
Acting · San Francisco, California, USA · Born March 25, 1894
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Henry "Will" Wright (March 26, 1894, San Francisco, California - June 19, 1962, Los Angeles, California) was an American character actor. He was frequently cast in westerns and in curmudgeonly roles. Over the course of his career, Wright appeared in more than 200 film and television roles. He started his acting career in vaudeville and later moved to the stage, then on to movies, radio, and television. Among the films in which Wright appeared are Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), The Major and the Minor (1943), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), Road to Utopia (1946), Mother Wore Tights (1947), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), Little Women (1949), Walk Softly, Stranger (1950), Sunset in the West (1950), People Will Talk (1951), The Happy Time (1952), River of No Return (1954), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Jeanne Eagels (1957), and Gunman's Walk (1958). One of his most famous and memorable film roles was corrupt city official Dolph Pillsbury in the Academy Award-winning All the King's Men (1949). Wright provided the voice of Friend Owl in Walt Disney's animated film Bambi (1942). He guest starred on several television series. Will Wright died of cancer in 1962.
MovieFail Safe
1964
as Bit Part (uncredited)
MovieCape Fear
1962
as Dr. Pearsall
TVThe Dick Van Dyke Show
1961
as Sam Petrie
MovieTwenty Plus Two
1961
as Newspaper morgue attendant
MovieThe Deadly Companions
1961
as Doctor Acton
TVMister Ed
1961
as Mr. Thompson
TVThe Andy Griffith Show
1960
as Ben Weaver
TVOutlaws
1960
TVPete and Gladys
1960
TVThriller
1960
as Constable Tom Walker
TVThe Tall Man
1960
MovieInherit the Wind
1960
as Bible Salesman (uncredited)
TVMr. Lucky
1959
as The Leadville Kid
TVDennis the Menace
1959
as Merrivale
TVRiverboat
1959
as J.C. Sickel
MovieThe 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
1959
as Pentagon General
MovieAlias Jesse James
1959
as Titus Queasley
TVRawhide
1959
as Grandfather
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Luther Hanks
TVBat Masterson
1958
as Billy Willow
TVLawman
1958
TVThe Donna Reed Show
1958
as Oliver
TVBronco
1958
MovieRock-a-Bye Baby
1958
as Fire Chief (uncredited)
MovieGunman's Walk
1958
as Judge
MovieQuantrill's Raiders
1958
as Judge Wood
MovieThe Missouri Traveler
1958
as Sheriff Marvin Peavy
TVTrackdown
1957
TVLeave It to Beaver
1957
as Pete at Firehouse #7
TVThe Real McCoys
1957
TVMaverick
1957
TVPerry Mason
1957
as James Vardon
TVSugarfoot
1957
as Charlie Cade
MovieJeanne Eagels
1957
as Marshal (uncredited)
MovieJohnny Tremain
1957
as Ephraim Lapham
MovieThe Wayward Bus
1957
as Van Brunt
MovieThe Iron Sheriff
1957
as Judge
Official Detective
1957
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as King - Newspaper Editor
Conflict
1956
TVHey, Jeannie!
1956
as McClish
MovieThese Wilder Years
1956
as Old Cab Driver
MovieThe Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
1955
as Admiral William S. Sims
MovieThe Man with the Golden Arm
1955
TVThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
as Judge O'Neill
MovieThe Tall Men
1955
as Gus - Bartender (uncredited)
MovieThe Kentuckian
1955
as John Decker (uncredited)
MovieNot as a Stranger
1955
as Mr. Roberts (uncredited)
TVThe Millionaire
1955
as Grandpa Costello
MovieAtomic Energy as a Force for Good
1955
as Tim Summers
TVDecember Bride
1954
TVLassie
1954
as Caleb Brown
MovieThe Raid
1954
as Josiah Anderson
MovieJohnny Guitar
1954
as Ned - Bank Teller (uncredited)
MovieRiver of No Return
1954
as Trader (uncredited)
TVPublic Defender
1954
as Horace Bascomb
MovieThe Wild One
1953
as Art Kleiner
TVThe Danny Thomas Show
1953
as Mr. Johnson
TVLetter to Loretta
1953
as Father Gourdian
MovieThe Last Posse
1953
as Todd Mitchell
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
TVYou Are There
1953
MovieNiagara
1953
as Boatman
MovieThe Happy Time
1952
as Family Doctor
TVThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Mr. Jackson
TVThe Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Mr. Crane
TVCavalcade of America
1952
as George's Father
TVFour Star Playhouse
1952
as Willie
MovieO. Henry's Full House
1952
as Manager (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
MovieHoliday for Sinners
1952
as The Man with a Cigar
MovieLure of the Wilderness
1952
as Sheriff Brink
MovieLydia Bailey
1952
as Consul (uncredited)
MoviePaula
1952
as Raymond Bascom
MovieYoung Man with Ideas
1952
as Party Guest (uncredited)
MovieThe Las Vegas Story
1952
as Mike Fogarty
TVDragnet
1951
TVI Love Lucy
1951
as Mr. Walters
TVSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Pop
MoviePeople Will Talk
1951
as John Higgins (uncredited)
MovieThe Tall Target
1951
as Thomas Ogden (uncredited)
MovieNever Trust a Gambler
1951
as Cap Douglas (uncredited)
MovieExcuse My Dust
1951
as Race judge
MovieMy Forbidden Past
1951
as Luther Toplady
TVThe Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
MovieVengeance Valley
1951
as Mr. Willoughby
TVThe Living Christ
1951
as Herod The Great
MovieDallas
1950
as Judge Harper
MovieWalk Softly, Stranger
1950
as Jake - Poker Player (uncredited)
TVThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950
as Judge Kramer
MovieSunset in the West
1950
as Sheriff Tad Osborne
MovieNo Way Out
1950
as Dr. Cheney (uncredited)
MovieThe Savage Horde
1950
as Judge Thomas Cole
MovieA Ticket to Tomahawk
1950
as Marshal Kit Dodge
MovieHouse by the River
1950
as Inspector Sarten
MovieMrs. Mike
1949
as Dr. McIntosh
MovieAdam's Rib
1949
as Judge Marcasson
MovieAll the King's Men
1949
as Dolph Pillsbury
MovieThey Live by Night
1949
as Mobley
MovieMiss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
as Roscoe Johnson (uncredited)
TVThe Lone Ranger
1949
as Uncle Ed
MovieBrimstone
1949
as Martin Tredwell
MovieLust for Gold
1949
as Parsons (uncredited)
The Price of Freedom
1949
as McTrees
MovieGrape Nutty
1949
as Crow (Voice)
MovieBig Jack
1949
as Will Farnsworth
MovieThe Green Promise
1949
as Mr. Grenstedt
MovieLittle Women
1949
as Mr. Grace (uncredited)
MovieAct of Violence
1949
as Pop
MovieWhispering Smith
1948
as Sheriff McSwiggin
MovieAn Act of Murder
1948
as Judge Jim Wilder
MovieDisaster
1948
as Pop Hansford
MovieThe Walls of Jericho
1948
as Dr. Patterson (uncredited)
MovieBlack Eagle
1948
as Sheriff Clancy
MovieRelentless
1948
as Sam - the Horse Dealer
MovieGreen Grass of Wyoming
1948
as Jake Willis
MovieSo This Is New York
1948
as Uncle Fergus (uncredited)
MovieMr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
1948
as Eph Hackett (uncredited)
MovieThe Inside Story
1948
as J. J. Johnson
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
1948
as Pop Williams
Speaking of Animals: Home Sweet Home
1948
as Babirusa / Pig (voice)
MovieCalifornia's Golden Beginning
1948
MovieWild Harvest
1947
as Mike Alperson
MovieAlong the Oregon Trail
1947
as Jim Bridger
MovieCynthia
1947
as Gus Wood, Thatcher's Real Estate Rep
MovieMother Wore Tights
1947
as Withers (uncredited)
MovieUncle Tom's Cabaña
1947
as Uncle Tom (uncredited)
MovieKeeper of the Bees
1947
as Dr. Grayson
MovieThe Trouble with Women
1947
as Commissioner (uncredited)
MovieDanger Street
1947
as Police Chief Bullward
MovieThe Long Night
1947
as Mr. Tully - the Janitor (uncredited)
MovieBlaze of Noon
1947
as Mr. Thomas
MovieCalifornia
1947
as Chairman (uncredited)
MovieFair Weather Fiends
1946
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
MovieBlue Skies
1946
as Dan - Stage Manager (uncredited)
MovieThe Jolson Story
1946
as Sourpuss Movie Patron (uncredited)
MovieThe Reckless Driver
1946
as Wally Walrus (voice)
MovieBig Town
1946
as Station Agent (uncredited)
MovieDown Missouri Way
1946
as Prof. Morris
MovieThe Inner Circle
1946
as Henry Boggs
MovieRendezvous with Annie
1946
as Elmer Snodgrass
MovieHot Cargo
1946
as Tim Chapman
MovieWho's Cookin Who?
