Snape
← Home
William B. Davidson

William B. Davidson

Acting

Born: June 15, 1888Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA

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.

Known For
Filmography
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

Self (archive footage)

1994
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975
The Judge Steps Out

The Judge Steps Out

Colonel Bright (uncredited)

1947
That Hagen Girl

That Hagen Girl

Mr. Bowman (uncredited)

1947
That's My Man

That's My Man

Steward

1947
Dick Tracy's Dilemma

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

Peter Premium

1947
The Plainsman and the Lady

The Plainsman and the Lady

Russell

1946
My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine

Saloon Owner (uncredited)

1946
The Cat Creeps

The Cat Creeps

James Walsh

1946
Ding Dong Williams

Ding Dong Williams

Mr. Saul Dana

1946
Blonde Alibi

Blonde Alibi

Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)

1946
The Notorious Lone Wolf

The Notorious Lone Wolf

Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)

1946
They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

Hotel Manager (uncredited)

1945
Sing Your Way Home

Sing Your Way Home

F.T. Johnson

1945
Tell It to a Star

Tell It to a Star

Brannigan

1945
Dillinger

Dillinger

Bank President (uncredited)

1945
Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial Evidence

Board of Appeals Chairman

1945
The Man Who Walked Alone

The Man Who Walked Alone

Governor

1945
See My Lawyer

See My Lawyer

Judge

1945
Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village

Dance Director

1944
In Society

In Society

Parker

1944
Make Your Own Bed

Make Your Own Bed

Mr. Linklater

1944
A Night of Adventure

A Night of Adventure

Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)

1944
Shine on Harvest Moon

Shine on Harvest Moon

Tim Donovan (uncredited)

1944
Up in Arms

Up in Arms

Maxwell (uncredited)

1944
Over the Wall

Over the Wall

Warden Ed

1943
Murder on the Waterfront

Murder on the Waterfront

Capt. Towne

1943
The Good Fellows

The Good Fellows

Blake

1943
Hers to Hold

Hers to Hold

Al

1943
Mission to Moscow

Mission to Moscow

Senator (uncredited)

1943
Calaboose

Calaboose

Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)

1943
Truck Busters

Truck Busters

Stephen S. Gray

1943
Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim

Donovan (uncredited)

1942
Careful, Soft Shoulders

Careful, Soft Shoulders

Mr. Aldrich

1942
The Magnificent Dope

The Magnificent Dope

Mr. Reindel

1942
The Affairs of Martha

The Affairs of Martha

Homer Jacell

1942
In This Our Life

In This Our Life

Jim Purdy

1942
Larceny, Inc.

Larceny, Inc.

McCarthy

1942
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

Cyrus Ballard

1942
The Male Animal

The Male Animal

Alumnus

1942
Over My Dead Body

Over My Dead Body

Crole (as William Davidson)

1942
Remember the Day

Remember the Day

Committeeman

1941
Keep 'Em Flying

Keep 'Em Flying

Gonigle

1941
The Great Man's Lady

The Great Man's Lady

Sen. Knobs

1941
Three Girls About Town

Three Girls About Town

Labor Leader

1941
Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe

Mr. Day

1941
Week-End in Havana

Week-End in Havana

Captain Moss

1941
Sun Valley Serenade

Sun Valley Serenade

Jack Murray

1941
Hold That Ghost

Hold That Ghost

Moose Matson

1941
Highway West

Highway West

Gorman

1941
Three Sons o' Guns

Three Sons o' Guns

Henry Baxter

1941
In the Navy

In the Navy

Capt. Richards (uncredited)

1941
Thieves Fall Out

Thieves Fall Out

Harrison "Harry" Eckles

1941
The Lady from Cheyenne

The Lady from Cheyenne

Nye Dunbar

1941
Man-Made Monster

Man-Made Monster

District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley

1941
San Francisco Docks

San Francisco Docks

Dist. Atty. Craig

1940
A Night at Earl Carroll's

A Night at Earl Carroll's

Mayor Green of San Bernardino

1940
Charter Pilot

Charter Pilot

Mr. Wentworth

1940
Lady with Red Hair

Lady with Red Hair

Stock Company Manager (uncredited)

