William B. Davidson
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting250
movieMae West and the Men Who Knew Her
1994
Self (archive footage)
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Judge Steps Out
1947
Colonel Bright (uncredited)
movieThat Hagen Girl
1947
Mr. Bowman (uncredited)
movieThat's My Man
1947
Steward
movieDick Tracy's Dilemma
1947
Peter Premium
movieMy Darling Clementine
1946
Saloon Owner (uncredited)
movieThe Cat Creeps
1946
James Walsh
movieDing Dong Williams
1946
Mr. Saul Dana
movieBlonde Alibi
1946
Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)
movieThe Notorious Lone Wolf
1946
Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)
movieThey Were Expendable
1945
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
movieSing Your Way Home
1945
F.T. Johnson (uncredited)
movieTell It to a Star
1945
Brannigan
Blonde Ransom
1945
Police Captain
movieDillinger
1945
Bank President (uncredited)
movieCircumstantial Evidence
1945
Board of Appeals Chairman
movieGreenwich Village
1944
Dance Director
movieIn Society
1944
Parker
movieMake Your Own Bed
1944
Mr. Linklater
movieA Night of Adventure
1944
Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)
movieShine on Harvest Moon
1944
Tim Donovan (uncredited)
movieUp in Arms
1944
Maxwell (uncredited)
movieOver the Wall
1943
Warden Ed
movieMurder on the Waterfront
1943
Capt. Towne
movieMission to Moscow
1943
Senator (uncredited)
movieCalaboose
1943
Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)
movieTruck Busters
1943
Stephen S. Gray
movieGentleman Jim
1942
Donovan (uncredited)
movieCareful, Soft Shoulders
1942
Mr. Aldrich
movieThe Magnificent Dope
1942
Mr. Reindel
movieThe Affairs of Martha
1942
Homer Jacell
movieIn This Our Life
1942
Jim Purdy
movieLarceny, Inc.
1942
McCarthy
movieThe Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
1942
Cyrus Ballard
movieThe Male Animal
1942
Alumnus
movieOver My Dead Body
1942
Crole (as William Davidson)
movieRemember the Day
1941
Committeeman
movieKeep 'Em Flying
1941
Gonigle
movieThe Great Man's Lady
1941
Sen. Knobs
movieThree Girls About Town
1941
Labor Leader
movieUncle Joe
1941
Mr. Day
movieWeek-End in Havana
1941
Captain Moss
movieSun Valley Serenade
1941
Jack Murray
movieHighway West
1941
Gorman
movieHold That Ghost
1941
Moose Matson
movieThree Sons o' Guns
1941
Henry Baxter
movieIn the Navy
1941
Capt. Richards (uncredited)
movieThieves Fall Out
1941
Harrison "Harry" Eckles
movieThe Lady from Cheyenne
1941
Nye Dunbar
movieMan-Made Monster
1941
District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley
movieSan Francisco Docks
1940
Dist. Atty. Craig
movieCharter Pilot
1940
Mr. Wentworth
movieA Night at Earl Carroll's
1940
Mayor Green of San Bernardino
movieLady with Red Hair
1940
Stock Company Manager (uncredited)
movieTin Pan Alley
1940
Hotel Manager
movieSandy Gets Her Man
1940
Councilman Charles J. Clark
movieSeven Sinners
1940
Police Chief
movieHired Wife
1940
Mumford (as William Davidson)
movieMaryland
1940
John Addison
movieSailor's Lady
1940
Judge Hinsdale
movieFlorian
1940
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
movieGirl in 313
1940
George Grayson
movieLillian Russell
1940
President Cleveland
movieOn Their Own
1940
Judge Bull
movieGranny Get Your Gun
1940
Fitzgerald
movieMy Little Chickadee
1940
Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)
movieInvisible Stripes
1939
Montgomery (uncredited)
moviePrivate Detective
1939
Inspector Evans
movieSmashing the Money Ring
1939
Warden Denby
movieHoneymoon in Bali
1939
Store Detective
movieDust Be My Destiny
1939
Work Farm Warden
movieHidden Power
