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William Gargan

William Gargan

17 movies on Netflix

Biography

William Gargan was an American actor who worked in film, television, and radio. Born in Brooklyn, he got his first silent film job at age seven for Vitagraph. He began his stage career in Aloma of the South Seas in 1924, and within a year directed its Philadelphia production. His first film was Rain (1932), and he went on to character roles, often playing policemen, priests, reporters, and adventurers, as well as detective Ellery Queen in three films. He appeared in Night Flight (1933), Isle of Destiny (1940), and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945). He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for They Knew What They Wanted. On radio and television, his best-known role was private detective Martin Kane in Martin Kane, Private Eye, which ran from 1949 to 1952. He formed William Gargan Productions and published an autobiography, Why Me?, in 1969. In 1967 the Screen Actors Guild gave him a life achievement award.

73years old at death

  • Born Brooklyn
  • Died New York
  • Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
  • Also credited as William Dennis Gargan

Movie Career

Films
17
Career span
24 years1932 to 1956

Genres

First and latest

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  1. Big break

    While at lunch, Gargan said he wanted a job in TV. Folsom then called Norm Blackburn, NBC's VP of TV and Radio, and Gargan was offered the part of a pipe-smoking detective backed by the U.S. Tobacco Company.

  2. A first

    Gargan's detective series was live and the first of its kind on network TV, with a large following. For the 1950-51 season it drew a 37.8 rating, which ranked twelfth overall.

  3. A role that slipped away

    After eighty-five weeks, Bill Gargan stopped playing Martin Kane, and Lloyd Nolan replaced him. Gargan then made a deal with Sonny Werblin of MCA for a new private eye show on NBC.

William Gargan movies on Netflix

Best known for

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

Top of the page, the section list
  1. The Bells of St. Mary's1945 Dramaas Joe Gallagher

    IMDb rating 7.211K votes

  2. You Only Live Once1937 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Father Dolan

    IMDb rating 7.28.4K votes

  3. I Wake Up Screaming1941as Jerry 'Mac' MacDonald

    IMDb rating 7.26.0K votes

  4. The Story of Temple Drake1933as Stephen Benbow

    IMDb rating 7.12.3K votes

  5. Night Editor1946as Tony Cochrane

    IMDb rating 6.71.2K votes

  6. Rain1932as Sergeant Tim O'Hara

    IMDb rating 6.93.6K votes

  7. Behind Green Lights1946as Lt. Sam Carson

    IMDb rating 6.41.3K votes

  8. Strange Impersonation1946as Dr. Stephen Lindstrom

    IMDb rating 6.3948 votes

Most often with

Eleven 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 of the page, the section list
Myrna Loy, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Myrna LoyJerome Cowan, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Jerome CowanLou Costello, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Lou CostelloBud Abbott, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Bud AbbottMary Wickes, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with Mary WickesWilliam B. Davidson, 2 films togetherSee the 2 films with William B. Davidson

Films together

  • Myrna Loy2 films together, 1932 to 1933
    Myrna Loy's page
    • Night Flight1933IMDb rating 6.1Gargan as Brazilian PilotLoy as Wife of Brazilian Pilot
    • The Animal Kingdom1932IMDb rating 6.3Gargan as ReganLoy as Cecelia
  • Jerome Cowan2 films together, 1937 to 1942
    Jerome Cowan's page
    • Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3Gargan as Detective Inspector LouCowan as Heller
    • You Only Live Once1937IMDb rating 7.2Gargan as Father DolanCowan as Dr. Hill
  • Lou Costello2 films together, 1941 to 1942
    Lou Costello's page
    • Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3Gargan as Detective Inspector LouCostello as Mervin Q. Milgrim
    • Keep 'Em Flying1941IMDb rating 6.5Gargan as Craig MorrisonCostello as Heathcliff
  • Bud Abbott2 films together, 1941 to 1942
    Bud Abbott's page
    • Who Done It?1942IMDb rating 7.3Gargan as Detective Inspector LouAbbott as Chick Larkin
    • Keep 'Em Flying1941IMDb rating 6.5Gargan as Craig MorrisonAbbott as Blackie Benson
  • Mary Wickes2 films together, 1942
    Mary Wickes's page
  • William B. Davidson2 films together, 1932 to 1941
    William B. Davidson's page
  • Also two films together5 more actors
    • Irving PichelNight Flight (1933) and The Story of Temple Drake (1933)
    • Richard CraneBehind Green Lights (1946) and Keep 'Em Flying (1941)
    • Ray WalkerMiracle in the Rain (1956) and Isle Of Destiny (1940)
    • Carole LandisBehind Green Lights (1946) and I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
    • Mary AndersonBehind Green Lights (1946) and Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941)

    When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor, one of them major.

Top of the page, the section list
William Gargan's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
SAG Awards
Life Achievement AwardWon

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top of the page, the section list