William Tannen

Born: 1911-11-17 in New York City, New York, USA

Died: 1976-12-02

Known For: Acting

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian as Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp. Tannen was also cast as Gyp Clements in the 1955 episode "The Buntline Special" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Beginning on September 11, 1956, in the second season of the series, with the setting moved from Wichita to Dodge City, Kansas, Tannen filled the Hal Norton role. His earliest episodes were "Fight or Run", "The Double Life of Dora Hand" and "Clay Allison", the latter two based on historical figures, the saloon singer and actor Dora Hand and the gunfighter Clay Allison. Some of his appearances were uncredited. His last credited role was "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" (May 6, 1958), with Myron Healey as the frontier gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday. His last uncredited roles aired thereafter in May and June 1958, "Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson", based on the historical figure Ben Thompson played by Denver Pyle, "Frame-up", and "My Husband". He was cast as Ike Clanton, not on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, but in the 1964 episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. Jim Davis portrayed Wyatt Earp in this particular episode. Tannen appeared twice, one role uncredited in Davis' earlier syndicated western series, Stories of the Century, including the role of Dutch Charlie in "Milt Sharp", the story of the stagecoach robber Milt Sharp.

Filmography

1988

Hero and the Terror as Civil Engineer

1968

Here's Lucy as Workman #2

1966

Batman as American Delegate (uncredited)

1965

Get Smart as Admiral

1964

The Quick Gun

1963

Arrest and Trial as Mack

1962

The Virginian as Bartender

1961

Gunslinger as Ben Tracy

1960

Noose for a Gunman as Willetts

1958

Touch of Evil as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
The Return of Dracula as Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)

1957

Perry Mason as Police Sergeant
Wagon Train as Ralph Jessup
Tales of Wells Fargo as Keenan
Tombstone Territory as Dr. Buell
A Hatful of Rain as Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
Gun Duel in Durango as Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
The Tijuana Story

1956

Hey, Jeannie! as Paul Revere
Friendly Persuasion as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
The First Texan as President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
Blackjack Ketchum Desperado as Dee Havalik

1955

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Gunsmoke as John Hirschbeck
MGM Parade as Self
The Adventures of Champion as Rustler
Devil Goddess as Nels Comstock
Top Gun as Torchy (uncredited)
Dial Red O as Devon

1954

Jesse James vs. the Daltons as Emmett Dalton
The Law vs. Billy the Kid as Dave Rudabaugh
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl as Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
Sitting Bull as O'Connor
The Golden Idol as Sergeant Reed

1953

Kiss Me Kate as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Law and Order as Stranger (uncredited)
Raiders of the Seven Seas as Ramon
Dangerous Crossing as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
99 River Street as Director
I, the Jury
Eyes of the Jungle as Jeff Roper
Jack McCall, Desperado as Spargo
El Paso Stampede as Henchman Joe

1952

Dangerous Assignment
The Bad and the Beautiful as Reporter (uncredited)
Talk About a Stranger as Driggs
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land as 'Doc' Edwards
Flat Top as Commander (uncredited)
Road Agent as Toll Gate Guard

1951

The Adventures of Kit Carson
Best of the Badmen as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
I Was an American Spy as American Captain (uncredited)
A Yank in Korea as Lt. Lewis
Roaring City as Ed Gannon
Insurance Investigator as 1st Hood
Blue Blood as Sparks

1950

The Cisco Kid as Bix Douglas
Annie Get Your Gun as Barker (uncredited)
Armored Car Robbery as Officer Johnson (uncredited)
The Flying Missile as Lieutenant
Three Secrets as Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
Convicted as Prison Guard (uncredited)
Riders of the Range as Trump Dixon
Sunset in the West as John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
Pygmy Island as Kruger
Chain Gang as Harry Cleaver
Pal, Canine Detective

1949

All the King's Men as Man in City Bar (uncredited)
The Mysterious Desperado as Bart Barton
Abandoned as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Alaska Patrol as Dajek

1948

The Three Musketeers as Traveler (uncredited)
Walk a Crooked Mile as FBI Chemist
An Innocent Affair as Gaylord

1947

High Barbaree as Officer of the Deck (uncredited)
Cynthia as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)

1946

Our Old Car as Officer Donahue (uncredited)

1945

Week-End at the Waldorf as Photographer (uncredited)
Main Street After Dark as Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood as Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand as Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
The Great Morgan as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)

1944

The Canterville Ghost as Jordan
Maisie Goes to Reno as Lead Man (Uncredited)
Main Street Today as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
Dark Shadows as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

1943

For God and Country as Captain
Air Raid Wardens as Joseph
Presenting Lily Mars as Eugene Shepherd

1942

Woman of the Year as Ellis
Tarzan's New York Adventure as Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
Fingers at the Window as Devlan
The Corsican Brothers as One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
For Me and My Gal as France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
Stand by for Action as Flag Lt. Dudley
The Affairs of Martha as Mechanic (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man as Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
Nazi Agent as Ludwig
The Lady or the Tiger? as Frank R. Stockton
Grand Central Murder as Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
Joe Smith, American as Eddie
Cairo as Mechanic at Pyramid (uncredited)
Ship Ahoy as Agent Flammer
Pacific Rendezvous as Jasper Dean

1941

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as Intern Fenwick
The Big Store as Fred Sutton
The Wild Man of Borneo as Actor in Film Scene (uncredited)
Love Crazy as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
Two-Faced Woman as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
Whistling in the Dark as Robert Graves
I'll Wait for You as Driver
Men of the Timberland as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Down in San Diego as Matt Herman
1-2-3-Go! as Taxi Driver

1940

I Love You Again as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940 as Harmon (uncredited)
The Mortal Storm as Nazi Clerk
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante as Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
Boom Town as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
Phantom Raiders as Sailor
Flight Command as Lieut. Freddy Townsend
Wyoming as Sgt. Reynolds
Florian as Sergeant
Gallant Sons as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
Sporting Blood as Ted Milner
New Moon as Pierre
Sky Murder as Gus
Pound Foolish as Marshall-Agent in Antwerp

1939

It's a Wonderful World as Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
The Secret of Dr. Kildare as Bates (uncredited)
Another Thin Man as State Trooper (uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight as Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
The Hardys Ride High as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Broadway Serenade as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Ice Follies of 1939 as Assistant Doorman (uncredited)
Four Girls in White as Doctor at Accident
Miracles for Sale as Spectator in Theatre Box
Fast and Furious as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Within the Law as Green's Clerk
The Story of Dr. Jenner as Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)

1938

The Mad Miss Manton as Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)

1937

When Love Is Young as Norman Crocker

1936

Fury as Governor's Aide (uncredited)
Speed as Intern Attending Terry
The Perfect Set-Up as MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
Exclusive Story as Kent (uncredited)
Crash Donovan as Tony
Women Are Trouble as Reporter

1935

Murder in the Fleet as Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
She Couldn't Take It as Cesar
A Thrill for Thelma as MGM Reporter

1934

The Band Plays On as Rosy Rosenberg
My Grandfather's Clock as Ronny Belvedere
The Spectacle Maker as The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle