William B. Davidson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- 15 June 1888 · Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA
- Died
- 28 September 1947
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
Acting 249
- 1994Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her as Self (archive footage)
- 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? as Self (archive footage)
- 1947The Judge Steps Out as Colonel Bright (uncredited)
- 1947That Hagen Girl as Mr. Bowman (uncredited)
- 1947That's My Man as Steward
- 1947Dick Tracy's Dilemma as Peter Premium
- 1946The Plainsman and the Lady as Russell
- 1946My Darling Clementine as Saloon Owner (uncredited)
- 1946The Cat Creeps as James Walsh
- 1946Ding Dong Williams as Mr. Saul Dana
- 1946Blonde Alibi as Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)
- 1946The Notorious Lone Wolf as Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)
- 1945They Were Expendable as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
- 1945Sing Your Way Home as F.T. Johnson (uncredited)
- 1945Tell It to a Star as Brannigan
- 1945Blonde Ransom as Police Captain
- 1945Dillinger as Bank President (uncredited)
- 1945Circumstantial Evidence as Board of Appeals Chairman
- 1945The Man Who Walked Alone as Governor
- 1945See My Lawyer as Judge
- 1944Greenwich Village as Dance Director
- 1944In Society as Parker
- 1944Make Your Own Bed as Mr. Linklater
- 1944A Night of Adventure as Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)
- 1944Shine on Harvest Moon as Tim Donovan (uncredited)
- 1944Up in Arms as Maxwell (uncredited)
- 1943Over the Wall as Warden Ed
- 1943Murder on the Waterfront as Capt. Towne
- 1943The Good Fellows as Blake
- 1943Hers to Hold as Al
- 1943Mission to Moscow as Senator (uncredited)
- 1943Calaboose as Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)
- 1943Truck Busters as Stephen S. Gray
- 1942Gentleman Jim as Donovan (uncredited)
- 1942Careful, Soft Shoulders as Mr. Aldrich
- 1942The Magnificent Dope as Mr. Reindel
- 1942The Affairs of Martha as Homer Jacell
- 1942In This Our Life as Jim Purdy
- 1942Larceny, Inc. as McCarthy
- 1942The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine as Cyrus Ballard
- 1942The Male Animal as Alumnus
- 1942Over My Dead Body as Crole (as William Davidson)
- 1941Remember the Day as Committeeman
- 1941Keep 'Em Flying as Gonigle
- 1941The Great Man's Lady as Sen. Knobs
- 1941Three Girls About Town as Labor Leader
- 1941Uncle Joe as Mr. Day
- 1941Week-End in Havana as Captain Moss
- 1941Sun Valley Serenade as Jack Murray
- 1941Hold That Ghost as Moose Matson
- 1941Highway West as Gorman
- 1941Three Sons o' Guns as Henry Baxter
- 1941In the Navy as Capt. Richards (uncredited)
- 1941Thieves Fall Out as Harrison "Harry" Eckles
- 1941The Lady from Cheyenne as Nye Dunbar
- 1941Man-Made Monster as District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley
- 1940San Francisco Docks as Dist. Atty. Craig
- 1940Charter Pilot as Mr. Wentworth
- 1940A Night at Earl Carroll's as Mayor Green of San Bernardino
- 1940Lady with Red Hair as Stock Company Manager (uncredited)
- 1940Tin Pan Alley as Hotel Manager
- 1940Sandy Gets Her Man as Councilman Charles J. Clark
- 1940Seven Sinners as Police Chief
- 1940Hired Wife as Mumford (as William Davidson)
- 1940Maryland as John Addison
- 1940My Love Came Back as Agent
- 1940Sailor's Lady as Judge Hinsdale
- 1940Florian as Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- 1940Girl in 313 as George Grayson
- 1940Lillian Russell as President Cleveland
- 1940On Their Own as Judge Bull
- 1940Half a Sinner as Slick
- 1940Granny Get Your Gun as Fitzgerald
- 1940My Little Chickadee as Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)
- 1939Invisible Stripes as Montgomery (uncredited)
- 1939The Honeymoon's Over as Crane
