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