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William B. Davidson

William B. Davidson

Department: Acting

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

The Good Fellows

The Good Fellows

1943

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

1942

Dust Be My Destiny

Dust Be My Destiny

1939

The White Raven

The White Raven

1917

The Call of Her People

The Call of Her People

1917

The Greatest Power

The Greatest Power

1917

The Lifted Veil

The Lifted Veil

1917

I'm No Angel

I'm No Angel

1933

Hidden Power

Hidden Power

1939

La belle Russe

La belle Russe

1919

The Pretenders

The Pretenders

1916

Lure of Ambition

Lure of Ambition

1919

Seven Sinners

Seven Sinners

1940

In Pursuit of Polly

In Pursuit of Polly

1918

Good Morning, Judge

Good Morning, Judge

1928

Circumstantial Evidence

Circumstantial Evidence

1945

Hook, Line and Sinker

Hook, Line and Sinker

1930

Queen of the Night Clubs

Queen of the Night Clubs

1929

Sun Valley Serenade

Sun Valley Serenade

1941

Lady Killer

Lady Killer

1933

Hollywood Hotel

Hollywood Hotel

1938

Earthworm Tractors

Earthworm Tractors

1936

Dangerously Yours

Dangerously Yours

1933

Highway West

Highway West

1941

Hearts and Spurs

Hearts and Spurs

1925

The Dragon Murder Case

The Dragon Murder Case

1934

Larceny, Inc.

Larceny, Inc.

1942

Blackwell's Island

Blackwell's Island

1939

Special Agent

Special Agent

1935

Ports of Call

Ports of Call

1925

The Great Man's Lady

The Great Man's Lady

1941

The Notorious Lone Wolf

The Notorious Lone Wolf

1946

The Lost Squadron

The Lost Squadron

1932

Letter of Introduction

Letter of Introduction

1938

Her Mad Night

Her Mad Night

1932

Paradise Isle

Paradise Isle

1937

A Yellow Streak

A Yellow Streak

1915

Show Them No Mercy!

Show Them No Mercy!

1935

Sergeant Murphy

Sergeant Murphy

1938

Sweet Music

Sweet Music

1935

Sky Devils

Sky Devils

1932

Graft

Graft

1931

Tell It to a Star

Tell It to a Star

1945

Scarlet Pages

Scarlet Pages

1930

The Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom

1932

Love on a Bet

Love on a Bet

1936

Murder on the Waterfront

Murder on the Waterfront

1943

The Menace

The Menace

1932

Midnight Court

Midnight Court

1937

Laughing Boy

Laughing Boy

1934

The Pride of the Legion

The Pride of the Legion

1932

Marry the Girl

Marry the Girl

1937

Woman Trap

Woman Trap

1929

Road Gang

Road Gang

1936

My Love Came Back

My Love Came Back

1940

For the Defense

For the Defense

1930

Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe

1941

Florian

Florian

1940

The Vice Squad

The Vice Squad

1931

The Affairs of Martha

The Affairs of Martha

1942

For the Honor of the Crew

For the Honor of the Crew

1915

The Plainsman and the Lady

The Plainsman and the Lady

1946

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

Mr. Doodle Kicks Off

1938

That Hagen Girl

That Hagen Girl

1947

Indianapolis Speedway

Indianapolis Speedway

1939

Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted

1935

Captain Applejack

Captain Applejack

1931

In the Navy

In the Navy

1941

Hello, Everybody!

Hello, Everybody!

