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William B. Davidson

William B. Davidson

Known For Acting
Birthday Jun 15, 1888
Died Sep 28, 1947 (59)
Birthplace Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA
Popularity 0.3 (history)
Updated Aug 10, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

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 spen ... t 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

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Filmography

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

1947

as Peter Premium

That's My Man

That's My Man

1947

as Steward

That Hagen Girl

That Hagen Girl

1947

as Mr. Bowman (uncredited)

The Judge Steps Out

The Judge Steps Out

1947

as Colonel Bright (uncredited)

The Notorious Lone Wolf

The Notorious Lone Wolf

1946

as Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)

Ding Dong Williams

Ding Dong Williams

1946

as Mr. Saul Dana

The Plainsman and the Lady

The Plainsman and the Lady

1946

as Russell

The Cat Creeps

The Cat Creeps

1946

as James Walsh

Blonde Alibi

Blonde Alibi

1946

as Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)

My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine

1946

as Saloon Owner (uncredited)

The Man Who Walked Alone

The Man Who Walked Alone

1945

as Governor

Tell It to a Star

Tell It to a Star

1945

as Brannigan

Sing Your Way Home

Sing Your Way Home

1945

as F.T. Johnson

See My Lawyer

See My Lawyer

1945

as Judge

Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial Evidence

1945

as Board of Appeals Chairman

They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

1945

as Hotel Manager (uncredited)

A Night of Adventure

A Night of Adventure

1944

as Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)

In Society

In Society

1944

as Parker

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village

1944

as Dance Director

Make Your Own Bed

Make Your Own Bed

1944

as Mr. Linklater

Up in Arms

Up in Arms

1944

as Maxwell (uncredited)

Over the Wall

Over the Wall

1943

as Warden Ed

Calaboose

Calaboose

1943

as Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)

Murder on the Waterfront

Murder on the Waterfront

1943

as Capt. Towne

The Good Fellows

The Good Fellows

1943

as Blake

Truck Busters

Truck Busters

1943

as Stephen S. Gray

Hers to Hold

Hers to Hold

1943

as Al

Mission to Moscow

Mission to Moscow

1943

as Senator (uncredited)

Over My Dead Body

Over My Dead Body

1942

as Crole (as William Davidson)

The Great Man's Lady

The Great Man's Lady

1942

as Sen. Knobs

Careful, Soft Shoulders

Careful, Soft Shoulders

1942

as Mr. Aldrich

In This Our Life

In This Our Life

1942

as Jim Purdy

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

1942

as Cyrus Ballard

The Male Animal

The Male Animal

1942

as Alumnus

The Magnificent Dope

The Magnificent Dope

1942

as Mr. Reindel

The Affairs of Martha

The Affairs of Martha

1942

as Homer Jacell

Larceny, Inc.

Larceny, Inc.

1942

as McCarthy

Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim

1942

as Donovan (uncredited)

Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe

1941

as Mr. Day

Man-Made Monster

Man-Made Monster

1941

as District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley

Keep 'Em Flying

Keep 'Em Flying

1941

as Gonigle

Sun Valley Serenade

Sun Valley Serenade

1941

as Jack Murray

Hold That Ghost

Hold That Ghost

1941

as Moose Matson

Highway West

Highway West

1941

as Gorman

Week-End in Havana

Week-End in Havana

1941

as Captain Moss

Three Sons o' Guns

Three Sons o' Guns

1941

as Henry Baxter

Thieves Fall Out

Thieves Fall Out

1941

as Harrison "Harry" Eckles

The Lady from Cheyenne

The Lady from Cheyenne

1941

as Nye Dunbar

Three Girls About Town

Three Girls About Town

1941

as Labor Leader

In the Navy

In the Navy

1941

as Capt. Richards (uncredited)

Remember the Day

Remember the Day

1941

as Committeeman

Granny Get Your Gun

Granny Get Your Gun

1940

as Fitzgerald

Hired Wife

Hired Wife

1940

as Mumford (as William Davidson)

Sandy Gets Her Man

Sandy Gets Her Man

1940

as Councilman Charles J. Clark

Florian

Florian

1940

as Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Half a Sinner

Half a Sinner

1940

as Slick

Lillian Russell

Lillian Russell

1940

as President Cleveland

Charter Pilot

Charter Pilot

1940

as Mr. Wentworth

Girl in 313

Girl in 313

1940

as George Grayson

My Love Came Back

My Love Came Back

1940

as Agent

On Their Own

On Their Own

1940

as Judge Bull

San Francisco Docks

San Francisco Docks

1940

as Dist. Atty. Craig

Sailor's Lady

Sailor's Lady

1940

as Judge Hinsdale

Seven Sinners

Seven Sinners

1940

as Police Chief

Lady with Red Hair

Lady with Red Hair

1940

as Stock Company Manager (uncredited)

Maryland

Maryland

1940

as John Addison

Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley

1940

as Hotel Manager

My Little Chickadee

My Little Chickadee

1940

as Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)

Hidden Power

Hidden Power

1939

as Foster

Off the Record

Off the Record

1939

as Scotty

Smashing the Money Ring

Smashing the Money Ring

1939

as Warden Denby

On Trial

On Trial

1939

as Mr. Gray

Private Detective

Private Detective

1939

as Inspector Evans

Indianapolis Speedway

Indianapolis Speedway

1939

as Duncan Martin

Honeymoon in Bali

Honeymoon in Bali

1939

as Store Detective

Naughty But Nice

Naughty But Nice

1939

as Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher

Blackwell's Island

Blackwell's Island

1939

as Hempel

They Made Me a Criminal

They Made Me a Criminal

1939

as Ennis

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

1939

as Stock Broker

Each Dawn I Die

Each Dawn I Die

1939

as Bill Mason

Tail Spin

Tail Spin

1939

as Sales Manager (Uncredited)

Dust Be My Destiny

Dust Be My Destiny

1939

as Work Farm Warden

Sudden Money

Sudden Money

1939

as Sam

Blondie Meets the Boss

Blondie Meets the Boss

1939

as Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)

Invisible Stripes

Invisible Stripes

1939

as Montgomery (uncredited)

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

1938

as Ellory Bugs

The Jury's Secret

The Jury's Secret

1938

as Page

Blockade

Blockade

1938

as Commandant

Sergeant Murphy

Sergeant Murphy

1938

as Maj. Gruff (uncredited)

Illegal Traffic

Illegal Traffic

1938

as Dalton

Hollywood Hotel

Hollywood Hotel

1938

as Director Kelton

Cowboy from Brooklyn

Cowboy from Brooklyn

1938

as Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey

Letter of Introduction

Letter of Introduction

1938

as Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)

There Goes My Heart

There Goes My Heart

1938

as Skipper Jackson (uncredited)

Racket Busters

Racket Busters

1938

as Trucking Chairman (uncredited)

Cocoanut Grove

Cocoanut Grove

1938

as Hawtrey

Paradise Isle

Paradise Isle

1937

as Hoener

Midnight Court

Midnight Court

1937

as Alfred H. Kruger

It Happened in Hollywood

It Happened in Hollywood

1937

as Al Howard

Love on Toast

Love on Toast

1937

as Jonathan

Let Them Live

Let Them Live

1937

as The Editor

Marry the Girl

Marry the Girl

1937

as Drake

Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

1937

as Mr. Richards (as William Davidson)

Behind the Mike

Behind the Mike

1937

as Cyrus Wittles

Easy Living

Easy Living

1937

as Mr. Hyde

Ever Since Eve

Ever Since Eve

1937

as Henderson

Marked Woman

Marked Woman

1937

as Bob Crandall

Melody for Two

Melody for Two

1937

as Mr. Hale

The Road Back

The Road Back

1937

as Bartscher

The Hurricane

The Hurricane

1937

as Abusive Drunk (uncredited)

Murder by an Aristocrat

Murder by an Aristocrat

1936

as Bayard Thatcher (as William Davidson)

The Big Noise

The Big Noise

1936

as Welford Andrews

Road Gang

Road Gang

1936

as Attorney General Mardsen

Gold Diggers of 1937

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936

as Andy Callahan

Earthworm Tractors

Earthworm Tractors

1936

as Mr. Jackson

The Singing Kid

The Singing Kid

1936

as Barney Hammond

Love on a Bet

Love on a Bet

1936

as A.W. Hutchinson

You May Be Next!

You May Be Next!

1936

as Official (uncredited)

Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady

1936

as City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)

Fatal Lady

Fatal Lady

1936

as Detective (uncredited)

Devil Dogs of the Air

Devil Dogs of the Air

1935

as Adjutant

Bordertown

Bordertown

1935

as Dr. Carter

Special Agent

Special Agent

1935

as Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer

Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted

1935

as Collins

In Person

In Person

1935

as Director Bill Sutter

Sweet Music

Sweet Music

1935

as Billie Madison

Show Them No Mercy!

Show Them No Mercy!

1935

as Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)

Go Into Your Dance

Go Into Your Dance

1935

as Tom McGee

A Night at the Ritz

A Night at the Ritz

1935

as Connolly

Oil for the Lamps of China

Oil for the Lamps of China

1935

as E.H. Swaley

Dangerous

Dangerous

1935

as Reed Walsh

Death Flies East

Death Flies East

1935

as Police Captain Barrie

Redheads on Parade

Redheads on Parade

1935

as Theatre Manager

Laughing Boy

Laughing Boy

1934

as Hartshone (as William Davidson)

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

1934

as Charles (as William Davidson)

The Secret Bride

The Secret Bride

1934

as Representative McPherson

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

1934

as Stephen Prime

The St. Louis Kid

The St. Louis Kid

1934

as Joe Hunter

The Dragon Murder Case

The Dragon Murder Case

1934

as Greeff

Housewife

Housewife

1934

as Nan's Attorney

The Big Shakedown

The Big Shakedown

1934

as District Attorney (uncredited)

Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco

1934

as Editor Joe Hogue

Upperworld

Upperworld

1934

as City Editor (uncredited)

Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

1934

as Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)

The Intruder

The Intruder

1933

as Det. Lt. Samson

Dangerously Yours

Dangerously Yours

1933

as George Carr

Meet the Baron

Meet the Baron

1933

as General Broadcasting Representative

Hello, Everybody!

