William B. Davidson

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.

Known For

MGM Parade

Scarface

My Darling Clementine

Hook, Line and Sinker

The Most Dangerous Game

They Were Expendable

Marked Woman

You and Me

All Movies (249)

• Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her1994 · as Self (archive footage)
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Judge Steps Out1947 · as Colonel Bright (uncredited)
• That Hagen Girl1947 · as Mr. Bowman (uncredited)
• That's My Man1947 · as Steward
• Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947 · as Peter Premium
• The Plainsman and the Lady1946 · as Russell
• My Darling Clementine1946 · as Saloon Owner (uncredited)
• The Cat Creeps1946 · as James Walsh
• Ding Dong Williams1946 · as Mr. Saul Dana
• Blonde Alibi1946 · as Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)
• The Notorious Lone Wolf1946 · as Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)
• They Were Expendable1945 · as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
• Sing Your Way Home1945 · as F.T. Johnson (uncredited)
• Tell It to a Star1945 · as Brannigan
• Blonde Ransom1945 · as Police Captain
• Dillinger1945 · as Bank President (uncredited)
• Circumstantial Evidence1945 · as Board of Appeals Chairman
• The Man Who Walked Alone1945 · as Governor
• See My Lawyer1945 · as Judge
• Greenwich Village1944 · as Dance Director
• In Society1944 · as Parker
• Make Your Own Bed1944 · as Mr. Linklater
• A Night of Adventure1944 · as Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)
• Shine on Harvest Moon1944 · as Tim Donovan (uncredited)
• Up in Arms1944 · as Maxwell (uncredited)
• Over the Wall1943 · as Warden Ed
• Murder on the Waterfront1943 · as Capt. Towne
• The Good Fellows1943 · as Blake
• Hers to Hold1943 · as Al
• Mission to Moscow1943 · as Senator (uncredited)
• Calaboose1943 · as Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)
• Truck Busters1943 · as Stephen S. Gray
• Gentleman Jim1942 · as Donovan (uncredited)
• Careful, Soft Shoulders1942 · as Mr. Aldrich
• The Magnificent Dope1942 · as Mr. Reindel
• The Affairs of Martha1942 · as Homer Jacell
• In This Our Life1942 · as Jim Purdy
• Larceny, Inc.1942 · as McCarthy
• The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine1942 · as Cyrus Ballard
• The Male Animal1942 · as Alumnus
• Over My Dead Body1942 · as Crole (as William Davidson)
• Remember the Day1941 · as Committeeman
• Keep 'Em Flying1941 · as Gonigle
• The Great Man's Lady1941 · as Sen. Knobs
• Three Girls About Town1941 · as Labor Leader
• Uncle Joe1941 · as Mr. Day
• Week-End in Havana1941 · as Captain Moss
• Sun Valley Serenade1941 · as Jack Murray
• Highway West1941 · as Gorman
• Hold That Ghost1941 · as Moose Matson
• Three Sons o' Guns1941 · as Henry Baxter
• In the Navy1941 · as Capt. Richards (uncredited)
• Thieves Fall Out1941 · as Harrison "Harry" Eckles
• The Lady from Cheyenne1941 · as Nye Dunbar
• Man-Made Monster1941 · as District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley
• San Francisco Docks1940 · as Dist. Atty. Craig
• Charter Pilot1940 · as Mr. Wentworth
• A Night at Earl Carroll's1940 · as Mayor Green of San Bernardino
• Lady with Red Hair1940 · as Stock Company Manager (uncredited)
• Tin Pan Alley1940 · as Hotel Manager
• Sandy Gets Her Man1940 · as Councilman Charles J. Clark
• Seven Sinners1940 · as Police Chief
• Hired Wife1940 · as Mumford (as William Davidson)
• Maryland1940 · as John Addison
• My Love Came Back1940 · as Agent
• Sailor's Lady1940 · as Judge Hinsdale
• Florian1940 · as Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Girl in 3131940 · as George Grayson
• Lillian Russell1940 · as President Cleveland
• On Their Own1940 · as Judge Bull
• Half a Sinner1940 · as Slick
• Granny Get Your Gun1940 · as Fitzgerald
• My Little Chickadee1940 · as Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)
• Invisible Stripes1939 · as Montgomery (uncredited)
• The Honeymoon's Over1939 · as Crane
