William Demarest

Biography

William Demarest was an American actor who performed in vaudeville for two decades before moving to Broadway and into films by 1926. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he grew up in New Jersey and became a prolific screen and television performer, appearing in more than 140 films from 1926 into the late 1970s. He was especially known for supporting roles in Preston Sturges screwball comedies, including Sullivan's Travels (1941), The Lady Eve (1941), The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), and Hail the Conquering Hero (1944). Demarest received an Academy Award nomination for The Jolson Story (1946) and an Emmy nomination for the 1968 to 1969 season of My Three Sons, on which he played Uncle Charley from 1965 to 1972. His other films included The Jazz Singer (1927), Hands Across the Table (1935), The Strip (1951), The Far Horizons (1955), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). He was given a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1979.

91years old at death

Born February 27, 1892Saint Paul
Died December 28, 1983Palm Springs
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as Carl William Demarest

Movie Career

Films: 36
Career span: 49 years1927 to 1976

Genres

Comedy64%, 23 films
Drama25%, 9 films
Romance25%, 9 films
Crime14%, 5 films
Thriller11%, 4 films

First and latest

William Demarest movies on Netflix

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976IMDb rating 4.8as Studio Gatekeeper
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark1973IMDb rating 6.5as Mr. Harris
That Darn Cat!1965IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. MacDougall
Viva Las Vegas1964IMDb rating 6.4as Mr. Martin
Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Hummel
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein1961IMDb rating 5.6as Henry Hecht
The Mountain1956IMDb rating 6.8as Father Belacchi
The Far Horizons1955IMDb rating 6.1as Sgt. Gass
Dangerous When Wet1953IMDb rating 6.3as Pa Higgins
Escape from Fort Bravo1953IMDb rating 6.6as Campbell
What Price Glory1952IMDb rating 6.1as Corporal Kiper
The Strip1951IMDb rating 6.1as Fluff
He's a Cockeyed Wonder1950IMDb rating 5.1as Bob Sears
Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3as Happy
Night Has a Thousand Eyes1948IMDb rating 7.1as Lt. Shawn
Whispering Smith1948IMDb rating 6.6as Bill Dansing
Along Came Jones1945IMDb rating 6.5as George Fury
Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6as Sgt. Heffelfinger
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker
All Through the Night1942IMDb rating 7.1as Sunshine
Pardon My Sarong1942IMDb rating 6.7as Detective Kendall
The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4as First Member Ale and Quail Club
Dressed to Kill1941IMDb rating 6.5as Inspector Pierson
Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9as Mr. Jones
The Devil and Miss Jones1941IMDb rating 7.6as First Detective
The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7as Muggsy
Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Bildocker
The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2as Skeeters - The Politician
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1as Bill Griffith
The Great Man Votes1939IMDb rating 6.7as Charles Dale
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm1938IMDb rating 7.0as Henry Kipper
Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5as Wallace Whistling
Charlie Chan at the Opera1936IMDb rating 7.1as Sergeant Kelly
Hands Across the Table1935IMDb rating 6.9as Regi's Date Natty
A Girl in Every Port1928IMDb rating 6.6as Man in Bombay
The Jazz Singer1927IMDb rating 6.4as Buster Billings

Best known for

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

Top

Sullivan's Travels1941 Adventure, Comedy, Dramaas Mr. Jones
IMDb rating 7.931K votes
The Lady Eve1941 Comedy, Romanceas Muggsy
IMDb rating 7.726K votes
Viva Las Vegas1964as Mr. Martin
IMDb rating 6.410K votes
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker
IMDb rating 7.58.5K votes
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark1973as Mr. Harris
IMDb rating 6.54.6K votes
Hail the Conquering Hero1944as Sgt. Heffelfinger
IMDb rating 7.65.6K votes
The Great McGinty1940as Skeeters - The Politician
IMDb rating 7.25.0K votes
Christmas in July1940as Mr. Bildocker
IMDb rating 7.34.8K votes

Most often with

Preston Sturges directed seven of these films, Frank Capra two and Robert Stevenson two. Franklin Pangborn appears in five 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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Franklin Pangborn

Jimmy Conlin

Al Bridge

Robert Greig

Torben Meyer

Victor PotelPreston SturgesDirector, 7 films

Frank CapraDirector, 2 films Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Franklin Pangborn5 films together, 1937 to 1944
Franklin Pangborn's page
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Demarest as Sgt. HeffelfingerPangborn as Reception Committee Chairman
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail ClubPangborn as Manager
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. JonesPangborn as Mr. Casalsis
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Demarest as Mr. BildockerPangborn as Don Hartman, Radio Announcer
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Wallace WhistlingPangborn as Van Buren
Jimmy Conlin4 films together, 1940 to 1944
Jimmy Conlin's page
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Demarest as Sgt. HeffelfingerConlin as Judge Dennis
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Constable Edmund KockenlockerConlin as Mayor
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail ClubConlin as Mr. Asweld
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Demarest as Skeeters - The PoliticianConlin as The Lookout - At Felgman's
Al Bridge4 films together, 1940 to 1944
Al Bridge's page
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Demarest as Sgt. HeffelfingerBridge as Political Boss
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Constable Edmund KockenlockerBridge as Mr. Johnson
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. JonesBridge as The Mister
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Demarest as Mr. BildockerBridge as Mr. Hillbeiner
Robert Greig4 films together, 1937 to 1942
Robert Greig's page
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail ClubGreig as Third Member Ale and Quail Club
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. JonesGreig as Sullivan's Butler
- The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7Demarest as MuggsyGreig as Burrows
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Wallace WhistlingGreig as Butler
Torben Meyer4 films together, 1940 to 1952
Torben Meyer's page
- What Price Glory1952IMDb rating 6.1Demarest as Corporal KiperMeyer as Mayor
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail ClubMeyer as Dr. Kluck
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. JonesMeyer as The Doctor
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Demarest as Mr. BildockerMeyer as Mr. Schmidt
Victor Potel4 films together, 1940 to 1944
Victor Potel's page
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Constable Edmund KockenlockerPotel as Newspaper Editor
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail ClubPotel as Mr. McKeewie
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. JonesPotel as Cameraman
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Demarest as Mr. BildockerPotel as Davenola Salesman
Preston SturgesDirector, 7 films, 1940 to 1944
All films by Preston Sturges
- Hail the Conquering Hero1944IMDb rating 7.6Demarest as Sgt. Heffelfinger
- The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek1944IMDb rating 7.5Demarest as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker
- The Palm Beach Story1942IMDb rating 7.4Demarest as First Member Ale and Quail Club
- Sullivan's Travels1941IMDb rating 7.9Demarest as Mr. Jones
- The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7Demarest as Muggsy
- Christmas in July1940IMDb rating 7.3Demarest as Mr. Bildocker
- The Great McGinty1940IMDb rating 7.2Demarest as Skeeters - The Politician
Frank CapraDirector, 2 films, 1939 to 1950
All films by Frank Capra
- Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Demarest as Happy
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Demarest as Bill Griffith
Robert StevensonDirector, 2 films, 1963 to 1965
All films by Robert Stevenson
- That Darn Cat!1965IMDb rating 6.8Demarest as Mr. MacDougall
- Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1Demarest as Mr. Hummel