Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

233

Gender

Male

Birthday

1888-06-15

Day of Death

1947-09-28 (59 years old)

Place of Birth

Dobbs Ferry, New York, USA

Also Known As

Wm. B. Davidson

Wm. Davidson

William Davidson

Bill Davidson

William Beatman Davidson

William B. Davidson

Biography

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

Acting

The Good Fellows

1943

The Good Fellows

as

Blake

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

1942

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

as

Cyrus Ballard

Dust Be My Destiny

1939

Dust Be My Destiny

as

Work Farm Warden

The Greatest Power

1917

The Greatest Power

as

John Conrad

The Call of Her People

1917

The Call of Her People

as

Nicholas Van Kleet

The White Raven

1917

The White Raven

as

The Stranger

The Lifted Veil

1917

The Lifted Veil

as

Malcolm Grant

I'm No Angel

1933

I'm No Angel

as

Ernest Brown

Hidden Power

1939

Hidden Power

as

Foster

La belle Russe

1919

La belle Russe

as

Brand

Lure of Ambition

1919

Lure of Ambition

as

Hon. Cyril Ralston

The Pretenders

1916

The Pretenders

as

Joseph Bailey (as William Davidson)

Seven Sinners

1940

Seven Sinners

as

Police Chief

In Pursuit of Polly

1918

In Pursuit of Polly

as

Larry O'Malley

Good Morning, Judge

1928

Good Morning, Judge

as

Elton (as William Davidson)

Circumstantial Evidence

1945

Circumstantial Evidence

as

Board of Appeals Chairman

Hook, Line and Sinker

1930

Hook, Line and Sinker

as

Frank Dukette aka Duke of Winchester (as William Davidson)

Queen of the Night Clubs

1929

Queen of the Night Clubs

as

Assistant District Attorney (as William Davidson)

Sun Valley Serenade

1941

Sun Valley Serenade

as

Jack Murray

Lady Killer

1933

Lady Killer

as

Director Williams

Hollywood Hotel

1938

Hollywood Hotel

as

Director Kelton

Earthworm Tractors

1936

Earthworm Tractors

as

Mr. Jackson

Dangerously Yours

1933

Dangerously Yours

as

George Carr

Highway West

1941

Highway West

as

Gorman

Hearts and Spurs

1925

Hearts and Spurs

as

Victor Dufresne

The Dragon Murder Case

1934

The Dragon Murder Case

as

Greeff

Larceny, Inc.

1942

Larceny, Inc.

as

McCarthy

Blackwell's Island

1939

Blackwell's Island

as

Hempel

Special Agent

1935

Special Agent

as

Charlie Young - Carston's Lawyer

Ports of Call

1925

Ports of Call

as

Randolph Sherman

The Great Man's Lady

1941

The Great Man's Lady

as

Sen. Knobs

The Notorious Lone Wolf

1946

The Notorious Lone Wolf

as

Inspector Crane (as William Davidson)

The Lost Squadron

1932

The Lost Squadron

as

Lelewer

Letter of Introduction

1938

Letter of Introduction

as

Mr. Raleigh (uncredited)

Her Mad Night

1932

Her Mad Night

as

District Attorney

Paradise Isle

1937

Paradise Isle

as

Hoener

A Yellow Streak

1915

A Yellow Streak

as

Jack Rader

Show Them No Mercy!

1935

Show Them No Mercy!

as

Chief Haggerty (as William Davidson)

Sergeant Murphy

1938

Sergeant Murphy

as

Maj. Gruff (uncredited)

Sweet Music

1935

Sweet Music

as

Billie Madison

Sky Devils

1932

Sky Devils

as

Captain

Graft

1931

Graft

as

M.H. Thomas

Tell It to a Star

1945

Tell It to a Star

as

Brannigan

Scarlet Pages

1930

Scarlet Pages

as

Jackson

The Animal Kingdom

1932

The Animal Kingdom

as

Chess Player

Love on a Bet

1936

Love on a Bet

as

A.W. Hutchinson

Murder on the Waterfront

1943

Murder on the Waterfront

as

Capt. Towne

The Menace

1932

The Menace

as

John Utterson

Midnight Court

1937

Midnight Court

as

Alfred H. Kruger

Laughing Boy

1934

Laughing Boy

as

Hartshone (as William Davidson)

