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.
Movie | Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her | Self (archive footage) | 1994-08-09 |
Movie | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) | 1975-08-06 |
Movie | Dick Tracy's Dilemma | Peter Premium | 1947-05-20 |
Movie | That's My Man | Steward | 1947-06-01 |
Movie | That Hagen Girl | Mr. Bowman (uncredited) | 1947-11-01 |
Movie | The Judge Steps Out | Colonel Bright (uncredited) | 1947-12-15 |
Movie | The Notorious Lone Wolf | Inspector Crane (as William Davidson) | 1946-02-14 |
Movie | Blonde Alibi | Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited) | 1946-03-01 |
Movie | Ding Dong Williams | Mr. Saul Dana | 1946-04-15 |
Movie | The Plainsman and the Lady | Russell | 1946-11-11 |
Movie | My Darling Clementine | Saloon Owner (uncredited) | 1946-10-17 |
Movie | The Cat Creeps | James Walsh | 1946-05-17 |
Movie | The Man Who Walked Alone | Governor | 1945-03-15 |
Movie | See My Lawyer | Judge | 1945-03-09 |
Movie | Circumstantial Evidence | Board of Appeals Chairman | 1945-04-20 |
Movie | Tell It to a Star | Brannigan | 1945-08-16 |
Movie | They Were Expendable | Hotel Manager (uncredited) | 1945-12-07 |
Movie | Sing Your Way Home | F.T. Johnson | 1945-11-14 |
Movie | A Night of Adventure | Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited) | 1944-06-02 |
Movie | Make Your Own Bed | Mr. Linklater | 1944-06-10 |
Movie | Up in Arms | Maxwell (uncredited) | 1944-02-17 |
Movie | Greenwich Village | Dance Director | 1944-09-27 |
Movie | In Society | Parker | 1944-08-16 |
Movie | Calaboose | Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson) | 1943-01-29 |
Movie | Truck Busters | Stephen S. Gray | 1943-01-28 |
Movie | Hers to Hold | Al | 1943-07-16 |
Movie | Mission to Moscow | Senator (uncredited) | 1943-04-29 |
Movie | Murder on the Waterfront | Capt. Towne | 1943-09-18 |
Movie | The Good Fellows | Blake | 1943-08-11 |
Movie | Over the Wall | Warden Ed | 1943-12-25 |
Movie | The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine | Cyrus Ballard | 1942-03-27 |
Movie | Over My Dead Body | Crole (as William Davidson) | 1942-01-15 |
Movie | Larceny, Inc. | McCarthy | 1942-04-24 |
Movie | The Male Animal | Alumnus | 1942-03-12 |
Movie | The Magnificent Dope | Mr. Reindel | 1942-07-01 |
Movie | In This Our Life | Jim Purdy | 1942-05-08 |
Movie | Careful, Soft Shoulders | Mr. Aldrich | 1942-09-18 |
Movie | Gentleman Jim | Donovan (uncredited) | 1942-11-14 |
Movie | The Affairs of Martha | Homer Jacell | 1942-06-21 |
Movie | Three Sons o' Guns | Henry Baxter | 1941-08-02 |
Movie | Highway West | Gorman | 1941-08-07 |
Movie | In the Navy | Capt. Richards (uncredited) | 1941-05-30 |
Movie | Hold That Ghost | Moose Matson | 1941-08-08 |
Movie | The Lady from Cheyenne | Nye Dunbar | 1941-04-11 |
Movie | Thieves Fall Out | Harrison "Harry" Eckles | 1941-05-03 |
Movie | Man-Made Monster | District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley | 1941-03-28 |
Movie | Keep 'Em Flying | Gonigle | 1941-11-27 |
Movie | Remember the Day | Committeeman | 1941-12-25 |
Movie | The Great Man's Lady | Sen. Knobs | 1941-10-31 |
Movie | Sun Valley Serenade | Jack Murray | 1941-08-29 |
Movie | Week-End in Havana | Captain Moss | 1941-10-17 |
Movie | Uncle Joe | Mr. Day | 1941-10-18 |
Movie | Three Girls About Town | Labor Leader | 1941-10-23 |
Movie | Lillian Russell | President Cleveland | 1940-05-24 |
