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