Acting · Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA · Born June 15, 1888
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.
MovieMae West and the Men Who Knew Her
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
TVMGM Parade
1955
MovieThe Judge Steps Out
1947
as Colonel Bright (uncredited)
MovieThat Hagen Girl
1947
as Mr. Bowman (uncredited)
MovieThat's My Man
1947
as Steward
MovieDick Tracy's Dilemma
1947
as Peter Premium
MovieThe Plainsman and the Lady
1946
as Russell
MovieMy Darling Clementine
1946
as Saloon Owner (uncredited)
MovieThe Cat Creeps
1946
as James Walsh
MovieDing Dong Williams
1946
as Mr. Saul Dana
MovieBlonde Alibi
1946
as Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)
MovieThe Notorious Lone Wolf
1946
as Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)
MovieThey Were Expendable
1945
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
MovieSing Your Way Home
1945
as F.T. Johnson (uncredited)
MovieTell It to a Star
1945
as Brannigan
Blonde Ransom
1945
as Police Captain
MovieDillinger
1945
as Bank President (uncredited)
MovieCircumstantial Evidence
1945
as Board of Appeals Chairman
MovieThe Man Who Walked Alone
1945
as Governor
MovieSee My Lawyer
1945
as Judge
MovieGreenwich Village
1944
as Dance Director
MovieIn Society
1944
as Parker
MovieMake Your Own Bed
1944
as Mr. Linklater
MovieA Night of Adventure
1944
as Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)
MovieShine on Harvest Moon
1944
as Tim Donovan (uncredited)
MovieUp in Arms
1944
as Maxwell (uncredited)
MovieOver the Wall
1943
as Warden Ed
MovieMurder on the Waterfront
1943
as Capt. Towne
MovieThe Good Fellows
1943
as Blake
MovieHers to Hold
1943
as Al
MovieMission to Moscow
1943
as Senator (uncredited)
MovieCalaboose
1943
as Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)
MovieTruck Busters
1943
as Stephen S. Gray
MovieGentleman Jim
1942
as Donovan (uncredited)
MovieCareful, Soft Shoulders
1942
as Mr. Aldrich
MovieThe Magnificent Dope
1942
as Mr. Reindel
MovieThe Affairs of Martha
1942
as Homer Jacell
MovieIn This Our Life
1942
as Jim Purdy
MovieLarceny, Inc.
1942
as McCarthy
MovieThe Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
1942
as Cyrus Ballard
MovieThe Male Animal
1942
as Alumnus
MovieOver My Dead Body
1942
as Crole (as William Davidson)
MovieRemember the Day
1941
as Committeeman
MovieKeep 'Em Flying
1941
as Gonigle
MovieThe Great Man's Lady
1941
as Sen. Knobs
MovieThree Girls About Town
1941
as Labor Leader
MovieUncle Joe
1941
as Mr. Day
MovieWeek-End in Havana
1941
as Captain Moss
MovieSun Valley Serenade
1941
as Jack Murray
MovieHighway West
1941
as Gorman
MovieHold That Ghost
1941
as Moose Matson
MovieThree Sons o' Guns
1941
as Henry Baxter
MovieIn the Navy
1941
as Capt. Richards (uncredited)
MovieThieves Fall Out
1941
as Harrison "Harry" Eckles
MovieThe Lady from Cheyenne
1941
as Nye Dunbar
MovieMan-Made Monster
1941
as District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley
MovieSan Francisco Docks
1940
as Dist. Atty. Craig
MovieCharter Pilot
1940
as Mr. Wentworth
MovieA Night at Earl Carroll's
1940
as Mayor Green of San Bernardino
MovieLady with Red Hair
1940
as Stock Company Manager (uncredited)
MovieTin Pan Alley
1940
as Hotel Manager
MovieSandy Gets Her Man
1940
as Councilman Charles J. Clark
MovieSeven Sinners
1940
as Police Chief
MovieHired Wife
1940
as Mumford (as William Davidson)
MovieMaryland
1940
as John Addison
MovieMy Love Came Back
1940
as Agent
MovieSailor's Lady
1940
as Judge Hinsdale
MovieFlorian
1940
as Archduke Franz Ferdinand
MovieGirl in 313
1940
as George Grayson
MovieLillian Russell
1940
as President Cleveland
MovieOn Their Own
1940
as Judge Bull
MovieHalf a Sinner
1940
as Slick
MovieGranny Get Your Gun
1940
as Fitzgerald
MovieMy Little Chickadee
1940
as Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)
MovieInvisible Stripes
1939
as Montgomery (uncredited)
MovieThe Honeymoon's Over
1939
as Crane
MoviePrivate Detective
1939
as Inspector Evans
MovieSmashing the Money Ring
1939
as Warden Denby
MovieHoneymoon in Bali
1939
as Store Detective
MovieDust Be My Destiny
1939
as Work Farm Warden