The Pride of the Legion

1932

The Pride of the Legion

as

Sgt. Arnold

Marry the Girl

1937

Marry the Girl

as

Drake

Woman Trap

1929

Woman Trap

as

Watts

Road Gang

1936

Road Gang

as

Attorney General Mardsen

My Love Came Back

1940

My Love Came Back

as

Agent

For the Defense

1930

For the Defense

as

Dist. Atty. Stone

Uncle Joe

1941

Uncle Joe

as

Mr. Day

Florian

1940

Florian

as

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The Vice Squad

1931

The Vice Squad

as

Magistrate Tom Morrison

The Affairs of Martha

1942

The Affairs of Martha

as

Homer Jacell

For the Honor of the Crew

1915

For the Honor of the Crew

as

Robert Brent

The Plainsman and the Lady

1946

The Plainsman and the Lady

as

Russell

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

1938

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

as

Ellory Bugs

That Hagen Girl

1947

That Hagen Girl

as

Mr. Bowman (uncredited)

Indianapolis Speedway

1939

Indianapolis Speedway

as

Duncan Martin

Woman Wanted

1935

Woman Wanted

as

Collins

Captain Applejack

1931

Captain Applejack

as

Bill Dennett

In the Navy

1941

In the Navy

as

Capt. Richards (uncredited)

Hello, Everybody!

1933

Hello, Everybody!

as

Mr. Parker

No Limit

1931

No Limit

as

Wilkie

The Most Dangerous Game

1932

The Most Dangerous Game

as

Captain

Blockade

1938

Blockade

as

Commandant

Guilty or Not Guilty

1932

Guilty or Not Guilty

as

Chief

Playboy of Paris

1930

Playboy of Paris

as

Monsieur Bannack (uncredited)

The Dumb-Bell

1922

The Dumb-Bell

as

The St. Louis Kid

1934

The St. Louis Kid

as

Joe Hunter

A Man from Wyoming

1930

A Man from Wyoming

as

Major

Her Debt of Honor

1916

Her Debt of Honor

as

John Hartfield

In the Diplomatic Service

1916

In the Diplomatic Service

as

Lynn Hardi

Death Flies East

1935

Death Flies East

as

Police Captain Barrie

Murder by an Aristocrat

1936

Murder by an Aristocrat

as

Bayard Thatcher (as William Davidson)

Ding Dong Williams

1946

Ding Dong Williams

as

Mr. Saul Dana

The Price of Malice

1916

The Price of Malice

as

Capt. Mills

A Modern Cinderella

1917

A Modern Cinderella

as

The Carnation Kid

1929

The Carnation Kid

as

Blythe

Partners of the Night

1920

Partners of the Night

as

Robert Clifford

Cradle Snatchers

1927

Cradle Snatchers

as

Roy Ladd

Ever Since Eve

1937

Ever Since Eve

as

Henderson

It Happened in Hollywood

1937

It Happened in Hollywood

as

Al Howard

Easy Living

1937

Easy Living

as

Mr. Hyde

Lillian Russell

1940

Lillian Russell

as

President Cleveland

In Person

1935

In Person

as

Director Bill Sutter

They Made Me a Criminal

1939

They Made Me a Criminal

as

Ennis

The Intruder

1933

The Intruder

as

Det. Lt. Samson

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

1931

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

as

The Hurricane

1937

The Hurricane

as

Abusive Drunk (uncredited)

Racket Busters

1938

Racket Busters

as

Trucking Chairman (uncredited)

Fatal Lady

1936

Fatal Lady

as

Detective (uncredited)

Cowboy from Brooklyn

1938

Cowboy from Brooklyn

as

Mr. 'W.P.' Alvey

Cocoanut Grove

1938

Cocoanut Grove

as

Hawtrey

Sunny

1930

Sunny

as

First Ship's Officer

Melody for Two

1937

Melody for Two

as

Mr. Hale

Naughty But Nice

1939

Naughty But Nice

as

Samuel 'Sam' 'Simsy' Hudson - Music Publisher

Up in Arms

1944

Up in Arms

as

Maxwell (uncredited)

Adam and Eva

1923

Adam and Eva

as

Dr. Delamater

Greenwich Village

1944

Greenwich Village

as

Dance Director

Smashing the Money Ring

1939

Smashing the Money Ring

as

Warden Denby

The Sport Parade

1932

The Sport Parade

as

Kendricks (uncredited)

Oil for the Lamps of China

1935

Oil for the Lamps of China

as

E.H. Swaley

Charter Pilot

1940

Charter Pilot

as

Mr. Wentworth

The Big Noise

1936

The Big Noise

as

Welford Andrews

Hired Wife

1940

Hired Wife

as

Mumford (as William Davidson)

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

1934

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

as

Stephen Prime

Tail Spin

1939

Tail Spin

as

Sales Manager (Uncredited)

Blondie Meets the Boss

1939

Blondie Meets the Boss

as

Elderly Man in Café (uncredited)

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

1939

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

as

Stock Broker

Three Sons o' Guns

1941

Three Sons o' Guns

as

Henry Baxter

Each Dawn I Die

1939

Each Dawn I Die

as

Bill Mason

That's My Man

1947

That's My Man

as

Steward

Honeymoon in Bali

1939

Honeymoon in Bali

as

Store Detective

There Goes My Heart

1938

There Goes My Heart

as

Skipper Jackson (uncredited)

Man-Made Monster

1941

Man-Made Monster

as

District Attorney Ralph B. Stanley

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

1994

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

as

Self (archive footage)

The Last Trail

1927

The Last Trail

as

Kurt Morley

The Girl from Nowhere

1921

The Girl from Nowhere

as

Jimmy Ryder

Hers to Hold

1943

Hers to Hold

as

Al

The Judge Steps Out

1947

The Judge Steps Out

as

Colonel Bright (uncredited)

On Their Own

1940

On Their Own

as

Judge Bull

A Night of Adventure

1944

A Night of Adventure

as

Gilbert J. Regan (uncredited)

Calaboose

1943

Calaboose

as

Sheriff George Lane (as William Davidson)

Bordertown

1935

Bordertown

as

Dr. Carter

Devil Dogs of the Air

1935

Devil Dogs of the Air

as

Adjutant

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

1947

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

as

Peter Premium

Love on Toast

1937

Love on Toast

as

Jonathan

The Secret Bride

1934

The Secret Bride

as

Representative McPherson

Dangerous

1935

Dangerous

as

Reed Walsh

A Woman There Was

1919

A Woman There Was

as

Rev. Winthrop Stark

Over My Dead Body

1942

Over My Dead Body

as

Crole (as William Davidson)

Keep 'Em Flying

1941

Keep 'Em Flying

as

Gonigle

Mary Lawson's Secret

1917

Mary Lawson's Secret

as

Dr. Brundage

Scarface

1932

Scarface

as

Citizens Committee Member (uncredited)

My Darling Clementine

1946

My Darling Clementine

as

Saloon Owner (uncredited)

The Lady from Cheyenne

1941

The Lady from Cheyenne

as

Nye Dunbar

My Little Chickadee

1940

My Little Chickadee

as

Sheriff of Little Bend (uncredited)

Hold That Ghost

1941

Hold That Ghost

as

Moose Matson

Half a Sinner

1940

Half a Sinner

as

Slick

Tin Pan Alley

1940

Tin Pan Alley

as

Hotel Manager

The Singing Kid

1936

The Singing Kid

as

Barney Hammond

Gentleman Jim

1942

Gentleman Jim

as

Donovan (uncredited)

A Night at the Ritz

1935

A Night at the Ritz

as

Connolly

Lady with Red Hair

1940

Lady with Red Hair

as

Stock Company Manager (uncredited)

Girl in 313

1940

Girl in 313

as

George Grayson

Maryland

1940

Maryland

as

John Addison

Meet the Baron

1933

Meet the Baron

as

General Broadcasting Representative

How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action

1933

How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action

as

Himself

Private Detective

1939

Private Detective

as

Inspector Evans

Satan Met a Lady

1936

Satan Met a Lady

as

City Fathers Committee Spokesman (uncredited)

Three Girls About Town

1941

Three Girls About Town

as

Labor Leader

The Silver Horde

1930

The Silver Horde

as

Tom Hilliard

Something to Sing About

1937

Something to Sing About

as

Mr. Richards (as William Davidson)

The Secret Call

1931

The Secret Call

as

Jim Blake

Always Faithful

1929

Always Faithful

as

George W. Mason

Remember the Day

1941

Remember the Day

as

Committeeman

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

1931

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

as

Himself - Golfer

Upperworld

1934

Upperworld

as

City Editor (uncredited)

Sharp Tools

1928

Sharp Tools

as

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936

Gold Diggers of 1937

as

Andy Callahan

Sudden Money

1939

Sudden Money

as

Sam

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

as

Self (archive footage)

Oh, for a Man!

