John Williams

Biography

John Williams was an English actor who worked across stage, film, and television. Born in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, he started on the English stage in 1916 in productions such as Peter Pan. After moving to New York in 1924, he appeared in more than 30 Broadway plays, and in 1953 he won a Tony Award for his performance as Chief Inspector Hubbard in Dial M for Murder on Broadway. Alfred Hitchcock then cast him in the same part for the film Dial M for Murder (1954). Williams appeared in over 40 films, including Sabrina (1954), To Catch a Thief (1955), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), and Midnight Lace (1960). On television he had many guest roles, among them Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and Night Gallery, and he was briefly a regular on Family Affair in 1967. He died in 1983.

80years old at death

Born April 15, 1903Buckinghamshire
Died May 5, 1983La Jolla
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 30 years1948 to 1978

Genres

Comedy53%, 9 films
Drama47%, 8 films
Romance41%, 7 films
Crime24%, 4 films
Family24%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Williams won a Tony Award for his supporting role as Chief Inspector Hubbard in Frederick Knott's Dial M for Murder on Broadway in 1953, and Alfred Hitchcock then cast him in the same part for the 1954 film.
First role
In 1916, John Williams launched his acting career on the English stage. Among the productions he appeared in were Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie, The Ruined Lady by Frances Nordstrom and The Fake by Frederick Lonsdale.
A role that slipped away
Williams' scenes in Billy Wilder's The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes were among 60 to 75 minutes the studio cut before release, and they have not been recovered.

John Williams movies on Netflix

Hot Lead and Cold Feet1978IMDb rating 6.1as Mansfield
No Deposit, No Return1976IMDb rating 6.4as Jameson
The Secret War of Harry Frigg1968IMDb rating 6.3as Gen. Francis Mayhew
Double Trouble1967IMDb rating 5.1as Gerald Waverly
Dear Brigitte1965IMDb rating 6.3as Peregrine Upjohn
Midnight Lace1960IMDb rating 6.8as Inspector Byrnes
Visit to a Small Planet1960IMDb rating 5.9as Delton
The Young Philadelphians1959IMDb rating 7.4as Gilbert Dickinson
Island in the Sun1957IMDb rating 6.1as Colonel Whittingham
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?1957IMDb rating 6.9as Irving La Salle Jr.
Witness for the Prosecution1957IMDb rating 8.4as Brogan-Moore
D-Day the Sixth of June1956IMDb rating 5.9as Brig. Russell
The Solid Gold Cadillac1956IMDb rating 7.4as John T. 'Jack' Blessington
To Catch a Thief1955IMDb rating 7.4as H.H. Hughson
Dial M for Murder1954IMDb rating 8.1as Chief Inspector Hubbard
Sabrina1954IMDb rating 7.6as Thomas Fairchild
A Woman's Vengeance1948IMDb rating 6.8as Prosecuting Counsel

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Dial M for Murder1954 Crime, Thrilleras Chief Inspector Hubbard
IMDb rating 8.1207K votes
Witness for the Prosecution1957 Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Brogan-Moore
IMDb rating 8.4164K votes
To Catch a Thief1955as H.H. Hughson
IMDb rating 7.488K votes
Sabrina1954as Thomas Fairchild
IMDb rating 7.677K votes
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?1957as Irving La Salle Jr.
IMDb rating 6.94.5K votes
The Solid Gold Cadillac1956as John T. 'Jack' Blessington
IMDb rating 7.42.8K votes
Double Trouble1967as Gerald Waverly
IMDb rating 5.12.1K votes
The Young Philadelphians1959as Gilbert Dickinson
IMDb rating 7.44.7K votes

Most often with

Alfred Hitchcock directed two of these films, Billy Wilder two and Henry Koster two. Thirteen actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Bess Flowers

Paul Newman

Ellen Corby

Fred Clark

Alfred Hitchcock

Richard Deacon

Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films

Billy WilderDirector, 2 films Henry KosterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Bess Flowers2 films together, 1954 to 1955
Bess Flowers's page
- To Catch a Thief1955IMDb rating 7.4Williams as H.H. HughsonFlowers as Masquerade Party Guest
- Dial M for Murder1954IMDb rating 8.1Williams as Chief Inspector HubbardFlowers as Woman Exiting Ship
Paul Newman2 films together, 1959 to 1968
Paul Newman's page
- The Secret War of Harry Frigg1968IMDb rating 6.3Williams as Gen. Francis MayhewNewman as Pvt. Harry Frigg
- The Young Philadelphians1959IMDb rating 7.4Williams as Gilbert DickinsonNewman as Anthony Judson Lawrence
Ellen Corby2 films together, 1954 to 1960
Ellen Corby's page
- Visit to a Small Planet1960IMDb rating 5.9Williams as DeltonCorby as Mrs. Mabel Mayberry
- Sabrina1954IMDb rating 7.6Williams as Thomas FairchildCorby as Miss McCardie
Fred Clark2 films together, 1956 to 1960
Fred Clark's page
- Visit to a Small Planet1960IMDb rating 5.9Williams as DeltonClark as Major Roger Putnam Spelding
- The Solid Gold Cadillac1956IMDb rating 7.4Williams as John T. 'Jack' BlessingtonClark as Clifford Snell
Alfred Hitchcock2 films together, 1954 to 1955
Alfred Hitchcock's page
- To Catch a Thief1955IMDb rating 7.4Williams as H.H. HughsonHitchcock as Man Sitting Next to John Robie on Bus
- Dial M for Murder1954IMDb rating 8.1Williams as Chief Inspector HubbardHitchcock as Banquet Member
Richard Deacon2 films together, 1956 to 1959
Richard Deacon's page
- The Young Philadelphians1959IMDb rating 7.4Williams as Gilbert DickinsonDeacon as George Archibald
- The Solid Gold Cadillac1956IMDb rating 7.4Williams as John T. 'Jack' BlessingtonDeacon as Williams
Alfred HitchcockDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1955
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
- To Catch a Thief1955IMDb rating 7.4Williams as H.H. Hughson
- Dial M for Murder1954IMDb rating 8.1Williams as Chief Inspector Hubbard
Billy WilderDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1957
All films by Billy Wilder
- Witness for the Prosecution1957IMDb rating 8.4Williams as Brogan-Moore
- Sabrina1954IMDb rating 7.6Williams as Thomas Fairchild
Henry KosterDirector, 2 films, 1956 to 1965
All films by Henry Koster
- Dear Brigitte1965IMDb rating 6.3Williams as Peregrine Upjohn
- D-Day the Sixth of June1956IMDb rating 5.9Williams as Brig. Russell
Also two films together7 more actors
- Darren McGavinHot Lead and Cold Feet (1978) and No Deposit, No Return (1976)
- Don KnottsHot Lead and Cold Feet (1978) and No Deposit, No Return (1976)
- John AldersonDouble Trouble (1967) and To Catch a Thief (1955)
- Anthony DawsonMidnight Lace (1960) and Dial M for Murder (1954)
- Grace KellyTo Catch a Thief (1955) and Dial M for Murder (1954)
- Patrick AherneWitness for the Prosecution (1957) and A Woman's Vengeance (1948)
- Alberto MorinWill Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) and To Catch a Thief (1955)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.