- 1939Private Detective as Inspector Evans
- 1939Smashing the Money Ring as Warden Denby
- 1939Honeymoon in Bali as Store Detective
- 1939Dust Be My Destiny as Work Farm Warden
- 1939Hidden Power as Foster
- 1939Each Dawn I Die as Bill Mason
- 1939Indianapolis Speedway as Duncan Martin
- 1939Naughty but Nice as Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher
- 1939On Trial as Mr. Gray
- 1939Sudden Money as Sam
- 1939Three Smart Girls Grow Up as Stock Broker
- 1939Blondie Meets the Boss as Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)
- 1939Tail Spin as Sales Manager (Uncredited)
- 1939Blackwell's Island as Hempel
- 1939Off the Record as Scotty
- 1939They Made Me a Criminal as Ennis
- 1938Illegal Traffic as Dalton
- 1938There Goes My Heart as Skipper Jackson (uncredited)
- 1938Mr. Doodle Kicks Off as Ellory Bugs
- 1938Letter of Introduction as Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)
- 1938Racket Busters as Trucking Chairman (uncredited)
- 1938Cowboy from Brooklyn as Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey
- 1938Blockade as Commandant
- 1938You and Me as N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited)
- 1938Cocoanut Grove as Hawtrey
- 1938The Jury's Secret as Page
- 1938Hollywood Hotel as Director Kelton
- 1938Sergeant Murphy as Maj. Gruff (uncredited)
- 1937Love on Toast as Jonathan
- 1937The Hurricane as The Bully (uncredited)
- 1937Something to Sing About as Café Manager
- 1937Behind the Mike as Cyrus Wittles
- 1937It Happened in Hollywood as Al Howard
- 1937Paradise Isle as Hoener
- 1937Easy Living as Mr. Hyde
- 1937Ever Since Eve as Henderson
- 1937Marry the Girl as Drake
- 1937The Road Back as Bartscher
- 1937Melody for Two as Mr. Hale
- 1937Let Them Live as The Editor
- 1937Marked Woman as Bob Crandall
- 1937Midnight Court as Alfred H. Kruger
- 1936Gold Diggers of 1937 as Andy Callahan
- 1936Earthworm Tractors as Mr. Jackson
- 1936Satan Met a Lady as City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)
- 1936The Big Noise as Welford Andrews
- 1936Murder by an Aristocrat as Bayard Thatcher
- 1936Fatal Lady as Detective (uncredited)
- 1936The Singing Kid as Barney Hammond
- 1936Road Gang as Attorney General Mardsen
- 1936Love on a Bet as A.W. Hutchinson
- 1936You May Be Next! as Official (uncredited)
- 1935Dangerous as Reed Walsh
- 1935Show Them No Mercy! as Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)
- 1935In Person as Director Bill Sutter (uncredited)
- 1935Special Agent as Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer
- 1935Redheads on Parade as Theatre Manager
- 1935Woman Wanted as Collins
- 1935Oil for the Lamps of China as E.H. Swaley
- 1935Go Into Your Dance as Tom McGee
- 1935A Night at the Ritz as Connolly
- 1935Straight from the Heart as Prosecuting Attorney
- 1935Death Flies East as Police Captain Barrie
- 1935Sweet Music as Billie Madison
- 1935Devil Dogs of the Air as Adjutant
- 1935Bordertown as Dr. Carter
- 1934The Man Who Reclaimed His Head as Charles (as William Davidson)
- 1934The Secret Bride as Representative McPherson
- 1934Imitation of Life as Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
- 1934The St. Louis Kid as Joe Hunter
- 1934The Dragon Murder Case as Greeff
- 1934Housewife as Nan's Attorney
- 1934Friends of Mr. Sweeney as Stephen Prime
- 1934Fog Over Frisco as Editor Joe Hogue
- 1934Upperworld as City Editor (uncredited)
- 1934Laughing Boy as Hartshone (as William Davidson)
- 1934The Big Shakedown as District Attorney (uncredited)
- 1933Lady Killer as Director Williams
- 1933Female as Department Head (Uncredited)
- 1933Meet the Baron as General Broadcasting Representative
- 1933I'm No Angel as Ernest Brown
- 1933Torch Singer as Jarrett
- 1933How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action as Himself
