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