Movie | Florian | Archduke Franz Ferdinand | 1940-06-05 |
Movie | On Their Own | Judge Bull | 1940-05-17 |
Movie | Girl in 313 | George Grayson | 1940-05-31 |
Movie | Granny Get Your Gun | Fitzgerald | 1940-02-10 |
Movie | Sailor's Lady | Judge Hinsdale | 1940-07-05 |
Movie | My Little Chickadee | Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited) | 1940-02-09 |
Movie | Half a Sinner | Slick | 1940-04-05 |
Movie | My Love Came Back | Agent | 1940-07-13 |
Movie | Tin Pan Alley | Hotel Manager | 1940-11-29 |
Movie | Lady with Red Hair | Stock Company Manager (uncredited) | 1940-11-30 |
Movie | San Francisco Docks | Dist. Atty. Craig | 1940-12-25 |
Movie | Sandy Gets Her Man | Councilman Charles J. Clark | 1940-11-08 |
Movie | Charter Pilot | Mr. Wentworth | 1940-12-06 |
Movie | Seven Sinners | Police Chief | 1940-10-25 |
Movie | Hired Wife | Mumford (as William Davidson) | 1940-09-13 |
Movie | Maryland | John Addison | 1940-07-19 |
Movie | Sudden Money | Sam | 1939-03-31 |
Movie | Blondie Meets the Boss | Elderly Man in Café (uncredited) | 1939-03-08 |
Movie | Three Smart Girls Grow Up | Stock Broker | 1939-03-24 |
Movie | Blackwell's Island | Hempel | 1939-01-24 |
Movie | On Trial | Mr. Gray | 1939-04-01 |
Movie | They Made Me a Criminal | Ennis | 1939-01-21 |
Movie | Off the Record | Scotty | 1939-01-21 |
Movie | Tail Spin | Sales Manager (Uncredited) | 1939-02-19 |
Movie | Each Dawn I Die | Bill Mason | 1939-08-19 |
Movie | Smashing the Money Ring | Warden Denby | 1939-10-21 |
Movie | Invisible Stripes | Montgomery (uncredited) | 1939-12-30 |
Movie | Naughty But Nice | Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher | 1939-06-23 |
Movie | Honeymoon in Bali | Store Detective | 1939-09-29 |
Movie | Private Detective | Inspector Evans | 1939-12-09 |
Movie | Dust Be My Destiny | Work Farm Warden | 1939-09-16 |
Movie | Indianapolis Speedway | Duncan Martin | 1939-08-05 |
Movie | When Tomorrow Comes | Army Captain | 1939-08-11 |
Movie | You and Me | N.G. Borton, Attorney-at-Law | 1938-06-01 |
Movie | Cocoanut Grove | Hawtrey | 1938-05-20 |
Movie | Hollywood Hotel | Director Kelton | 1938-01-15 |
Movie | Blockade | Commandant | 1938-06-17 |
Movie | Sergeant Murphy | Maj. Gruff (uncredited) | 1938-01-01 |
Movie | The Jury's Secret | Page | 1938-01-16 |
Movie | Racket Busters | Trucking Chairman (uncredited) | 1938-07-16 |
Movie | Cowboy from Brooklyn | Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey | 1938-07-09 |
Movie | Illegal Traffic | Dalton | 1938-11-02 |
Movie | There Goes My Heart | Skipper Jackson (uncredited) | 1938-10-14 |
Movie | Mr. Doodle Kicks Off | Ellory Bugs | 1938-10-07 |
Movie | Letter of Introduction | Mr. Raleigh (uncredited) | 1938-08-05 |
Movie | The Road Back | Bartscher | 1937-06-01 |
Movie | Marry the Girl | Drake | 1937-07-13 |
Movie | Melody for Two | Mr. Hale | 1937-05-01 |
Movie | Ever Since Eve | Henderson | 1937-07-15 |
Movie | Marked Woman | Bob Crandall | 1937-04-10 |
Movie | Let Them Live | The Editor | 1937-04-25 |
Movie | Midnight Court | Alfred H. Kruger | 1937-03-06 |
Movie | Love on Toast | Jonathan | 1937-12-03 |
Movie | Easy Living | Mr. Hyde | 1937-07-16 |
Movie | Something to Sing About | Mr. Richards (as William Davidson) | 1937-09-30 |
Movie | The Hurricane | Abusive Drunk (uncredited) | 1937-11-09 |
Movie | Behind the Mike | Cyrus Wittles | 1937-09-26 |
Movie | It Happened in Hollywood | Al Howard | 1937-09-07 |