MovieHidden Power
1939
as Foster
MovieEach Dawn I Die
1939
as Bill Mason
MovieIndianapolis Speedway
1939
as Duncan Martin
MovieNaughty but Nice
1939
as Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher
MovieOn Trial
1939
as Mr. Gray
MovieSudden Money
1939
as Sam
MovieThree Smart Girls Grow Up
1939
as Stock Broker
MovieBlondie Meets the Boss
1939
as Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)
MovieTail Spin
1939
as Sales Manager (Uncredited)
MovieBlackwell's Island
1939
as Hempel
MovieThey Made Me a Criminal
1939
as Ennis
MovieOff the Record
1939
as Scotty
MovieIllegal Traffic
1938
as Dalton
MovieThere Goes My Heart
1938
as Skipper Jackson (uncredited)
MovieMr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
as Ellory Bugs
MovieLetter of Introduction
1938
as Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)
MovieRacket Busters
1938
as Trucking Chairman (uncredited)
MovieCowboy from Brooklyn
1938
as Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey
MovieBlockade
1938
as Commandant
MovieYou and Me
1938
as N. G. Orton, Attorney-at-Law (uncredited)
MovieCocoanut Grove
1938
as Hawtrey
MovieThe Jury's Secret
1938
as Page
MovieHollywood Hotel
1938
as Director Kelton
MovieSergeant Murphy
1938
as Maj. Gruff (uncredited)
MovieLove on Toast
1937
as Jonathan
MovieThe Hurricane
1937
as The Bully (uncredited)
MovieSomething to Sing About
1937
as Café Manager
MovieBehind the Mike
1937
as Cyrus Wittles
MovieIt Happened in Hollywood
1937
as Al Howard
MovieParadise Isle
1937
as Hoener
MovieEasy Living
1937
as Mr. Hyde
MovieEver Since Eve
1937
as Henderson
MovieMarry the Girl
1937
as Drake
MovieThe Road Back
1937
as Bartscher
MovieMelody for Two
1937
as Mr. Hale
MovieLet Them Live
1937
as The Editor
MovieMarked Woman
1937
as Bob Crandall
MovieMidnight Court
1937
as Alfred H. Kruger
MovieGold Diggers of 1937
1936
as Andy Callahan
MovieEarthworm Tractors
1936
as Mr. Jackson
MovieSatan Met a Lady
1936
as City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)
MovieThe Big Noise
1936
as Welford Andrews
MovieMurder by an Aristocrat
1936
as Bayard Thatcher
MovieFatal Lady
1936
as Detective (uncredited)
MovieThe Singing Kid
1936
as Barney Hammond
MovieRoad Gang
1936
as Attorney General Mardsen
MovieLove on a Bet
1936
as A.W. Hutchinson
MovieYou May Be Next!
1936
as Official (uncredited)
MovieDangerous
1935
as Reed Walsh
MovieShow Them No Mercy!
1935
as Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)
MovieIn Person
1935
as Director Bill Sutter (uncredited)
MovieSpecial Agent
1935
as Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer
MovieRedheads on Parade
1935
as Theatre Manager
MovieWoman Wanted
1935
as Collins
MovieOil for the Lamps of China
1935
as E.H. Swaley
MovieGo Into Your Dance
1935
as Tom McGee
MovieA Night at the Ritz
1935
as Connolly
MovieStraight from the Heart
1935
as Prosecuting Attorney
MovieDeath Flies East
1935
as Police Captain Barrie
MovieSweet Music
1935
as Billie Madison
MovieDevil Dogs of the Air
1935
as Adjutant
MovieBordertown
1935
as Dr. Carter
MovieThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head
1934
as Charles (as William Davidson)
MovieThe Secret Bride
1934
as Representative McPherson
MovieImitation of Life
1934
as Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)
MovieThe St. Louis Kid
1934
as Joe Hunter
MovieThe Dragon Murder Case
1934
as Greeff
MovieHousewife
1934
as Nan's Attorney
MovieFriends of Mr. Sweeney
1934
as Stephen Prime
MovieFog Over Frisco
1934
as Editor Joe Hogue
MovieUpperworld
1934
as City Editor (uncredited)
MovieLaughing Boy
1934
as Hartshone (as William Davidson)
MovieThe Big Shakedown
1934
as District Attorney (uncredited)
MovieLady Killer
1933
as Director Williams
MovieFemale
1933
as Department Head (Uncredited)
MovieMeet the Baron
1933
as General Broadcasting Representative
MovieI'm No Angel
1933
as Ernest Brown
MovieTorch Singer
1933
as Jarrett
How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action
1933
as Himself
MovieThe Intruder
1933
as Det. Lt. Samson
MovieDangerously Yours
1933
as George Carr
MovieMystery of the Wax Museum
1933
as Detective (Uncredited)
MovieHello, Everybody!