Hello, Everybody!

1933

as Mr. Parker

I'm No Angel

I'm No Angel

1933

as Ernest Brown

The Billion Dollar Scandal

The Billion Dollar Scandal

1933

as Jim Lawrence

Lady Killer

Lady Killer

1933

as Director Williams

Mystery of the Wax Museum

Mystery of the Wax Museum

1933

as Detective (Uncredited)

Torch Singer

Torch Singer

1933

as Jarrett

Female

Female

1933

as Department Head (Uncredited)

Her Mad Night

Her Mad Night

1932

as District Attorney

The Menace

The Menace

1932

as John Utterson

The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game

1932

as Captain

Guilty or Not Guilty

Guilty or Not Guilty

1932

as Chief

Sky Devils

Sky Devils

1932

as Captain

The Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom

1932

as Chess Player

The Lost Squadron

The Lost Squadron

1932

as Lelewer

The Sport Parade

The Sport Parade

1932

as Kendricks (uncredited)

Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red?

1932

as O'Sullivan

The Pride of the Legion

The Pride of the Legion

1932

as Sgt. Arnold

Central Park

Central Park

1932

as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

The Thirteenth Guest

The Thirteenth Guest

1932

as Police Captain Brown (Uncredited)

Scarface

Scarface

1932

as Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)

Half Holiday

Half Holiday

1931

as Jerry - Andy's Pal

The Secret Call

The Secret Call

1931

as Jim Blake

The Vice Squad

The Vice Squad

1931

as Magistrate Tom Morrison

Graft

Graft

1931

as M.H. Thomas

Captain Applejack

Captain Applejack

1931

as Bill Dennett

No Limit

No Limit

1931

as Wilkie

For the Defense

For the Defense

1930

as Dist. Atty. Stone

Scarlet Pages

Scarlet Pages

1930

as Jackson

The Costello Case

The Costello Case

1930

as Saunders

The Silver Horde

The Silver Horde

1930

as Tom Hilliard

Men Are Like That

Men Are Like That

1930

as Frank Hyland

Hook, Line and Sinker

Hook, Line and Sinker

1930

as Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)

A Man from Wyoming

A Man from Wyoming

1930

as Major

Oh, for a Man!

Oh, for a Man!

1930

as Kerry Stokes

Hell's Angels

Hell's Angels

1930

as Staff Major

Sunny

Sunny

1930

as First Ship's Officer

Playboy of Paris

Playboy of Paris

1930

as Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)

Always Faithful

Always Faithful

1929

as George W. Mason

The Carnation Kid

The Carnation Kid

1929

as Blythe

Woman Trap

Woman Trap

1929

as Watts

Blaze o' Glory

Blaze o' Glory

1929

as District Attorney (as William Davidson)

Queen of the Night Clubs

Queen of the Night Clubs

1929

as Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)

Good Morning, Judge

Good Morning, Judge

1928

as Elton (as William Davidson)

The Last Trail

The Last Trail

1927

as Kurt Morley

Cradle Snatchers

Cradle Snatchers

1927

as Roy Ladd

A Gentleman of Paris

A Gentleman of Paris

1927

as Henri Dufour

Ports of Call

Ports of Call

1925

as Randolph Sherman

Hearts and Spurs

Hearts and Spurs

1925

as Victor Dufresne

Recompense

Recompense

1925

as Col. Donovan

Adam and Eva

Adam and Eva

1923

as Dr. Delamater

Partners of the Night

Partners of the Night

1920

as Robert Clifford

A Woman There Was

A Woman There Was

1919

as Rev. Winthrop Stark

Impossible Catherine

Impossible Catherine

1919

as John Henry Jackson

Lure of Ambition

Lure of Ambition

1919

as Hon. Cyril Ralston

The Capitol

The Capitol

1919

as Congressman Blake

La belle Russe

La belle Russe

1919

as Brand

Why I Would Not Marry

Why I Would Not Marry

1918

as Undetermined Role

In Pursuit of Polly

In Pursuit of Polly

1918

as Larry O'Malley

Mary Lawson's Secret

Mary Lawson's Secret

1917

as Dr. Brundage

The White Raven

The White Raven

1917

as The Stranger

The Greatest Power

The Greatest Power

1917

as John Conrad

The Lifted Veil

The Lifted Veil

1917

as Malcolm Grant

The Call of Her People

The Call of Her People

1917

as Nicholas Van Kleet

Her Debt of Honor

Her Debt of Honor

1916

as John Hartfield

The Price of Malice

The Price of Malice

1916

as Capt. Mills

Dorian's Divorce

Dorian's Divorce

1916

as Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)

The Pretenders

The Pretenders

1916

as Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)

In the Diplomatic Service

In the Diplomatic Service

1916

as Lynn Hardi

For the Honor of the Crew

For the Honor of the Crew

1915

as Robert Brent

A Yellow Streak

A Yellow Streak

1915

as Jack Rader

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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