1940
Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley

Hotel Manager

1940
Sandy Gets Her Man

Sandy Gets Her Man

Councilman Charles J. Clark

1940
Seven Sinners

Seven Sinners

Police Chief

1940
Hired Wife

Hired Wife

Mumford (as William Davidson)

1940
Maryland

Maryland

John Addison

1940
My Love Came Back

My Love Came Back

Agent

1940
Sailor's Lady

Sailor's Lady

Judge Hinsdale

1940
Florian

Florian

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

1940
Girl in 313

Girl in 313

George Grayson

1940
Lillian Russell

Lillian Russell

President Cleveland

1940
On Their Own

On Their Own

Judge Bull

1940
Half a Sinner

Half a Sinner

Slick

1940
Granny Get Your Gun

Granny Get Your Gun

Fitzgerald

1940
My Little Chickadee

My Little Chickadee

Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)

1940
Invisible Stripes

Invisible Stripes

Montgomery (uncredited)

1939
The Honeymoon's Over

The Honeymoon's Over

Crane

1939
Private Detective

Private Detective

Inspector Evans

1939
Smashing the Money Ring

Smashing the Money Ring

Warden Denby

1939
Honeymoon in Bali

Honeymoon in Bali

Store Detective

1939
Dust Be My Destiny

Dust Be My Destiny

Work Farm Warden

1939
Hidden Power

Hidden Power

Foster

1939
Each Dawn I Die

Each Dawn I Die

Bill Mason

1939
Indianapolis Speedway

Indianapolis Speedway

Duncan Martin

1939
Naughty But Nice

Naughty But Nice

Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher

1939
On Trial

On Trial

Mr. Gray

1939
Sudden Money

Sudden Money

Sam

1939
Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Stock Broker

1939
Blondie Meets the Boss

Blondie Meets the Boss

Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)

1939
Tail Spin

Tail Spin

Sales Manager (Uncredited)

1939
Blackwell's Island

Blackwell's Island

Hempel

1939
Off the Record

Off the Record

Scotty

1939
They Made Me a Criminal

They Made Me a Criminal

Ennis

1939
Illegal Traffic

Illegal Traffic

Dalton

1938
There Goes My Heart

There Goes My Heart

Skipper Jackson (uncredited)

1938
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

Ellory Bugs

1938
Letter of Introduction

Letter of Introduction

Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)

1938
Racket Busters

Racket Busters

Trucking Chairman (uncredited)

1938
Cowboy from Brooklyn

Cowboy from Brooklyn

Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey

1938
Blockade

Blockade

Commandant

1938
You and Me

You and Me

N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited)

1938
Cocoanut Grove

Cocoanut Grove

Hawtrey

1938
The Jury's Secret

The Jury's Secret

Page

1938
Hollywood Hotel

Hollywood Hotel

Director Kelton

1938
Sergeant Murphy

Sergeant Murphy

Maj. Gruff (uncredited)

1938
Love on Toast

Love on Toast

Jonathan

1937
The Hurricane

The Hurricane

The Bully (uncredited)

1937
Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

Mr. Richards (as William Davidson)

1937
Behind the Mike

Behind the Mike

Cyrus Wittles

1937
It Happened in Hollywood

It Happened in Hollywood

Al Howard

1937
Paradise Isle

Paradise Isle

Hoener

1937
Easy Living

Easy Living

Mr. Hyde

1937
Ever Since Eve

Ever Since Eve

Henderson

1937
Marry the Girl

Marry the Girl

Drake

1937
The Road Back

The Road Back

Bartscher

1937
Melody for Two

Melody for Two

Mr. Hale

1937
Let Them Live

Let Them Live

The Editor

1937
Marked Woman

Marked Woman

Bob Crandall

1937
Midnight Court

Midnight Court

Alfred H. Kruger

1937
Gold Diggers of 1937

Gold Diggers of 1937

Andy Callahan

1936
Earthworm Tractors

Earthworm Tractors

Mr. Jackson

1936
Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady

City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)

1936
The Big Noise

The Big Noise

Welford Andrews

1936
Murder by an Aristocrat

Murder by an Aristocrat

Bayard Thatcher

1936
Fatal Lady

Fatal Lady

Detective (uncredited)

1936
The Singing Kid

The Singing Kid

Barney Hammond

1936
Road Gang

Road Gang

Attorney General Mardsen

1936
Love on a Bet

Love on a Bet

A.W. Hutchinson

1936
You May Be Next!

You May Be Next!

