Dogs of the Air
Devil Dogs of the Air Adjutant 1935
Bordertown
Bordertown Dr. Carter 1935
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head Charles (as William Davidson) 1934
The Secret Bride
The Secret Bride Representative McPherson 1934
Imitation of Life
Imitation of Life Man Buying Cigar (uncredited) 1934
The St. Louis Kid
The St. Louis Kid Joe Hunter 1934
The Dragon Murder Case
The Dragon Murder Case Greeff 1934
Housewife
Housewife Nan's Attorney 1934
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Friends of Mr. Sweeney Stephen Prime 1934
Fog Over Frisco
Fog Over Frisco Editor Joe Hogue 1934
Upperworld
Upperworld City Editor (uncredited) 1934
Laughing Boy
Laughing Boy Hartshone (as William Davidson) 1934
The Big Shakedown
The Big Shakedown District Attorney (uncredited) 1934
Lady Killer
Lady Killer Director Williams 1933
Female
Female Department Head (Uncredited) 1933
Meet the Baron
Meet the Baron General Broadcasting Representative 1933
I'm No Angel
I'm No Angel Ernest Brown 1933
Torch Singer
Torch Singer Jarrett 1933
How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action
How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action Himself 1933
The Intruder
The Intruder Det. Lt. Samson 1933
Dangerously Yours
Dangerously Yours George Carr 1933
Mystery of the Wax Museum
Mystery of the Wax Museum Detective (Uncredited) 1933
Hello, Everybody!
Hello, Everybody! Mr. Parker 1933
The Billion Dollar Scandal
The Billion Dollar Scandal Jim Lawrence 1933
The Animal Kingdom
The Animal Kingdom Chess Player 1932
Central Park
Central Park Police Lieutenant (uncredited) 1932
Guilty or Not Guilty
Guilty or Not Guilty Chief 1932
The Sport Parade
The Sport Parade Kendricks (uncredited) 1932
The Pride of the Legion
The Pride of the Legion Sgt. Arnold 1932
Her Mad Night
Her Mad Night District Attorney 1932
The Most Dangerous Game
The Most Dangerous Game Captain 1932
The Thirteenth Guest
The Thirteenth Guest Police Captain Brown (uncredited) 1932
Is My Face Red?
Is My Face Red? O'Sullivan 1932
Scarface
Scarface Citizens Committee Member (uncredited) 1932
The Lost Squadron
The Lost Squadron Lelewer 1932
Sky Devils
Sky Devils Captain 1932
The Menace
The Menace John Utterson 1932
Half Holiday
Half Holiday Jerry - Andy's Pal 1931
Graft
Graft M.H. Thomas 1931
The Secret Call
The Secret Call Jim Blake 1931
The Vice Squad
The Vice Squad Magistrate Tom Morrison 1931
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood 1931
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots' Himself - Golfer 1931
Dishonored
Dishonored 1931
Captain Applejack
Captain Applejack Bill Dennett 1931
No Limit
No Limit Wilkie 1931
Hook, Line and Sinker
Hook, Line and Sinker Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson) 1930
Oh, for a Man!
Oh, for a Man! Kerry Stokes 1930
Hell's Angels
Hell's Angels Staff Major 1930
Sunny
Sunny First Ship's Officer 1930
The Silver Horde
The Silver Horde Tom Hilliard 1930
Playboy of Paris
Playboy of Paris Monsieur Bannack (uncredited) 1930
The Costello Case
The Costello Case Saunders 1930
Scarlet Pages
Scarlet Pages Jackson 1930
For the Defense
For the Defense Dist. Atty. Stone 1930
A Man from Wyoming
A Man from Wyoming Major 1930
Men Are Like That
Men Are Like That Frank Hyland 1930
Blaze o' Glory
Blaze o' Glory District Attorney (as William Davidson) 1929
Always Faithful
Always Faithful George W. Mason 1929
Woman Trap
Woman Trap Watts 1929
Queen of the Night Clubs
Queen of the Night Clubs Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson) 1929
The Carnation Kid
The Carnation Kid Blythe 1929
Sharp Tools
Sharp Tools 1928
Good Morning, Judge
Good Morning, Judge Elton (as William Davidson) 1928
A Gentleman of Paris
A Gentleman of Paris Henri Dufour 1927
Cradle Snatchers
Cradle Snatchers Roy Ladd 1927
The Last Trail
The Last Trail Kurt Morley 1927
Hearts and Spurs
Hearts and Spurs Victor Dufresne 1925
Recompense
Recompense Col. Donovan 1925
Women and Gold
Women and Gold Señor Ortego 1925
Ports of Call
Ports of Call Randolph Sherman 1925
The Valley of Doubt
The Valley of Doubt Macy 1924
The Storm Daughter
The Storm Daughter Rennert 1924
Adam and Eva
Adam and Eva Dr. Delamater 1923
The Dumb-Bell
The Dumb-Bell 1922
Nobody
Nobody John Rossmore 1921
The Girl from Nowhere
The Girl from Nowhere Jimmy Ryder 1921
Partners of the Night
Partners of the Night Robert Clifford 1920
The Capitol
The Capitol Congressman Blake 1919
Lure of Ambition
Lure of Ambition Hon. Cyril Ralston 1919
Impossible Catherine
Impossible Catherine John Henry Jackson 1919
La belle Russe
La belle Russe Brand 1919
A Woman There Was
A Woman There Was Rev. Winthrop Stark 1919
The Gold Cure
The Gold Cure Michael Darcy 1919
Why I Would Not Marry
Why I Would Not Marry Undetermined Role 1918
In Pursuit of Polly
In Pursuit of Polly Larry O'Malley 1918
Ashes of Love
Ashes of Love 1918
Friend Husband
Friend Husband John Sparr 1918
Our Little Wife
Our Little Wife Dr. Elliott 1918
Her Second Husband
Her Second Husband John Kirby 1917
American Maid
American Maid David Starr 1917
Persuasive Peggy
Persuasive Peggy Ed Trowbridge 1917
More Truth Than Poetry
More Truth Than Poetry Allen Danby 1917
The Lifted Veil
The Lifted Veil Malcolm Grant 1917
The Greatest Power
The Greatest Power John Conrad 1917
Lady Barnacle
Lady Barnacle Krishna Dhwaj 1917
The Call of Her People
The Call of Her People Nicholas Van Kleet 1917
A Magdalene of the Hills
A Magdalene of the Hills Bud Weaver 1917
Mary Lawson's Secret
Mary Lawson's Secret Dr. Brundage 1917
The White Raven
The White Raven The Stranger 1917
A Modern Cinderella
A Modern Cinderella 1917
In the Diplomatic Service
In the Diplomatic Service Lynn Hardi 1916
The Pretenders
The Pretenders Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson) 1916
The Child of Destiny
The Child of Destiny Calvin Baker 1916
Dorian's Divorce
Dorian's Divorce Henry Morgan (as William Davidson) 1916
The Price of Malice
The Price of Malice Capt. Mills 1916
Her Debt of Honor
Her Debt of Honor John Hartfield 1916
A Yellow Streak
A Yellow Streak Jack Rader 1915
For the Honor of the Crew
For the Honor of the Crew Robert Brent 1915

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