1933

No Limit

No Limit

1931

The Most Dangerous Game

The Most Dangerous Game

1932

Blockade

Blockade

1938

Guilty or Not Guilty

Guilty or Not Guilty

1932

Playboy of Paris

Playboy of Paris

1930

The Dumb-Bell

The Dumb-Bell

1922

The St. Louis Kid

The St. Louis Kid

1934

A Man from Wyoming

A Man from Wyoming

1930

Her Debt of Honor

Her Debt of Honor

1916

In the Diplomatic Service

In the Diplomatic Service

1916

Death Flies East

Death Flies East

1935

Murder by an Aristocrat

Murder by an Aristocrat

1936

Ding Dong Williams

Ding Dong Williams

1946

The Price of Malice

The Price of Malice

1916

A Modern Cinderella

A Modern Cinderella

1917

The Carnation Kid

The Carnation Kid

1929

Partners of the Night

Partners of the Night

1920

Cradle Snatchers

Cradle Snatchers

1927

Ever Since Eve

Ever Since Eve

1937

It Happened in Hollywood

It Happened in Hollywood

1937

Easy Living

Easy Living

1937

Lillian Russell

Lillian Russell

1940

In Person

In Person

1935

They Made Me a Criminal

They Made Me a Criminal

1939

The Intruder

The Intruder

1933

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

Windy Riley Goes Hollywood

1931

The Hurricane

The Hurricane

1937

Racket Busters

Racket Busters

1938

Fatal Lady

Fatal Lady

1936

Cowboy from Brooklyn

Cowboy from Brooklyn

1938

Cocoanut Grove

Cocoanut Grove

1938

Sunny

Sunny

1930

Melody for Two

Melody for Two

1937

Naughty But Nice

Naughty But Nice

1939

Up in Arms

Up in Arms

1944

Adam and Eva

Adam and Eva

1923

Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village

1944

Smashing the Money Ring

Smashing the Money Ring

1939

The Sport Parade

The Sport Parade

1932

Oil for the Lamps of China

Oil for the Lamps of China

1935

Charter Pilot

Charter Pilot

1940

The Big Noise

The Big Noise

1936

Hired Wife

Hired Wife

1940

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

Friends of Mr. Sweeney

1934

Tail Spin

Tail Spin

1939

Blondie Meets the Boss

Blondie Meets the Boss

1939

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

1939

Three Sons o' Guns

Three Sons o' Guns

1941

Each Dawn I Die

Each Dawn I Die

1939

That's My Man

That's My Man

1947

Honeymoon in Bali

Honeymoon in Bali

1939

There Goes My Heart

There Goes My Heart

1938

Man-Made Monster

Man-Made Monster

1941

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

1994

The Last Trail

The Last Trail

1927

The Girl from Nowhere

The Girl from Nowhere

1921

Hers to Hold

Hers to Hold

1943

The Judge Steps Out

The Judge Steps Out

1947

On Their Own

On Their Own

1940

A Night of Adventure

A Night of Adventure

1944

Calaboose

Calaboose

1943

Bordertown

Bordertown

1935

Devil Dogs of the Air

Devil Dogs of the Air

1935

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

Dick Tracy's Dilemma

1947

Love on Toast

Love on Toast

1937

The Secret Bride

The Secret Bride

1934

Dangerous

Dangerous

1935

A Woman There Was

A Woman There Was

1919

Over My Dead Body

Over My Dead Body

1942

Keep 'Em Flying

Keep 'Em Flying

1941

Mary Lawson's Secret

Mary Lawson's Secret

1917

Scarface

Scarface

1932

My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine

1946

The Lady from Cheyenne

The Lady from Cheyenne

1941

My Little Chickadee

My Little Chickadee

1940

Hold That Ghost

Hold That Ghost

1941

Half a Sinner

Half a Sinner

1940

Tin Pan Alley

Tin Pan Alley

1940

The Singing Kid

The Singing Kid

1936

Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim

1942

A Night at the Ritz

A Night at the Ritz

1935

Lady with Red Hair

Lady with Red Hair

1940

Girl in 313

Girl in 313

1940

Maryland

Maryland

1940

Meet the Baron

Meet the Baron

1933

How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action

How to Break 90 #3: Hip Action

1933

Private Detective

Private Detective

1939

Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady

1936

Three Girls About Town

Three Girls About Town

1941

The Silver Horde

The Silver Horde

1930

Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

1937

The Secret Call

The Secret Call

1931

Always Faithful

Always Faithful

1929

Remember the Day

Remember the Day

1941

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

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

1931

Sharp Tools

Sharp Tools

1928

Gold Diggers of 1937

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936

Sudden Money

Sudden Money

1939

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Oh, for a Man!

Oh, for a Man!

1930

Careful, Soft Shoulders

Careful, Soft Shoulders

1942

Housewife

Housewife

1934

Off the Record

Off the Record

1939

The Costello Case

The Costello Case

1930

Men Are Like That

Men Are Like That

1930

On Trial

On Trial

1939

Half Holiday

Half Holiday

1931

Week-End in Havana

Week-End in Havana

1941

The Cat Creeps

The Cat Creeps

1946

Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco

1934

Thieves Fall Out

Thieves Fall Out

1941

Hell's Angels

Hell's Angels

1930

Mission to Moscow

Mission to Moscow

1943

Sailor's Lady

Sailor's Lady

1940

Marked Woman

Marked Woman

1937

Torch Singer

Torch Singer

1933

Over the Wall

Over the Wall

1943

Go Into Your Dance

Go Into Your Dance

1935

Truck Busters

Truck Busters

1943

Blonde Alibi

Blonde Alibi

1946

The Jury's Secret

The Jury's Secret

1938

See My Lawyer

See My Lawyer

1945

Sandy Gets Her Man

Sandy Gets Her Man

1940

Behind the Mike

Behind the Mike

1937

Let Them Live

Let Them Live

1937

Why I Would Not Marry

Why I Would Not Marry

1918

Recompense

Recompense

1925

Make Your Own Bed

Make Your Own Bed

1944

Impossible Catherine

Impossible Catherine

1919

The Billion Dollar Scandal

The Billion Dollar Scandal

1933

The Big Shakedown

The Big Shakedown

1934

You May Be Next!

You May Be Next!

1936

Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

1934

In Society

In Society

1944

San Francisco Docks

San Francisco Docks

1940

The Man Who Walked Alone

The Man Who Walked Alone

1945

Granny Get Your Gun

Granny Get Your Gun

1940

The Capitol

The Capitol

1919

Central Park

Central Park

1932

Invisible Stripes

Invisible Stripes

1939

In This Our Life

In This Our Life

1942

Blaze o' Glory

Blaze o' Glory

1929

Dorian's Divorce

Dorian's Divorce

1916

They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

1945

Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red?

1932

A Gentleman of Paris

A Gentleman of Paris

1927

The Male Animal

The Male Animal

1942

Female

Female

1933

Mystery of the Wax Museum

Mystery of the Wax Museum

1933

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

The Man Who Reclaimed His Head

1934

Illegal Traffic

Illegal Traffic

1938

The Magnificent Dope

The Magnificent Dope

1942

Dishonored

Dishonored

1931

The Thirteenth Guest

The Thirteenth Guest

1932

Sing Your Way Home

Sing Your Way Home

1945

The Road Back

The Road Back

1937

The Valley of Doubt

The Valley of Doubt

1924

Persuasive Peggy

Persuasive Peggy

1917

Her Second Husband

Her Second Husband

1917

American Maid

American Maid

1917

Ashes of Love

Ashes of Love

1918

Redheads on Parade

Redheads on Parade

1935

You and Me

You and Me

1938

Straight from the Heart

Straight from the Heart

1935

A Night at Earl Carroll's

A Night at Earl Carroll's

1940

Shine on Harvest Moon

Shine on Harvest Moon

1944

Upperworld

Upperworld

1934

The Gold Cure

The Gold Cure

1919

Lady Barnacle

Lady Barnacle

1917

A Magdalene of the Hills

A Magdalene of the Hills

1917

The Child of Destiny

The Child of Destiny

1916

Our Little Wife

Our Little Wife

1918

Friend Husband

Friend Husband

1918

Nobody

Nobody

1921

More Truth Than Poetry

More Truth Than Poetry

1917

The Storm Daughter

The Storm Daughter

1924

Dillinger

Dillinger

1945

The Honeymoon's Over

The Honeymoon's Over

1939

Women and Gold

Women and Gold

1925

MGM Parade

MGM Parade

1955