Official (uncredited)

1936
Dangerous

Dangerous

Reed Walsh

1935
Show Them No Mercy!

Show Them No Mercy!

Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)

1935
In Person

In Person

Director Bill Sutter (uncredited)

1935
Special Agent

Special Agent

Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer

1935
Redheads on Parade

Redheads on Parade

Theatre Manager

1935
Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted

Collins

1935
Oil for the Lamps of China

Oil for the Lamps of China

E.H. Swaley

1935
Go Into Your Dance

Go Into Your Dance

Tom McGee

1935
A Night at the Ritz

A Night at the Ritz

Connolly

1935
Straight from the Heart

Straight from the Heart

Prosecuting Attorney

1935
Death Flies East

Death Flies East

Police Captain Barrie

1935
Sweet Music

Sweet Music

Billie Madison

1935
Devil Dogs of the Air

Devil Dogs of the Air

Adjutant

1935
Bordertown

Bordertown

Dr. Carter

1935
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

Charles (as William Davidson)

1934
The Secret Bride

The Secret Bride

Representative McPherson

1934
Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)

1934
The St. Louis Kid

The St. Louis Kid

Joe Hunter

1934
The Dragon Murder Case

The Dragon Murder Case

Greeff

1934
Housewife

Housewife

Nan's Attorney

1934
Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Stephen Prime

1934
Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco

Editor Joe Hogue

1934
Upperworld

Upperworld

City Editor (uncredited)

1934
Laughing Boy

Laughing Boy

Hartshone (as William Davidson)

1934
The Big Shakedown

The Big Shakedown

District Attorney (uncredited)

1934
Lady Killer

Lady Killer

Director Williams

1933
Female

Female

Department Head (Uncredited)

1933
Meet the Baron

Meet the Baron

General Broadcasting Representative

1933
I'm No Angel

I'm No Angel

Ernest Brown

1933
Torch Singer

Torch Singer

Jarrett

1933

How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action

Himself

1933
The Intruder

The Intruder

Det. Lt. Samson

1933
Dangerously Yours

Dangerously Yours

George Carr

1933
Mystery of the Wax Museum

Mystery of the Wax Museum

Detective (Uncredited)

1933
Hello, Everybody!

Hello, Everybody!

Mr. Parker

1933
The Billion Dollar Scandal

The Billion Dollar Scandal

Jim Lawrence

1933
The Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom

Chess Player

1932
Central Park

Central Park

Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

1932
Guilty or Not Guilty

Guilty or Not Guilty

Chief

1932
The Sport Parade

The Sport Parade

Kendricks (uncredited)

1932
The Pride of the Legion

The Pride of the Legion

Sgt. Arnold

1932
Her Mad Night

Her Mad Night

District Attorney

1932
The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game

Captain

1932
The Thirteenth Guest

The Thirteenth Guest

Police Captain Brown (uncredited)

1932
Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red?

O'Sullivan

1932
Scarface

Scarface

Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)

1932
Sky Devils

Sky Devils

Captain

1932
The Lost Squadron

The Lost Squadron

Lelewer

1932
The Menace

The Menace

John Utterson

1932

Half Holiday

Jerry - Andy's Pal

1931
Graft

Graft

M.H. Thomas

1931
The Secret Call

The Secret Call

Jim Blake

1931
The Vice Squad

The Vice Squad

Magistrate Tom Morrison

1931
Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

1931
How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'

How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'

Himself - Golfer

1931
Dishonored

Dishonored

1931
Captain Applejack

Captain Applejack

Bill Dennett

1931
No Limit

No Limit

Wilkie

1931
Hook, Line and Sinker

Hook, Line and Sinker

Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)

1930
Oh, for a Man!

Oh, for a Man!

