Warren William

Biography

Warren William was an American actor of stage and screen who reached Hollywood stardom in the early 1930s, later nicknamed the King of Pre-Code for the cunning, often amoral leading men he played. Born in Aitkin, Minnesota, in 1894, he trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his Broadway debut in 1920, going on to more than 20 New York productions and a pair of silent films. He moved to Hollywood in 1931, signed with Warner Bros., and soon became a star, known for playing ruthless businessmen, crafty lawyers and charlatans. He was the first actor to play Perry Mason, took the role of the Lone Wolf across nine films, and appeared in Lady for a Day (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Cleopatra (1934), Imitation of Life (1934), Satan Met a Lady (1936), The Wolf Man (1941) and The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947), his last film. He died in 1948.

53years old at death

Born December 2, 1894Aitkin
Died September 24, 1948Encino
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
Warren William Krech (birth name)Also credited as King of Pre-Code

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 15 years1932 to 1947

Genres

Drama60%, 9 films
Comedy40%, 6 films
Crime40%, 6 films
Mystery27%, 4 films
Romance27%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
In four Perry Mason mysteries, Warren William brought Erle Stanley Gardner's fictional defense attorney to the big screen, becoming the first actor to portray that character.
Beyond film
William starred in Strange Wills, a transcribed radio series. Its episodes told the stories behind unusual wills, covering the full range of human emotion.

Warren William movies on Netflix

The Private Affairs of Bel Ami1947IMDb rating 6.7as Laroche-Mathieu
Strange Illusion1945IMDb rating 6.2as Brett Curtis
The Wolf Man1941IMDb rating 7.2as Dr. Lloyd
Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8as Jefferson Carteret
The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date1940IMDb rating 6.1as Michael Lanyard
Go West Young Man1936IMDb rating 6.2as Morgan
Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8as Ted Shane
The Case of the Curious Bride1935IMDb rating 6.6as Perry Mason
The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5as Perry Mason
Cleopatra1934IMDb rating 6.8as Julius Caesar
Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5as Stephen 'Steve' Archer
Employees' Entrance1933IMDb rating 7.2as Kurt Anderson
Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7as J. Lawrence Bradford
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4as Dave the Dude
Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1as Robert Kirkwood

Best known for

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

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The Wolf Man1941 Drama, Horroras Dr. Lloyd
IMDb rating 7.235K votes
Gold Diggers of 19331933as J. Lawrence Bradford
IMDb rating 7.710K votes
Lady for a Day1933as Dave the Dude
IMDb rating 7.45.3K votes
Cleopatra1934as Julius Caesar
IMDb rating 6.85.2K votes
Imitation of Life1934as Stephen 'Steve' Archer
IMDb rating 7.56.3K votes
Satan Met a Lady1936as Ted Shane
IMDb rating 5.82.7K votes
Employees' Entrance1933as Kurt Anderson
IMDb rating 7.21.9K votes
The Case of the Curious Bride1935as Perry Mason
IMDb rating 6.61.4K votes

Most often with

Mervyn LeRoy directed two of these films. Allen Jenkins appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Allen Jenkins

Porter Hall

Lyle Talbot

Olin Howland

Charles C. Wilson

Ned SparksMervyn LeRoyDirector, 2 films

Films together

Allen Jenkins4 films together, 1932 to 1935
Allen Jenkins's page
- The Case of the Curious Bride1935IMDb rating 6.6William as Perry MasonJenkins as Spudsy
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5William as Perry MasonJenkins as Spudsy Drake
- Employees' Entrance1933IMDb rating 7.2William as Kurt AndersonJenkins as Sweeney, store detective
- Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1William as Robert KirkwoodJenkins as Dick
Porter Hall3 films together, 1935 to 1940
Porter Hall's page
- Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8William as Jefferson CarteretHall as Lazarus Ward
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8William as Ted ShaneHall as Milton Ames
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5William as Perry MasonHall as Col. Bradbury
Lyle Talbot3 films together, 1932 to 1936
Lyle Talbot's page
- Go West Young Man1936IMDb rating 6.2William as MorganTalbot as Francis X. Harrigan
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5William as Perry MasonTalbot as Dr. Bob Doray
- Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1William as Robert KirkwoodTalbot as Michael Loftus
Olin Howland3 films together, 1935 to 1936
Olin Howland's page
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8William as Ted ShaneHowland as Detective Dunhill
- The Case of the Curious Bride1935IMDb rating 6.6William as Perry MasonHowland as Wilbur Strong
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5William as Perry MasonHowland as Dr. Croker
Charles C. Wilson3 films together, 1933 to 1936
Charles C. Wilson's page
- Satan Met a Lady1936IMDb rating 5.8William as Ted ShaneWilson as Detective Pollock
- The Case of the Lucky Legs1935IMDb rating 6.5William as Perry MasonWilson as Police Officer Ricker(Charles Wilson)
- Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7William as J. Lawrence BradfordWilson as Deputy
Ned Sparks3 films together, 1933 to 1934
Ned Sparks's page
- Imitation of Life1934IMDb rating 7.5William as Stephen 'Steve' ArcherSparks as Elmer Smith
- Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7William as J. Lawrence BradfordSparks as Barney Hopkins
- Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4William as Dave the DudeSparks as Happy McGuire
Mervyn LeRoyDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1933
All films by Mervyn LeRoy
- Gold Diggers of 19331933IMDb rating 7.7William as J. Lawrence Bradford
- Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1William as Robert Kirkwood

Awards

One award and honor.

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Warren William's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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