1939
Foster
movieEach Dawn I Die
1939
Bill Mason
movieIndianapolis Speedway
1939
Duncan Martin
movieNaughty but Nice
1939
Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher
movieOn Trial
1939
Mr. Gray
movieThree Smart Girls Grow Up
1939
Stock Broker
movieBlondie Meets the Boss
1939
Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)
movieTail Spin
1939
Sales Manager (Uncredited)
movieOff the Record
1939
Scotty
movieIllegal Traffic
1938
Dalton
movieThere Goes My Heart
1938
Skipper Jackson (uncredited)
movieMr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
Ellory Bugs
movieLetter of Introduction
1938
Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)
movieRacket Busters
1938
Trucking Chairman (uncredited)
movieCowboy from Brooklyn
1938
Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey
movieBlockade
1938
Commandant
movieYou and Me
1938
N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited)
movieCocoanut Grove
1938
Hawtrey
movieHollywood Hotel
1938
Director Kelton
movieSergeant Murphy
1938
Maj. Gruff (uncredited)
movieLove on Toast
1937
Jonathan
movieThe Hurricane
1937
The Bully (uncredited)
movieSomething to Sing About
1937
Café Manager
movieBehind the Mike
1937
Cyrus Wittles
movieIt Happened in Hollywood
1937
Al Howard
movieParadise Isle
1937
Hoener
movieEasy Living
1937
Mr. Hyde
movieEver Since Eve
1937
Henderson
movieThe Road Back
1937
Bartscher
movieMelody for Two
1937
Mr. Hale
movieLet Them Live
1937
The Editor
movieMarked Woman
1937
Bob Crandall
movieMidnight Court
1937
Alfred H. Kruger
movieGold Diggers of 1937
1936
Andy Callahan
movieEarthworm Tractors
1936
Mr. Jackson
movieSatan Met a Lady
1936
City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)
movieThe Big Noise
1936
Welford Andrews
movieMurder by an Aristocrat
1936
Bayard Thatcher
movieFatal Lady
1936
Detective (uncredited)
movieThe Singing Kid
1936
Barney Hammond
movieRoad Gang
1936
Attorney General Mardsen
movieLove on a Bet
1936
A.W. Hutchinson
movieYou May Be Next!
1936
Official (uncredited)
movieDangerous
1935
Reed Walsh
movieShow Them No Mercy!
1935
Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)
movieIn Person
1935
Director Bill Sutter (uncredited)
movieSpecial Agent
1935
Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer
movieRedheads on Parade
1935
Theatre Manager
movieWoman Wanted
1935
Collins
movieOil for the Lamps of China
1935
E.H. Swaley
movieGo Into Your Dance
1935
Tom McGee
movieA Night at the Ritz
1935
Connolly
movieStraight from the Heart
1935
Prosecuting Attorney
movieDeath Flies East
1935
Police Captain Barrie
movieSweet Music
1935
Billie Madison
movieDevil Dogs of the Air
1935
Adjutant
movieBordertown
1935
Dr. Carter
movieThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head
1934
Charles (as William Davidson)
movieThe Secret Bride
1934
Representative McPherson
movieImitation of Life
1934
Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
movieThe St. Louis Kid
1934
Joe Hunter
movieHousewife
1934
Nan's Attorney
movieFriends of Mr. Sweeney
1934
Stephen Prime
movieFog Over Frisco
1934
Editor Joe Hogue
movieUpperworld
1934
City Editor (uncredited)
movieLaughing Boy
1934
Hartshone (as William Davidson)
movieThe Big Shakedown
1934
District Attorney (uncredited)
movieLady Killer
1933
Director Williams
movieFemale
1933
Department Head (Uncredited)
movieMeet the Baron
1933
General Broadcasting Representative
movieI'm No Angel
1933
Ernest Brown
movieTorch Singer
1933
Jarrett
movieThe Intruder
1933
Det. Lt. Samson
movieDangerously Yours
1933
George Carr
movieMystery of the Wax Museum
1933
Detective (Uncredited)
movieHello, Everybody!
