William Boyett

Biography

William Boyett was an American actor who became a familiar presence in television law enforcement dramas from the 1950s into the 1990s. After Navy service in World War II, he acted on stages in New York City and Los Angeles. He was typecast as a police officer, most notably as a patrol officer on Highway Patrol in 65 episodes between 1955 and 1959, and as Sergeant Mac MacDonald on Adam-12 for its entire 1968 to 1975 run, a role Jack Webb chose him for. He also turned up eight times on Perry Mason, usually in police parts. His film work included Shield for Murder (1954) and The Hidden (1987), in which he played a hospital patient possessed by an alien, a part that drew praise. He died in 2004.

77years old at death

Born January 3, 1927Akron
Died December 29, 2004Mission Hills
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 17
Career span: 41 years1954 to 1995

Genres

Drama41%, 7 films
Crime35%, 6 films
Action29%, 5 films
Thriller29%, 5 films
Comedy24%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Boyett won a Shakespeare competition while at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, and that win led to acting jobs in radio.
Big break
After several performances in both versions of Jack Webb's Dragnet, Boyett was selected by Webb, the executive producer of Adam-12, to play LAPD Sergeant "Mac" MacDonald.

William Boyett movies on Netflix

Theodore Rex1995IMDb rating 2.4as Desk Sergeant
Girls in Prison1994IMDb rating 4.8as Dr. Shainmark
The Hidden1987IMDb rating 7.0as Jonathan Miller
The Deliberate Stranger1986IMDb rating 7.3as Aspen Detective
Space Raiders1983IMDb rating 4.5as Taggert
Bloody Birthday1981IMDb rating 5.7
When a Stranger Calls1979IMDb rating 6.4as Sgt. Sacker
Sam Whiskey1969IMDb rating 5.9as Corporal
Period of Adjustment1962IMDb rating 6.2as Trucker
It Started with a Kiss1959IMDb rating 6.0as Alec
Until They Sail1957IMDb rating 6.5as US Marine
Forbidden Planet1956IMDb rating 7.5as Crewman
Somebody Up There Likes Me1956IMDb rating 7.5as Military Policeman
Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6as Ranger at Park Exit
Strange Lady in Town1955IMDb rating 6.1as Lt. Keith
Private Hell 361954IMDb rating 6.7as Stimson
Shield for Murder1954IMDb rating 6.8

Best known for

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

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The Hidden1987 Action, Crime, Horroras Jonathan Miller
IMDb rating 7.026K votes
When a Stranger Calls1979 Horror, Thrilleras Sgt. Sacker
IMDb rating 6.416K votes
Bloody Birthday1981
IMDb rating 5.76.4K votes
The Deliberate Stranger1986as Aspen Detective
IMDb rating 7.32.9K votes
Forbidden Planet1956as Crewman
IMDb rating 7.558K votes
Shield for Murder1954
IMDb rating 6.82.3K votes
Private Hell 361954as Stimson
IMDb rating 6.72.3K votes
Theodore Rex1995as Desk Sergeant
IMDb rating 2.45.1K votes

Most often with

Robert Wise directed two of these films, Howard W. Koch two. Seven 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.

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Carol Kane

Paul Newman

William Schallert

Willis Bouchey

Richard Deacon

Don Anderson

Robert WiseDirector, 2 films Howard W. KochDirector, 2 films

Films together

Carol Kane2 films together, 1979 to 1995
Carol Kane's page
- Theodore Rex1995IMDb rating 2.4Boyett as Desk SergeantKane as Molly Rexvoice
- When a Stranger Calls1979IMDb rating 6.4Boyett as Sgt. SackerKane as Jill Johnson
Paul Newman2 films together, 1956 to 1957
Paul Newman's page
- Until They Sail1957IMDb rating 6.5Boyett as US MarineNewman as Capt. Jack Harding
- Somebody Up There Likes Me1956IMDb rating 7.5Boyett as Military PolicemanNewman as Rocky
William Schallert2 films together, 1954 to 1969
William Schallert's page
- Sam Whiskey1969IMDb rating 5.9Boyett as CorporalSchallert as Mr. Perkins
- Shield for Murder1954IMDb rating 6.8Schallert as Asst. Dist. Atty. Andy Tucker
Willis Bouchey2 films together, 1955 to 1959
Willis Bouchey's page
- It Started with a Kiss1959IMDb rating 6.0Boyett as AlecBouchey as Officer at Airportvoice
- Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6Boyett as Ranger at Park ExitBouchey as Robertson Lambert
Richard Deacon2 films together, 1954
Richard Deacon's page
- Private Hell 361954IMDb rating 6.7Boyett as StimsonDeacon as Mr. Mace
- Shield for Murder1954IMDb rating 6.8Deacon as The Professor
Don Anderson2 films together, 1956 to 1959
Don Anderson's page
- It Started with a Kiss1959IMDb rating 6.0Boyett as AlecAnderson as Party Guest
- Somebody Up There Likes Me1956IMDb rating 7.5Boyett as Military PolicemanAnderson as Reporter
Robert WiseDirector, 2 films, 1956 to 1957
All films by Robert Wise
- Until They Sail1957IMDb rating 6.5Boyett as US Marine
- Somebody Up There Likes Me1956IMDb rating 7.5Boyett as Military Policeman
Howard W. KochDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1955
All films by Howard W. Koch
- Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6Boyett as Ranger at Park Exit
- Shield for Murder1954IMDb rating 6.8
Also two films together1 more actor
- Robert BrayBig House, U.S.A (1955) and Shield for Murder (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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