Movie | Paradise Isle | Hoener | 1937-07-21 |
Movie | The Singing Kid | Barney Hammond | 1936-04-10 |
Movie | Road Gang | Attorney General Mardsen | 1936-03-28 |
Movie | Love on a Bet | A.W. Hutchinson | 1936-03-06 |
Movie | You May Be Next! | Official (uncredited) | 1936-02-05 |
Movie | Fatal Lady | Detective (uncredited) | 1936-05-15 |
Movie | Murder by an Aristocrat | Bayard Thatcher (as William Davidson) | 1936-06-13 |
Movie | Earthworm Tractors | Mr. Jackson | 1936-07-24 |
Movie | Satan Met a Lady | City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited) | 1936-07-22 |
Movie | Gold Diggers of 1937 | Andy Callahan | 1936-12-28 |
Movie | The Big Noise | Welford Andrews | 1936-06-22 |
Movie | A Night at the Ritz | Connolly | 1935-03-23 |
Movie | Go Into Your Dance | Tom McGee | 1935-04-20 |
Movie | Death Flies East | Police Captain Barrie | 1935-02-28 |
Movie | Sweet Music | Billie Madison | 1935-02-23 |
Movie | Oil for the Lamps of China | E.H. Swaley | 1935-06-08 |
Movie | Bordertown | Dr. Carter | 1935-01-23 |
Movie | Devil Dogs of the Air | Adjutant | 1935-02-09 |
Movie | Dangerous | Reed Walsh | 1935-12-25 |
Movie | Woman Wanted | Collins | 1935-08-02 |
Movie | In Person | Director Bill Sutter | 1935-11-22 |
Movie | Show Them No Mercy! | Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson) | 1935-12-06 |
Movie | Special Agent | Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer | 1935-09-14 |
Movie | Redheads on Parade | Theatre Manager | 1935-09-07 |
Movie | Friends of Mr. Sweeney | Stephen Prime | 1934-07-28 |
Movie | Fog Over Frisco | Editor Joe Hogue | 1934-06-02 |
Movie | Laughing Boy | Hartshone (as William Davidson) | 1934-04-13 |
Movie | Housewife | Nan's Attorney | 1934-08-11 |
Movie | Upperworld | City Editor (uncredited) | 1934-04-28 |
Movie | The Big Shakedown | District Attorney (uncredited) | 1934-01-06 |
Movie | The Dragon Murder Case | Greeff | 1934-08-25 |
Movie | The Secret Bride | Representative McPherson | 1934-12-22 |
Movie | The Man Who Reclaimed His Head | Charles (as William Davidson) | 1934-12-24 |
Movie | Imitation of Life | Man Buying Cigar (uncredited) | 1934-11-23 |
Movie | The St. Louis Kid | Joe Hunter | 1934-11-10 |
Movie | The Intruder | Det. Lt. Samson | 1933-03-13 |
Movie | Mystery of the Wax Museum | Detective (Uncredited) | 1933-02-18 |
Movie | The Billion Dollar Scandal | Jim Lawrence | 1933-01-06 |
Movie | Hello, Everybody! | Mr. Parker | 1933-02-17 |
Movie | How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action | Himself | 1933-06-23 |
Movie | Torch Singer | Jarrett | 1933-09-08 |
Movie | Lady Killer | Director Williams | 1933-12-09 |
Movie | Female | Department Head (Uncredited) | 1933-11-11 |
Movie | Meet the Baron | General Broadcasting Representative | 1933-10-20 |
Movie | I'm No Angel | Ernest Brown | 1933-10-06 |
Movie | The Most Dangerous Game | Captain | 1932-09-16 |
Movie | The Thirteenth Guest | Police Captain Brown (Uncredited) | 1932-08-09 |
Movie | Scarface | Citizens Committee Member (uncredited) | 1932-04-09 |
Movie | The Menace | John Utterson | 1932-01-29 |
Movie | Sky Devils | Captain | 1932-03-12 |
Movie | The Lost Squadron | Lelewer | 1932-03-12 |
Movie | Is My Face Red? | O'Sullivan | 1932-06-17 |
Movie | The Animal Kingdom | Chess Player | 1932-12-28 |
Movie | Her Mad Night | District Attorney | 1932-10-12 |
Movie | Guilty or Not Guilty | Chief | 1932-11-15 |
