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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 Legend 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.
Movies
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Intern Fenwick
Woman of the Year
Ellis
99 River Street
Director
Air Raid Wardens
Joseph
Down in San Diego
Matt Herman
Fingers at the Window
Devlan
Nazi Agent
Ludwig
The Canterville Ghost
Jordan
Whistling in the Dark
Robert Graves
Flight Command
Lieut. Freddy Townsend
Sitting Bull
O'Connor
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land
'Doc' Edwards
The Law vs. Billy the Kid
Dave Rudabaugh
Insurance Investigator
1st Hood
Pygmy Island
Kruger
I'll Wait for You
Driver
A Yank in Korea
Lt. Lewis
The Golden Idol
Sergeant Reed
An Innocent Affair
Gaylord
She Couldn't Take It
Cesar
Dial Red O
Devon
Speed
Intern Attending Terry
The Bands Plays On
Rosy Rosenberg
Four Girls in White
Doctor at Accident
The Big Store
Fred Sutton
Women Are Trouble
Reporter
Stand Up and Fight
Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
The Ice Follies of 1939
Assistant Doorman (Uncredited)
Within the Law
Green's Clerk
Broadway Serenade
Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Hardys Ride High
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Another Thin Man
State Trooper (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale
Spectator in Theatre Box
Fast and Furious
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Bates - Intern (uncredited)
Murder in the Fleet
Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
Fury
Governor's Aide (uncredited)
All the King's Men
Man in City Bar (uncredited)
Touch of Evil
Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
Harmon (uncredited)
When Love Is Young
Norman Crocker
My Grandfather's Clock
Ronny Belvedere
Wyoming
Sgt. Reynolds
The Lady or the Tiger?
Frank R. Stockton
The Mysterious Desperado
Bart Barton
Boom Town
Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
Devil Goddess
Nels Comstock
Road Agent
Toll Gate Guard
Gallant Sons
Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
The Mortal Storm
Nazi Clerk
New Moon
Pierre
Sky Murder
Gus
Florian
Sergeant
Phantom Raiders
Sailor
Sporting Blood
Ted Milner
Sunset in the West
John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
It's a Wonderful World
Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
Emmett Dalton
I Love You Again
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Riders of the Range
Trump Dixon
The Flying Missile
Lieutenant
Chain Gang
Harry Cleaver
El Paso Stampede
Henchman Joe
Jack McCall, Desperado
Spargo
Noose for a Gunman
Willetts
Roaring City
Ed Gannon
For God and Country
Captain
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
Our Old Car
Officer Donahue (uncredited)
The Affairs of Martha
Mechanic (uncredited)
The Great Morgan
Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
Batman
American Delegate (uncredited)
Stand by for Action
Flag Lt. Dudley
Joe Smith, American
Eddie
Walk a Crooked Mile
FBI Chemist
The Perfect Set-Up
MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
A Thrill for Thelma
MGM Reporter
A Gun in His Hand
Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
Main Street Today
Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
Presenting Lily Mars
Eugene Shepherd
The Spectacle Maker
The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle
The Corsican Brothers
One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
Grand Central Murder
Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
Three Secrets
Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
Crash Donovan
Tony
Convicted
Prison Guard (uncredited)
Armored Car Robbery
Officer Johnson (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
Talk About a Stranger
Driggs
Blue Blood
Sparks
Pacific Rendezvous
Jasper Dean
Annie Get Your Gun
Barker (uncredited)
Ship Ahoy
Agent Flammer
The Mad Miss Manton
Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
Cynthia
Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
A Hatful of Rain
Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
The Story of Dr. Jenner
Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
For Me and My Gal
France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man
Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
Maisie Goes to Reno
Lead Man (Uncredited)
The Three Musketeers
Traveler (uncredited)
The Quick Gun
Blackjack Ketchum Desperado
Dee Havalik
Hero and the Terror
Civil Engineer
The Bad and the Beautiful
Reporter (uncredited)
The Tijuana Story
Dark Shadows
McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
Gun Duel In Durango
Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
Love Crazy
Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
Alaska Patrol
Dajek
Pal, Canine Detective
I, the Jury
Tarzan's New York Adventure
Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
Men of the Timberland
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Raiders of the Seven Seas
Ramon
Law and Order
Stranger (uncredited)
Flat Top
Commander (uncredited)
I Was an American Spy
American Captain (uncredited)
The First Texan
President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
The Return of Dracula
Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
Eyes of the Jungle
Jeff Roper
Week-End at the Waldorf
Photographer (uncredited)
Best of the Badmen
Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
Exclusive Story
Kent (uncredited)
Abandoned
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Dangerous Crossing
Ship's Officer (uncredited)
Two-Faced Woman
Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
Main Street After Dark
Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
Shows
Gunsmoke
John Hirschbeck
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
The Adventures of Kit Carson
Dangerous Assignment
Perry Mason
Frank - Studio Guard
Wells Fargo
Keenan
The Adventures of Champion
Rustler
The Adventures of Champion
Logan
Hey, Jeannie!
Paul Revere
Gunsmoke
Townsman
Perry Mason
Police Sergeant
Here's Lucy
Workman #2