1946
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
MovieOne Exciting Week
1946
as Otis Piper
MovieWithout Reservations
1946
as Pullman Conductor (uncredited)
MovieThey Made Me a Killer
1946
as Henry, the Blacksmith
MovieThe Blue Dahlia
1946
as "Dad" Newell
MovieApple Andy
1946
as Devil
MovieJohnny Comes Flying Home
1946
as Foreman (uncredited)
MovieThe Hoodlum Saint
1946
as Allan 'Knucklehead' Smith - Times Editor (uncredited)
MovieRoad to Utopia
1946
as Mr. Latimer (uncredited)
MovieThe Madonna's Secret
1946
as The Riverman
MovieProspecting for Petroleum
1946
as The Professor (voice)
MovieScarlet Street
1945
as Globe Loan Office Manager (uncredited)
MovieThe Loose Nut
1945
as Construction Worker (voice)
MovieState Fair
1945
as Hog Judge (uncredited)
MovieThe Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
1945
as Mr. Nelson
MovieYou Came Along
1945
as Col. Dale V. Armstrong (uncredited)
MovieBewitched
1945
as Mr. Herkheimer
MovieRhapsody in Blue
1945
as Rachmaninoff
MovieSalome, Where She Danced
1945
as Sheriff
MovieFall Guy
1945
as Mr. Nedsen, Parkson's Attorney (uncredited)
MovieHigh Powered
1945
as Jeff Hines
MovieGrissly's Millions
1945
as John Frey
MoviePractically Yours
1944
as Sen. Cowling (uncredited)
MovieDangerous Passage
1944
as Postal Clerk (uncredited)
MovieThe Town Went Wild
1944
as Judge Harry Schrank (uncredited)
MovieWilson
1944
as Hughes Campaign Orator in Maine (uncredited)
MovieTake It Big
1944
as Rodeo Judge (uncredited)
MovieYou Can't Ration Love
1944
as Judge Cary - Justice of the Peace
MovieThe Navy Way
1944
as Baldy - Triangle A Ranch Hand (uncredited)
MovieIn Old Oklahoma
1943
as Doctor
MovieHere Comes Elmer
1943
as Horace Parrot
MovieSo Proudly We Hail
1943
as Colonel Clark (Uncredited)
MovieSleepy Lagoon
1943
as Cyrus Coates
MovieThe Good Fellows
1943
as Brother from Danville (uncredited)
MovieCowboy in Manhattan
1943
as Higgins
MovieThe Meanest Man in the World
1943
as Pawn Shop Owner (uncredited)
MovieTennessee Johnson
1942
as Alderman (uncredited)
MovieThe Major and the Minor
1942
as Ticket Agent #1 (uncredited)
MovieA Letter From Bataan
1942
as Mr. Limpert
MovieWildcat
1942
as John 'Paw' Smithers
MovieBambi
1942
as Friend Owl (voice) (uncredited)
MovieTales of Manhattan
1942
as Old Concertgoer (uncredited)
MovieThe Postman Didn't Ring
1942
as Mr. Slade
MovieSaboteur
1942
as J.C. Lormans - Company Official (uncredited)
MovieShut My Big Mouth
1942
as Jim Long
MovieUSS VD: Ship of Shame
1942
as Commandant (uncredited)
MovieShadow of the Thin Man
1941
as Maguire (uncredited)
MovieThe Tell-Tale Heart
1941
as Second Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
MovieNothing but the Truth
1941
as Mr. Bart Prichard (uncredited)
MovieMob Town
1941
as Pawnbroker (uncredited)
MovieHonky Tonk
1941
as Townsman at Meeting House (uncredited)
MovieBlossoms in the Dust
1941
as Senator
MovieThe Richest Man in Town
1941
as Frederick Johnson
MovieCracked Nuts
1941
as Sylvanus Boogle
MovieMaisie Was a Lady
1941
as Judge Thatcher (Uncredited)
MovieYou, the People
1940
as Mr. Roberts
MovieBlondie Plays Cupid
1940
as Mr. Tucker
MovieIt's A Small World
1935
as Courtroom spectator (uncredited)
MoviePure Feud
1934
as Lem (uncredited)