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William Tannen

William Tannen

Known For Acting
Birthday Nov 17, 1911
Died Dec 02, 1976 (65)
Birthplace New York City, New York, USA
Popularity 0.3 (history)
Updated Jul 30, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Leg ... end of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian as Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp. Tannen was also cast as Gyp Clements in the 1955 episode "The Buntline Special" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Beginning on September 11, 1956, in the second season of the series, with the setting moved from Wichita to Dodge City, Kansas, Tannen filled the Hal Norton role. His earliest episodes were "Fight or Run", "The Double Life of Dora Hand" and "Clay Allison", the latter two based on historical figures, the saloon singer and actor Dora Hand and the gunfighter Clay Allison. Some of his appearances were uncredited. His last credited role was "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" (May 6, 1958), with Myron Healey as the frontier gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday. His last uncredited roles aired thereafter in May and June 1958, "Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson", based on the historical figure Ben Thompson played by Denver Pyle, "Frame-up", and "My Husband". He was cast as Ike Clanton, not on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, but in the 1964 episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. Jim Davis portrayed Wyatt Earp in this particular episode. Tannen appeared twice, one role uncredited in Davis' earlier syndicated western series, Stories of the Century, including the role of Dutch Charlie in "Milt Sharp", the story of the stagecoach robber Milt Sharp.

Known For

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Filmography

Hero and the Terror

Hero and the Terror

1988

as Civil Engineer

Batman

Batman

1966

as American Delegate (uncredited)

Noose for a Gunman

Noose for a Gunman

1960

as Willetts

The Return of Dracula

The Return of Dracula

1958

as Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)

Touch of Evil

Touch of Evil

1958

as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)

Gun Duel In Durango

Gun Duel In Durango

1957

as Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)

A Hatful of Rain

A Hatful of Rain

1957

as Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)

Blackjack Ketchum Desperado

Blackjack Ketchum Desperado

1956

as Dee Havalik

The First Texan

The First Texan

1956

as President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)

Friendly Persuasion

Friendly Persuasion

1956

as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

Devil Goddess

Devil Goddess

1955

as Nels Comstock

Dial Red O

Dial Red O

1955

as Devon

Jesse James vs. the Daltons

Jesse James vs. the Daltons

1954

as Emmett Dalton

Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull

1954

as O'Connor

The Golden Idol

The Golden Idol

1954

as Sergeant Reed

The Law vs. Billy the Kid

The Law vs. Billy the Kid

1954

as Dave Rudabaugh

Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl

Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl

1954

as Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)

Jack McCall, Desperado

Jack McCall, Desperado

1953

as Spargo

El Paso Stampede

El Paso Stampede

1953

as Henchman Joe

Eyes of the Jungle

Eyes of the Jungle

1953

as Jeff Roper

99 River Street

99 River Street

1953

as Director

Law and Order

Law and Order

1953

as Stranger (uncredited)

Dangerous Crossing

Dangerous Crossing

1953

as Ship's Officer (uncredited)

Kiss Me Kate

Kiss Me Kate

1953

as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land

Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land

1952

as 'Doc' Edwards

Road Agent

Road Agent

1952

as Toll Gate Guard

Flat Top

Flat Top

1952

as Commander (uncredited)

Talk About a Stranger

Talk About a Stranger

1952

as Driggs

The Bad and the Beautiful

The Bad and the Beautiful

1952

as Reporter (uncredited)

A Yank in Korea

A Yank in Korea

1951

as Lt. Lewis

Roaring City

Roaring City

1951

as Ed Gannon

Blue Blood

Blue Blood

1951

as Sparks

Insurance Investigator

Insurance Investigator

1951

as 1st Hood

I Was an American Spy

I Was an American Spy

1951

as American Captain (uncredited)

Best of the Badmen

Best of the Badmen

1951

as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)

Pygmy Island

Pygmy Island

1950

as Kruger

Riders of the Range

Riders of the Range

1950

as Trump Dixon

Sunset in the West

Sunset in the West

1950

as John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)

Annie Get Your Gun

Annie Get Your Gun

1950

as Barker (uncredited)

Chain Gang

Chain Gang

1950

as Harry Cleaver

Armored Car Robbery

Armored Car Robbery

1950

as Officer Johnson (uncredited)

The Flying Missile

The Flying Missile

1950

as Lieutenant

Convicted

Convicted

1950

as Prison Guard (uncredited)

Three Secrets

Three Secrets

1950

as Bobby Lynch (uncredited)

The Mysterious Desperado

The Mysterious Desperado

1949

as Bart Barton

Alaska Patrol

Alaska Patrol

1949

as Dajek

Abandoned

Abandoned

1949

as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

All the King's Men

All the King's Men

1949

as Man in City Bar (uncredited)

An Innocent Affair

An Innocent Affair

1948

as Gaylord

Walk a Crooked Mile

Walk a Crooked Mile

1948

as FBI Chemist

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

1948

as Traveler (uncredited)

Cynthia

Cynthia

1947

as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)

Our Old Car

Our Old Car

1946

as Officer Donahue (uncredited)

A Gun in His Hand

A Gun in His Hand

1945

as Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)

Main Street After Dark

Main Street After Dark

1945

as Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)

The Great Morgan

The Great Morgan

1945

as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)

Week-End at the Waldorf

Week-End at the Waldorf

1945

as Photographer (uncredited)

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

1945

as Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)

Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows

1944

as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

The Canterville Ghost

The Canterville Ghost

1944

as Jordan

Main Street Today

Main Street Today

1944

as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)

Maisie Goes to Reno

Maisie Goes to Reno

1944

as Lead Man (Uncredited)

For God and Country

For God and Country

1943

as Captain

Air Raid Wardens

Air Raid Wardens

1943

as Joseph

Presenting Lily Mars

Presenting Lily Mars

1943

as Eugene Shepherd

Nazi Agent

Nazi Agent

1942

as Ludwig

The Lady or the Tiger?