1933
as Mr. Parker
MovieThe Billion Dollar Scandal
1933
as Jim Lawrence
MovieThe Animal Kingdom
1932
as Chess Player (uncredited)
MovieCentral Park
1932
as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
MovieGuilty or Not Guilty
1932
as Chief
MovieThe Sport Parade
1932
as Kendricks (uncredited)
MovieThe Pride of the Legion
1932
as Sgt. Arnold
MovieHer Mad Night
1932
as District Attorney
MovieThe Most Dangerous Game
1932
as Captain
MovieThe Thirteenth Guest
1932
as Police Captain Brown (uncredited)
MovieIs My Face Red?
1932
as O'Sullivan
MovieScarface
1932
as Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)
MovieThe Lost Squadron
1932
as Lelewer
MovieSky Devils
1932
as Captain
MovieThe Menace
1932
as John Utterson
Half Holiday
1931
as Jerry - Andy's Pal
MovieGraft
1931
as M.H. Thomas
MovieThe Secret Call
1931
as Jim Blake
MovieThe Vice Squad
1931
as Magistrate Tom Morrison
MovieWindy Riley Goes Hollywood
1931
MovieHow I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 2: 'Chip Shots'
1931
as Himself - Golfer
MovieDishonored
1931
MovieCaptain Applejack
1931
as Bill Dennett
MovieNo Limit
1931
as Wilkie
MovieHook, Line and Sinker
1930
as Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)
MovieOh, for a Man!
1930
as Kerry Stokes
MovieHell's Angels
1930
as Staff Major
MovieSunny
1930
as First Ship's Officer
MovieThe Silver Horde
1930
as Tom Hilliard
MoviePlayboy of Paris
1930
as Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)
MovieThe Costello Case
1930
as Saunders
MovieScarlet Pages
1930
as Jackson
MovieFor the Defense
1930
as Dist. Atty. Stone
MovieA Man from Wyoming
1930
as Major
MovieMen Are Like That
1930
as Frank Hyland
MovieBlaze o' Glory
1929
as District Attorney (as William Davidson)
MovieAlways Faithful
1929
as George W. Mason
MovieWoman Trap
1929
as Watts
MovieQueen of the Night Clubs
1929
as Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)
MovieThe Carnation Kid
1929
as Blythe
Sharp Tools
1928
MovieGood Morning, Judge
1928
as Elton (as William Davidson)
MovieA Gentleman of Paris
1927
as Henri Dufour
MovieCradle Snatchers
1927
as Roy Ladd
MovieThe Last Trail
1927
as Kurt Morley
MovieHearts and Spurs
1925
as Victor Dufresne
MovieRecompense
1925
as Col. Donovan
MovieWomen and Gold
1925
as Señor Ortego
MoviePorts of Call
1925
as Randolph Sherman
MovieThe Valley of Doubt
1924
as Macy
MovieThe Storm Daughter
1924
as Rennert
MovieAdam and Eva
1923
as Dr. Delamater
MovieThe Dumb-Bell
1922
MovieNobody
1921
as John Rossmore
MovieThe Girl from Nowhere
1921
as Jimmy Ryder
MoviePartners of the Night
1920
as Robert Clifford
MovieThe Capitol
1919
as Congressman Blake
MovieLure of Ambition
1919
as Hon. Cyril Ralston
MovieImpossible Catherine
1919
as John Henry Jackson
MovieLa belle Russe
1919
as Brand
MovieA Woman There Was
1919
as Rev. Winthrop Stark
MovieThe Gold Cure
1919
as Michael Darcy
MovieWhy I Would Not Marry
1918
as Undetermined Role
MovieIn Pursuit of Polly
1918
as Larry O'Malley
MovieAshes of Love
1918
MovieFriend Husband
1918
as John Sparr
MovieOur Little Wife
1918
as Dr. Elliott
MovieHer Second Husband
1917
as John Kirby
MovieAmerican Maid
1917
as David Starr
MoviePersuasive Peggy
1917
as Ed Trowbridge
More Truth Than Poetry
1917
as Allen Danby
MovieThe Lifted Veil
1917
as Malcolm Grant
MovieThe Greatest Power
1917
as John Conrad
MovieLady Barnacle
1917
as Krishna Dhwaj
MovieThe Call of Her People
1917
as Nicholas Van Kleet
MovieA Magdalene of the Hills
1917
as Bud Weaver
MovieMary Lawson's Secret
1917
as Dr. Brundage
MovieThe White Raven
1917
as The Stranger
A Modern Cinderella
1917
MovieIn the Diplomatic Service
1916
as Lynn Hardi
MovieThe Pretenders
1916
as Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)
MovieThe Child of Destiny
1916
as Calvin Baker
MovieDorian's Divorce
1916
as Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)
MovieThe Price of Malice
1916
as Capt. Mills
Her Debt of Honor
1916
as John Hartfield
MovieA Yellow Streak
1915
as Jack Rader
MovieFor the Honor of the Crew
1915
as Robert Brent