• Private Detective1939 · as Inspector Evans
• Smashing the Money Ring1939 · as Warden Denby
• Honeymoon in Bali1939 · as Store Detective
• Dust Be My Destiny1939 · as Work Farm Warden
• Hidden Power1939 · as Foster
• Each Dawn I Die1939 · as Bill Mason
• Indianapolis Speedway1939 · as Duncan Martin
• Naughty But Nice1939 · as Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher
• On Trial1939 · as Mr. Gray
• Sudden Money1939 · as Sam
• Three Smart Girls Grow Up1939 · as Stock Broker
• Blondie Meets the Boss1939 · as Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)
• Tail Spin1939 · as Sales Manager (Uncredited)
• Blackwell's Island1939 · as Hempel
• They Made Me a Criminal1939 · as Ennis
• Off the Record1939 · as Scotty
• Illegal Traffic1938 · as Dalton
• There Goes My Heart1938 · as Skipper Jackson (uncredited)
• Mr. Doodle Kicks Off1938 · as Ellory Bugs
• Letter of Introduction1938 · as Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)
• Racket Busters1938 · as Trucking Chairman (uncredited)
• Cowboy from Brooklyn1938 · as Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey
• Blockade1938 · as Commandant
• You and Me1938 · as N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited)
• Cocoanut Grove1938 · as Hawtrey
• The Jury's Secret1938 · as Page
• Hollywood Hotel1938 · as Director Kelton
• Sergeant Murphy1938 · as Maj. Gruff (uncredited)
• Love on Toast1937 · as Jonathan
• The Hurricane1937 · as The Bully (uncredited)
• Something to Sing About1937 · as Mr. Richards (as William Davidson)
• Behind the Mike1937 · as Cyrus Wittles
• It Happened in Hollywood1937 · as Al Howard
• Paradise Isle1937 · as Hoener
• Easy Living1937 · as Mr. Hyde
• Ever Since Eve1937 · as Henderson
• Marry the Girl1937 · as Drake
• The Road Back1937 · as Bartscher
• Melody for Two1937 · as Mr. Hale
• Let Them Live1937 · as The Editor
• Marked Woman1937 · as Bob Crandall
• Midnight Court1937 · as Alfred H. Kruger
• Gold Diggers of 19371936 · as Andy Callahan
• Earthworm Tractors1936 · as Mr. Jackson
• Satan Met a Lady1936 · as City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)
• The Big Noise1936 · as Welford Andrews
• Murder by an Aristocrat1936 · as Bayard Thatcher
• Fatal Lady1936 · as Detective (uncredited)
• The Singing Kid1936 · as Barney Hammond
• Road Gang1936 · as Attorney General Mardsen
• Love on a Bet1936 · as A.W. Hutchinson
• You May Be Next!1936 · as Official (uncredited)
• Dangerous1935 · as Reed Walsh
• Show Them No Mercy!1935 · as Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)
• In Person1935 · as Director Bill Sutter (uncredited)
• Special Agent1935 · as Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer
• Redheads on Parade1935 · as Theatre Manager
• Woman Wanted1935 · as Collins
• Oil for the Lamps of China1935 · as E.H. Swaley
• Go Into Your Dance1935 · as Tom McGee
• A Night at the Ritz1935 · as Connolly
• Straight from the Heart1935 · as Prosecuting Attorney
• Death Flies East1935 · as Police Captain Barrie
• Sweet Music1935 · as Billie Madison
• Devil Dogs of the Air1935 · as Adjutant
• Bordertown1935 · as Dr. Carter
• The Man Who Reclaimed His Head1934 · as Charles (as William Davidson)
• The Secret Bride1934 · as Representative McPherson
• Imitation of Life1934 · as Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
• The St. Louis Kid1934 · as Joe Hunter
• The Dragon Murder Case1934 · as Greeff
• Housewife1934 · as Nan's Attorney
• Friends of Mr. Sweeney1934 · as Stephen Prime
• Fog Over Frisco1934 · as Editor Joe Hogue
• Upperworld1934 · as City Editor (uncredited)
• Laughing Boy1934 · as Hartshone (as William Davidson)
• The Big Shakedown1934 · as District Attorney (uncredited)
• Lady Killer1933 · as Director Williams
• Female1933 · as Department Head (Uncredited)
• Meet the Baron1933 · as General Broadcasting Representative
• I'm No Angel1933 · as Ernest Brown
• Torch Singer1933 · as Jarrett
• How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action1933 · as Himself
• The Intruder1933 · as Det. Lt. Samson