The Lady or the Tiger?

1942

as Frank R. Stockton

Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year

1942

as Ellis

Fingers at the Window

Fingers at the Window

1942

as Devlan

Stand by for Action

Stand by for Action

1942

as Flag Lt. Dudley

Joe Smith, American

Joe Smith, American

1942

as Eddie

Pacific Rendezvous

Pacific Rendezvous

1942

as Jasper Dean

Tarzan's New York Adventure

Tarzan's New York Adventure

1942

as Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)

Ship Ahoy

Ship Ahoy

1942

as Agent Flammer

Cairo

Cairo

1942

as Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)

Grand Central Murder

Grand Central Murder

1942

as Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)

The Affairs of Martha

The Affairs of Martha

1942

as Mechanic (uncredited)

For Me and My Gal

For Me and My Gal

1942

as France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)

Maisie Gets Her Man

Maisie Gets Her Man

1942

as Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)

The Big Store

The Big Store

1941

as Fred Sutton

Whistling in the Dark

Whistling in the Dark

1941

as Robert Graves

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1941

as Intern Fenwick

Down in San Diego

Down in San Diego

1941

as Matt Herman

Men of the Timberland

Men of the Timberland

1941

as Cafe Patron (uncredited)

I'll Wait for You

I'll Wait for You

1941

as Driver

The Corsican Brothers

The Corsican Brothers

1941

as One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)

Two-Faced Woman

Two-Faced Woman

1941

as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)

Love Crazy

Love Crazy

1941

as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)

Flight Command

Flight Command

1940

as Lieut. Freddy Townsend

Sky Murder

Sky Murder

1940

as Gus

New Moon

New Moon

1940

as Pierre

Sporting Blood

Sporting Blood

1940

as Ted Milner

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

1940

as Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)

Wyoming

Wyoming

1940

as Sgt. Reynolds

The Mortal Storm

The Mortal Storm

1940

as Nazi Clerk

Phantom Raiders

Phantom Raiders

1940

as Sailor

Gallant Sons

Gallant Sons

1940

as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)

I Love You Again

I Love You Again

1940

as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Broadway Melody of 1940

Broadway Melody of 1940

1940

as Harmon (uncredited)

Boom Town

Boom Town

1940

as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)

Florian

Florian

1940

as Sergeant

The Story of Dr. Jenner

The Story of Dr. Jenner

1939

as Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)

The Hardys Ride High

The Hardys Ride High

1939

as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

1939

as Bates - Intern (uncredited)

The Ice Follies of 1939

The Ice Follies of 1939

1939

as Assistant Doorman (Uncredited)

Within the Law

Within the Law

1939

as Green's Clerk

Four Girls in White

Four Girls in White

1939

as Doctor at Accident

Miracles for Sale

Miracles for Sale

1939

as Spectator in Theatre Box

Stand Up and Fight

Stand Up and Fight

1939

as Lewis, Arnold's Henchman

It's a Wonderful World

It's a Wonderful World

1939

as Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)

Fast and Furious

Fast and Furious

1939

as Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Broadway Serenade

Broadway Serenade

1939

as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

Another Thin Man

Another Thin Man

1939

as State Trooper (uncredited)

The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton

1938

as Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)

When Love Is Young

When Love Is Young

1937

as Norman Crocker

Crash Donovan

Crash Donovan

1936

as Tony

The Perfect Set-Up

The Perfect Set-Up

1936

as MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)

Exclusive Story

Exclusive Story

1936

as Kent (uncredited)

Speed

Speed

1936

as Intern Attending Terry

Women Are Trouble

Women Are Trouble

1936

as Reporter

Fury

Fury

1936

as Governor's Aide (uncredited)

A Thrill for Thelma

A Thrill for Thelma

1935

as MGM Reporter

She Couldn't Take It

She Couldn't Take It

1935

as Cesar

Murder in the Fleet

Murder in the Fleet

1935

as Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)

My Grandfather's Clock

My Grandfather's Clock

1934

as Ronny Belvedere

The Bands Plays On

The Bands Plays On

1934

as Rosy Rosenberg

The Spectacle Maker

The Spectacle Maker

1934

as The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Tales of Wells Fargo

as Keenan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 18, 1957

Gunsmoke

as John Hirschbeck

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

The Adventures of Champion

as Rustler

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1955

The Adventures of Champion

as Logan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1955

Hey, Jeannie!

as Paul Revere

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 08, 1956

Gunsmoke

as Townsman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1955

Perry Mason

as Police Sergeant

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Perry Mason

as Frank - Studio Guard

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

Here's Lucy

as Workman #2

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 23, 1968

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 06, 1955

Dangerous Assignment

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 01, 1952

The Adventures of Kit Carson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 11, 1951

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 8 11 4
2024 7 12 20 3
2024 8 10 23 4
2024 9 5 11 3
2024 10 5 19 1
2024 11 2 4 1
2024 12 3 6 1
2025 1 5 12 2
2025 2 2 4 1
2025 3 1 3 1
2025 5 1 1 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 1 9 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2025 7 556 516

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