Movie | Central Park | Police Lieutenant (uncredited) | 1932-12-10 |
Movie | The Sport Parade | Kendricks (uncredited) | 1932-11-11 |
Movie | The Pride of the Legion | Sgt. Arnold | 1932-10-17 |
Movie | How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots' | Himself - Golfer | 1931-04-26 |
Movie | Dishonored | 1931-04-04 | |
Movie | No Limit | Wilkie | 1931-01-15 |
Movie | Windy Riley Goes Hollywood | 1931-05-02 | |
Movie | Captain Applejack | Bill Dennett | 1931-01-31 |
Movie | The Vice Squad | Magistrate Tom Morrison | 1931-05-29 |
Movie | Graft | M.H. Thomas | 1931-09-21 |
Movie | Half Holiday | Jerry - Andy's Pal | 1931-12-13 |
Movie | The Secret Call | Jim Blake | 1931-07-24 |
Movie | Scarlet Pages | Jackson | 1930-09-27 |
Movie | For the Defense | Dist. Atty. Stone | 1930-07-19 |
Movie | Men Are Like That | Frank Hyland | 1930-03-22 |
Movie | The Costello Case | Saunders | 1930-10-14 |
Movie | A Man from Wyoming | Major | 1930-07-12 |
Movie | The Silver Horde | Tom Hilliard | 1930-10-24 |
Movie | Hook, Line and Sinker | Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson) | 1930-12-26 |
Movie | Playboy of Paris | Monsieur Bannack (uncredited) | 1930-10-18 |
Movie | Oh, for a Man! | Kerry Stokes | 1930-11-28 |
Movie | Hell's Angels | Staff Major | 1930-11-15 |
Movie | Sunny | First Ship's Officer | 1930-11-09 |
Movie | Queen of the Night Clubs | Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson) | 1929-03-23 |
Movie | Woman Trap | Watts | 1929-09-28 |
Movie | The Carnation Kid | Blythe | 1929-03-02 |
Movie | Always Faithful | George W. Mason | 1929-12-29 |
Movie | Blaze o' Glory | District Attorney (as William Davidson) | 1929-12-30 |
Movie | Good Morning, Judge | Elton (as William Davidson) | 1928-04-29 |
Movie | Sharp Tools | 1928-09-12 | |
Movie | Cradle Snatchers | Roy Ladd | 1927-05-28 |
Movie | The Last Trail | Kurt Morley | 1927-01-23 |
Movie | A Gentleman of Paris | Henri Dufour | 1927-09-30 |
Movie | Recompense | Col. Donovan | 1925-04-26 |
Movie | Ports of Call | Randolph Sherman | 1925-01-04 |
Movie | Hearts and Spurs | Victor Dufresne | 1925-06-07 |
Movie | Adam and Eva | Dr. Delamater | 1923-02-11 |
Movie | The Dumb-Bell | 1922-07-16 | |
Movie | Partners of the Night | Robert Clifford | 1920-02-29 |
Movie | A Woman There Was | Rev. Winthrop Stark | 1919-06-01 |
Movie | Impossible Catherine | John Henry Jackson | 1919-10-05 |
Movie | Lure of Ambition | Hon. Cyril Ralston | 1919-11-16 |
Movie | The Capitol | Congressman Blake | 1919-12-01 |
Movie | Ashes of Love | 1918-08-15 | |
Movie | In Pursuit of Polly | Larry O'Malley | 1918-08-19 |
Movie | Why I Would Not Marry | Undetermined Role | 1918-11-24 |
Movie | The White Raven | The Stranger | 1917-01-14 |
Movie | A Modern Cinderella | 1917-01-08 | |
Movie | Mary Lawson's Secret | Dr. Brundage | 1917-04-01 |
Movie | The Call of Her People | Nicholas Van Kleet | 1917-05-27 |
Movie | The Lifted Veil | Malcolm Grant | 1917-09-10 |
Movie | The Greatest Power | John Conrad | 1917-06-18 |
Movie | Her Debt of Honor | John Hartfield | 1916-01-26 |
Movie | Dorian's Divorce | Henry Morgan (as William Davidson) | 1916-06-05 |
Movie | The Pretenders | Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson) | 1916-08-21 |
Movie | In the Diplomatic Service | Lynn Hardi | 1916-10-16 |
Movie | For the Honor of the Crew | Robert Brent | 1915-11-09 |
Movie | A Yellow Streak | Jack Rader | 1915-12-06 |