1930

Oh, for a Man!

as

Kerry Stokes

Careful, Soft Shoulders

1942

Careful, Soft Shoulders

as

Mr. Aldrich

Housewife

1934

Housewife

as

Nan's Attorney

Off the Record

1939

Off the Record

as

Scotty

The Costello Case

1930

The Costello Case

as

Saunders

Men Are Like That

1930

Men Are Like That

as

Frank Hyland

On Trial

1939

On Trial

as

Mr. Gray

Half Holiday

1931

Half Holiday

as

Jerry - Andy's Pal

Week-End in Havana

1941

Week-End in Havana

as

Captain Moss

The Cat Creeps

1946

The Cat Creeps

as

James Walsh

Fog Over Frisco

1934

Fog Over Frisco

as

Editor Joe Hogue

Thieves Fall Out

1941

Thieves Fall Out

as

Harrison "Harry" Eckles

Hell's Angels

1930

Hell's Angels

as

Staff Major

Mission to Moscow

1943

Mission to Moscow

as

Senator (uncredited)

Sailor's Lady

1940

Sailor's Lady

as

Judge Hinsdale

Marked Woman

1937

Marked Woman

as

Bob Crandall

Torch Singer

1933

Torch Singer

as

Jarrett

Over the Wall

1943

Over the Wall

as

Warden Ed

Go Into Your Dance

1935

Go Into Your Dance

as

Tom McGee

Truck Busters

1943

Truck Busters

as

Stephen S. Gray

Blonde Alibi

1946

Blonde Alibi

as

Police Captain Hurley (Uncredited)

The Jury's Secret

1938

The Jury's Secret

as

Page

See My Lawyer

1945

See My Lawyer

as

Judge

Sandy Gets Her Man

1940

Sandy Gets Her Man

as

Councilman Charles J. Clark

Behind the Mike

1937

Behind the Mike

as

Cyrus Wittles

Let Them Live

1937

Let Them Live

as

The Editor

Why I Would Not Marry

1918

Why I Would Not Marry

as

Undetermined Role

Recompense

1925

Recompense

as

Col. Donovan

Make Your Own Bed

1944

Make Your Own Bed

as

Mr. Linklater

Impossible Catherine

1919

Impossible Catherine

as

John Henry Jackson

The Billion Dollar Scandal

1933

The Billion Dollar Scandal

as

Jim Lawrence

The Big Shakedown

1934

The Big Shakedown

as

District Attorney (uncredited)

You May Be Next!

1936

You May Be Next!

as

Official (uncredited)

Imitation of Life

1934

Imitation of Life

as

Man Buying Cigar (uncredited)

In Society

1944

In Society

as

Parker

San Francisco Docks

1940

San Francisco Docks

as

Dist. Atty. Craig

The Man Who Walked Alone

1945

The Man Who Walked Alone

as

Governor

Granny Get Your Gun

1940

Granny Get Your Gun

as

Fitzgerald

The Capitol

1919

The Capitol

as

Congressman Blake

Central Park

1932

Central Park

as

Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

Invisible Stripes

1939

Invisible Stripes

as

Montgomery (uncredited)

In This Our Life

1942

In This Our Life

as

Jim Purdy

Blaze o' Glory

1929

Blaze o' Glory

as

District Attorney (as William Davidson)

Dorian's Divorce

1916

Dorian's Divorce

as

Henry Morgan (as William Davidson)

They Were Expendable

1945

They Were Expendable

as

Hotel Manager (uncredited)

Is My Face Red?

1932

Is My Face Red?

as

O'Sullivan

A Gentleman of Paris

1927

A Gentleman of Paris

as

Henri Dufour

The Male Animal

1942

The Male Animal

as

Alumnus

Female

1933

Female

as

Department Head (Uncredited)

Mystery of the Wax Museum

1933

Mystery of the Wax Museum

as

Detective (Uncredited)

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

1934

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

as

Charles (as William Davidson)

Illegal Traffic

1938

Illegal Traffic

as

Dalton

The Magnificent Dope

1942

The Magnificent Dope

as

Mr. Reindel

Dishonored

1931

Dishonored

as

The Thirteenth Guest

1932

The Thirteenth Guest

as

Police Captain Brown (Uncredited)

Sing Your Way Home

1945

Sing Your Way Home

as

F.T. Johnson

The Road Back

1937

The Road Back

as

Bartscher

The Valley of Doubt

1924

The Valley of Doubt

as

Macy

Persuasive Peggy

1917

Persuasive Peggy

as

Ed Trowbridge

Her Second Husband

1917

Her Second Husband

as

John Kirby

American Maid

1917

American Maid

as

David Starr

Ashes of Love

1918

Ashes of Love

as

Redheads on Parade

1935

Redheads on Parade

as

Theatre Manager

You and Me

1938

You and Me

as

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

Production

Crew

Directing