- 1933The Intruder as Det. Lt. Samson
- 1933Dangerously Yours as George Carr
- 1933Mystery of the Wax Museum as Detective (Uncredited)
- 1933Hello, Everybody! as Mr. Parker
- 1933The Billion Dollar Scandal as Jim Lawrence
- 1932The Animal Kingdom as Chess Player (uncredited)
- 1932Central Park as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
- 1932Guilty or Not Guilty as Chief
- 1932The Sport Parade as Kendricks (uncredited)
- 1932The Pride of the Legion as Sgt. Arnold
- 1932Her Mad Night as District Attorney
- 1932The Most Dangerous Game as Captain
- 1932The Thirteenth Guest as Police Captain Brown (uncredited)
- 1932Is My Face Red? as O'Sullivan
- 1932Scarface as Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)
- 1932The Lost Squadron as Lelewer
- 1932Sky Devils as Captain
- 1932The Menace as John Utterson
- 1931Half Holiday as Jerry - Andy's Pal
- 1931Graft as M.H. Thomas
- 1931The Secret Call as Jim Blake
- 1931The Vice Squad as Magistrate Tom Morrison
- 1931Windy Riley Goes Hollywood
- 1931How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots' as Himself - Golfer
- 1931Dishonored
- 1931Captain Applejack as Bill Dennett
- 1931No Limit as Wilkie
- 1930Hook, Line and Sinker as Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)
- 1930Oh, for a Man! as Kerry Stokes
- 1930Hell's Angels as Staff Major
- 1930Sunny as First Ship's Officer
- 1930The Silver Horde as Tom Hilliard
- 1930Playboy of Paris as Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)
- 1930The Costello Case as Saunders
- 1930Scarlet Pages as Jackson
- 1930For the Defense as Dist. Atty. Stone
- 1930A Man from Wyoming as Major
- 1930Men Are Like That as Frank Hyland
- 1929Blaze o' Glory as District Attorney (as William Davidson)
- 1929Always Faithful as George W. Mason
- 1929Woman Trap as Watts
- 1929Queen of the Night Clubs as Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)
- 1929The Carnation Kid as Blythe
- 1928Sharp Tools
- 1928Good Morning, Judge as Elton (as William Davidson)
- 1927A Gentleman of Paris as Henri Dufour
- 1927Cradle Snatchers as Roy Ladd
- 1927The Last Trail as Kurt Morley
- 1925Hearts and Spurs as Victor Dufresne
- 1925Recompense as Col. Donovan
- 1925Women and Gold as Señor Ortego
- 1925Ports of Call as Randolph Sherman
- 1924The Valley of Doubt as Macy
- 1924The Storm Daughter as Rennert
- 1923Adam and Eva as Dr. Delamater
- 1922The Dumb-Bell
- 1921Nobody as John Rossmore
- 1921The Girl from Nowhere as Jimmy Ryder
- 1920Partners of the Night as Robert Clifford
- 1919The Capitol as Congressman Blake
- 1919Lure of Ambition as Hon. Cyril Ralston
- 1919Impossible Catherine as John Henry Jackson
- 1919La belle Russe as Brand
- 1919A Woman There Was as Rev. Winthrop Stark
- 1919The Gold Cure as Michael Darcy
- 1918Why I Would Not Marry as Undetermined Role
- 1918In Pursuit of Polly as Larry O'Malley
- 1918Ashes of Love
- 1918Friend Husband as John Sparr
- 1918Our Little Wife as Dr. Elliott
- 1917Her Second Husband as John Kirby
- 1917American Maid as David Starr
- 1917Persuasive Peggy as Ed Trowbridge
- 1917More Truth Than Poetry as Allen Danby
- 1917The Lifted Veil as Malcolm Grant
- 1917The Greatest Power as John Conrad
- 1917Lady Barnacle as Krishna Dhwaj
- 1917The Call of Her People as Nicholas Van Kleet
- 1917A Magdalene of the Hills as Bud Weaver
- 1917Mary Lawson's Secret as Dr. Brundage
- 1917The White Raven as The Stranger
- 1917A Modern Cinderella
- 1916In the Diplomatic Service as Lynn Hardi
- 1916The Pretenders as Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)
- 1916The Child of Destiny as Calvin Baker
- 1916Dorian's Divorce as Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)
- 1916The Price of Malice as Capt. Mills
- 1916Her Debt of Honor as John Hartfield
- 1915A Yellow Streak as Jack Rader
- 1915For the Honor of the Crew as Robert Brent