William Watson

Biography

William Watson was an American actor who worked in film and television for several decades. He was born in Chicago, and among his feature credits were Chato's Land (1972), Wholly Moses! (1980) and In the Heat of the Night (1967), as well as Lawman (1971), The Hunting Party (1971) and Executive Action (1973). His last screen appearance came in It's Alive III: Island of the Alive. On television he guest-starred in many series through the 1960s and 1970s, including Bonanza, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Hawaii Five-0, Cannon and Gunsmoke. He may be best remembered for his role as the slave trader who takes young Kunta Kinte in the miniseries Roots. Watson died in 1997.

59years old at death

Born October 5, 1938Chicago
Died November 5, 1997Kauaʻi
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 21 years1966 to 1987

Genres

Crime38%, 3 films
Drama38%, 3 films
Western38%, 3 films
Comedy13%, 1 film
Fantasy13%, 1 film

First and latest

William Watson movies on Netflix

It's Alive III: Island of the Alive1987IMDb rating 4.9as Cabot
Wholly Moses!1980IMDb rating 4.8as Bandit
The Mack1973IMDb rating 6.6as Jed
Chato's Land1972IMDb rating 6.6as Harvey Lansing
Lawman1971IMDb rating 7.0as Choctaw Lee
The Hunting Party1971IMDb rating 6.2as Jim Loring
In the Heat of the Night1967IMDb rating 7.9as McNeil
Girl on a Chain Gang1966IMDb rating 4.5as Sheriff Sonney Lew Wymer

Best known for

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

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Chato's Land1972 Westernas Harvey Lansing
IMDb rating 6.67.5K votes
The Hunting Party1971 Westernas Jim Loring
IMDb rating 6.24.0K votes
In the Heat of the Night1967as McNeil
IMDb rating 7.992K votes
Lawman1971as Choctaw Lee
IMDb rating 7.07.2K votes
It's Alive III: Island of the Alive1987as Cabot
IMDb rating 4.92.5K votes
The Mack1973as Jed
IMDb rating 6.63.6K votes
Girl on a Chain Gang1966as Sheriff Sonney Lew Wymer
IMDb rating 4.5117 votes
Wholly Moses!1980as Bandit
IMDb rating 4.82.5K votes

Most often with

Michael Winner directed two of these films. Four 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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Richard Pryor

Richard Jordan

Ralph Waite

Simon Oakland

Michael WinnerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Richard Pryor2 films together, 1973 to 1980
Richard Pryor's page
- Wholly Moses!1980IMDb rating 4.8Watson as BanditPryor as Pharaoh
- The Mack1973IMDb rating 6.6Watson as JedPryor as Slim
Richard Jordan2 films together, 1971 to 1972
Richard Jordan's page
- Chato's Land1972IMDb rating 6.6Watson as Harvey LansingJordan as Earl Hooker
- Lawman1971IMDb rating 7.0Watson as Choctaw LeeJordan as Crowe Wheelwright
Ralph Waite2 films together, 1971 to 1972
Ralph Waite's page
- Chato's Land1972IMDb rating 6.6Watson as Harvey LansingWaite as Elias Hooker
- Lawman1971IMDb rating 7.0Watson as Choctaw LeeWaite as Jack Dekker
Simon Oakland2 films together, 1971 to 1972
Simon Oakland's page
- Chato's Land1972IMDb rating 6.6Watson as Harvey LansingOakland as Jubal Hooker
- The Hunting Party1971IMDb rating 6.2Watson as Jim LoringOakland as Matthew Gunn
Michael WinnerDirector, 2 films, 1971 to 1972
All films by Michael Winner
- Chato's Land1972IMDb rating 6.6Watson as Harvey Lansing
- Lawman1971IMDb rating 7.0Watson as Choctaw Lee

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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