Kerry Stokes

1930
Hell's Angels

Hell's Angels

Staff Major

1930
Sunny

Sunny

First Ship's Officer

1930
The Silver Horde

The Silver Horde

Tom Hilliard

1930
Playboy of Paris

Playboy of Paris

Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)

1930
The Costello Case

The Costello Case

Saunders

1930
Scarlet Pages

Scarlet Pages

Jackson

1930
For the Defense

For the Defense

Dist. Atty. Stone

1930
A Man from Wyoming

A Man from Wyoming

Major

1930
Men Are Like That

Men Are Like That

Frank Hyland

1930
Blaze o' Glory

Blaze o' Glory

District Attorney (as William Davidson)

1929
Always Faithful

Always Faithful

George W. Mason

1929
Woman Trap

Woman Trap

Watts

1929
Queen of the Night Clubs

Queen of the Night Clubs

Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)

1929
The Carnation Kid

The Carnation Kid

Blythe

1929

Sharp Tools

1928
Good Morning, Judge

Good Morning, Judge

Elton (as William Davidson)

1928
A Gentleman of Paris

A Gentleman of Paris

Henri Dufour

1927
Cradle Snatchers

Cradle Snatchers

Roy Ladd

1927
The Last Trail

The Last Trail

Kurt Morley

1927
Hearts and Spurs

Hearts and Spurs

Victor Dufresne

1925
Recompense

Recompense

Col. Donovan

1925
Women and Gold

Women and Gold

Señor Ortego

1925
Ports of Call

Ports of Call

Randolph Sherman

1925
The Valley of Doubt

The Valley of Doubt

Macy

1924
The Storm Daughter

The Storm Daughter

Rennert

1924
Adam and Eva

Adam and Eva

Dr. Delamater

1923
The Dumb-Bell

The Dumb-Bell

1922
Nobody

Nobody

John Rossmore

1921
The Girl from Nowhere

The Girl from Nowhere

Jimmy Ryder

1921
Partners of the Night

Partners of the Night

Robert Clifford

1920
The Capitol

The Capitol

Congressman Blake

1919
Lure of Ambition

Lure of Ambition

Hon. Cyril Ralston

1919
Impossible Catherine

Impossible Catherine

John Henry Jackson

1919
La belle Russe

La belle Russe

Brand

1919
A Woman There Was

A Woman There Was

Rev. Winthrop Stark

1919
The Gold Cure

The Gold Cure

Michael Darcy

1919
Why I Would Not Marry

Why I Would Not Marry

Undetermined Role

1918
In Pursuit of Polly

In Pursuit of Polly

Larry O'Malley

1918
Ashes of Love

Ashes of Love

1918
Friend Husband

Friend Husband

John Sparr

1918
Our Little Wife

Our Little Wife

Dr. Elliott

1918
Her Second Husband

Her Second Husband

John Kirby

1917
American Maid

American Maid

David Starr

1917
Persuasive Peggy

Persuasive Peggy

Ed Trowbridge

1917

More Truth Than Poetry

Allen Danby

1917
The Lifted Veil

The Lifted Veil

Malcolm Grant

1917
The Greatest Power

The Greatest Power

John Conrad

1917
Lady Barnacle

Lady Barnacle

Krishna Dhwaj

1917
The Call of Her People

The Call of Her People

Nicholas Van Kleet

1917
A Magdalene of the Hills

A Magdalene of the Hills

Bud Weaver

1917
Mary Lawson's Secret

Mary Lawson's Secret

Dr. Brundage

1917
The White Raven

The White Raven

The Stranger

1917

A Modern Cinderella

1917
In the Diplomatic Service

In the Diplomatic Service

Lynn Hardi

1916
The Pretenders

The Pretenders

Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)

1916
The Child of Destiny

The Child of Destiny

Calvin Baker

1916
Dorian's Divorce

Dorian's Divorce

Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)

1916
The Price of Malice

The Price of Malice

Capt. Mills

1916

Her Debt of Honor

John Hartfield

1916
A Yellow Streak

A Yellow Streak

Jack Rader

1915
For the Honor of the Crew

For the Honor of the Crew

Robert Brent

1915