1933
Mr. Parker
movieThe Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
Jim Lawrence
movieThe Animal Kingdom
1932
Chess Player (uncredited)
movieCentral Park
1932
Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
movieThe Sport Parade
1932
Kendricks (uncredited)
movieThe Pride of the Legion
1932
Sgt. Arnold
movieHer Mad Night
1932
District Attorney
movieThe Thirteenth Guest
1932
Police Captain Brown (uncredited)
movieIs My Face Red?
1932
O'Sullivan
movieScarface
1932
Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)
movieThe Lost Squadron
1932
Lelewer
movieSky Devils
1932
Captain
movieThe Menace
1932
John Utterson
Half Holiday
1931
Jerry - Andy's Pal
movieGraft
1931
M.H. Thomas
movieThe Secret Call
1931
Jim Blake
movieThe Vice Squad
1931
Magistrate Tom Morrison
movieHow I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'
1931
Himself - Golfer
movieCaptain Applejack
1931
Bill Dennett
movieNo Limit
1931
Wilkie
movieHook, Line and Sinker
1930
Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)
movieOh, for a Man!
1930
Kerry Stokes
movieHell's Angels
1930
Staff Major
movieSunny
1930
First Ship's Officer
movieThe Silver Horde
1930
Tom Hilliard
moviePlayboy of Paris
1930
Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)
movieThe Costello Case
1930
Saunders
movieScarlet Pages
1930
Jackson
movieFor the Defense
1930
Dist. Atty. Stone
movieMen Are Like That
1930
Frank Hyland
movieBlaze o' Glory
1929
District Attorney (as William Davidson)
movieAlways Faithful
1929
George W. Mason
movieWoman Trap
1929
Watts
movieQueen of the Night Clubs
1929
Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)
movieGood Morning, Judge
1928
Elton (as William Davidson)
movieA Gentleman of Paris
1927
Henri Dufour
movieCradle Snatchers
1927
Roy Ladd
movieThe Last Trail
1927
Kurt Morley
movieHearts and Spurs
1925
Victor Dufresne
movieRecompense
1925
Col. Donovan
movieWomen and Gold
1925
Señor Ortego
moviePorts of Call
1925
Randolph Sherman
movieThe Storm Daughter
1924
Rennert
movieAdam and Eva
1923
Dr. Delamater
movieNobody
1921
John Rossmore
movieThe Girl from Nowhere
1921
Jimmy Ryder
moviePartners of the Night
1920
Robert Clifford
movieThe Capitol
1919
Congressman Blake
movieLure of Ambition
1919
Hon. Cyril Ralston
movieImpossible Catherine
1919
John Henry Jackson
movieA Woman There Was
1919
Rev. Winthrop Stark
movieThe Gold Cure
1919
Michael Darcy
movieWhy I Would Not Marry
1918
Undetermined Role
movieIn Pursuit of Polly
1918
Larry O'Malley
movieFriend Husband
1918
John Sparr
movieOur Little Wife
1918
Dr. Elliott
movieHer Second Husband
1917
John Kirby
movieAmerican Maid
1917
David Starr
moviePersuasive Peggy
1917
Ed Trowbridge
movieThe Lifted Veil
1917
Malcolm Grant
movieThe Greatest Power
1917
John Conrad
movieLady Barnacle
1917
Krishna Dhwaj
movieThe Call of Her People
1917
Nicholas Van Kleet
movieA Magdalene of the Hills
1917
Bud Weaver
movieMary Lawson's Secret
1917
Dr. Brundage
movieThe White Raven
1917
The Stranger
movieIn the Diplomatic Service
1916
Lynn Hardi
movieThe Pretenders
1916
Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)
movieThe Child of Destiny
1916
Calvin Baker
movieDorian's Divorce
1916
Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)
movieThe Price of Malice
1916
Capt. Mills
Her Debt of Honor
1916
John Hartfield
movieA Yellow Streak
1915
Jack Rader
movieFor the Honor of the Crew
1915
Robert Brent