• Dangerously Yours1933 · as George Carr
• Mystery of the Wax Museum1933 · as Detective (Uncredited)
• Hello, Everybody!1933 · as Mr. Parker
• The Billion Dollar Scandal1933 · as Jim Lawrence
• The Animal Kingdom1932 · as Chess Player
• Central Park1932 · as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
• Guilty or Not Guilty1932 · as Chief
• The Sport Parade1932 · as Kendricks (uncredited)
• The Pride of the Legion1932 · as Sgt. Arnold
• Her Mad Night1932 · as District Attorney
• The Most Dangerous Game1932 · as Captain
• The Thirteenth Guest1932 · as Police Captain Brown (uncredited)
• Is My Face Red?1932 · as O'Sullivan
• Scarface1932 · as Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)
• The Lost Squadron1932 · as Lelewer
• Sky Devils1932 · as Captain
• The Menace1932 · as John Utterson
• Half Holiday1931 · as Jerry - Andy's Pal
• Graft1931 · as M.H. Thomas
• The Secret Call1931 · as Jim Blake
• The Vice Squad1931 · as Magistrate Tom Morrison
• Windy Riley Goes Hollywood1931
• How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'1931 · as Himself - Golfer
• Dishonored1931
• Captain Applejack1931 · as Bill Dennett
• No Limit1931 · as Wilkie
• Hook, Line and Sinker1930 · as Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)
• Oh, for a Man!1930 · as Kerry Stokes
• Hell's Angels1930 · as Staff Major
• Sunny1930 · as First Ship's Officer
• The Silver Horde1930 · as Tom Hilliard
• Playboy of Paris1930 · as Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)
• The Costello Case1930 · as Saunders
• Scarlet Pages1930 · as Jackson
• For the Defense1930 · as Dist. Atty. Stone
• A Man from Wyoming1930 · as Major
• Men Are Like That1930 · as Frank Hyland
• Blaze o' Glory1929 · as District Attorney (as William Davidson)
• Always Faithful1929 · as George W. Mason
• Woman Trap1929 · as Watts
• Queen of the Night Clubs1929 · as Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)
• The Carnation Kid1929 · as Blythe
• Sharp Tools1928
• Good Morning, Judge1928 · as Elton (as William Davidson)
• A Gentleman of Paris1927 · as Henri Dufour
• Cradle Snatchers1927 · as Roy Ladd
• The Last Trail1927 · as Kurt Morley
• Hearts and Spurs1925 · as Victor Dufresne
• Recompense1925 · as Col. Donovan
• Women and Gold1925 · as Señor Ortego
• Ports of Call1925 · as Randolph Sherman
• The Valley of Doubt1924 · as Macy
• The Storm Daughter1924 · as Rennert
• Adam and Eva1923 · as Dr. Delamater
• The Dumb-Bell1922
• Nobody1921 · as John Rossmore
• The Girl from Nowhere1921 · as Jimmy Ryder
• Partners of the Night1920 · as Robert Clifford
• The Capitol1919 · as Congressman Blake
• Lure of Ambition1919 · as Hon. Cyril Ralston
• Impossible Catherine1919 · as John Henry Jackson
• La belle Russe1919 · as Brand
• A Woman There Was1919 · as Rev. Winthrop Stark
• The Gold Cure1919 · as Michael Darcy
• Why I Would Not Marry1918 · as Undetermined Role
• In Pursuit of Polly1918 · as Larry O'Malley
• Ashes of Love1918
• Friend Husband1918 · as John Sparr
• Our Little Wife1918 · as Dr. Elliott
• Her Second Husband1917 · as John Kirby
• American Maid1917 · as David Starr
• Persuasive Peggy1917 · as Ed Trowbridge
• More Truth Than Poetry1917 · as Allen Danby
• The Lifted Veil1917 · as Malcolm Grant
• The Greatest Power1917 · as John Conrad
• Lady Barnacle1917 · as Krishna Dhwaj
• The Call of Her People1917 · as Nicholas Van Kleet
• A Magdalene of the Hills1917 · as Bud Weaver
• Mary Lawson's Secret1917 · as Dr. Brundage
• The White Raven1917 · as The Stranger
• A Modern Cinderella1917
• In the Diplomatic Service1916 · as Lynn Hardi
• The Pretenders1916 · as Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)
• The Child of Destiny1916 · as Calvin Baker
• Dorian's Divorce1916 · as Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)
• The Price of Malice1916 · as Capt. Mills
• Her Debt of Honor1916 · as John Hartfield
• A Yellow Streak1915 · as Jack Rader
• For the Honor of the Crew1915 · as Robert Brent

All TV Shows (1)

• MGM Parade1955