William Windom

Biography

William Windom was an American actor who worked largely as a character actor on stage and screen. His television career began with a 1949 appearance on The Philco Television Playhouse, followed by roles in anthology series including Studio One and Omnibus. He played a widowed congressman in the sitcom The Farmer's Daughter, his first leading part, and won a Primetime Emmy for playing the cartoonist John Monroe in My World and Welcome to It. In Star Trek he played Commodore Matt Decker, a guest role he later reprised. His films included To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Detective (1968), Brewster McCloud (1970), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and Miracle on 34th Street (1994). On Murder, She Wrote he was Dr. Seth Hazlitt in 53 episodes, and he supplied the voice of Uncle Chuck for Sonic the Hedgehog.

88years old at death

Born September 28, 1923New York City
Died August 16, 2012Woodacre
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 34 years1962 to 1996

Genres

Drama50%, 11 films
Comedy32%, 7 films
Family18%, 4 films
Romance18%, 4 films
Thriller18%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Behind the award
Windom won the 1970 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for My World and Welcome to It, a sitcom that aired for only one season.
A role that slipped away
Windom played The Major in the 1961 Twilight Zone episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit", and he later reported that Richard Widmark was offered the role first but turned it down when he learned the pay was only $1,000.
First role
Windom's first film role was Horace Gilmer, the prosecutor of Tom Robinson, in the Oscar-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, opposite Gregory Peck.
Big break
Windom joined Murder, She Wrote in October 1985 as Dr. Seth Hazlitt. He had earlier guest starred on the series as another character in April 1985, and the producers then asked him back for a continuing role at the start of the second season.
Early training
During the Allied occupation of Germany, Windom was stationed in Frankfurt. He became involved in theater after enrolling at Biarritz American University in France.

William Windom movies on Netflix

Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering1996IMDb rating 4.3as Doctor Rob Larson
Miracle on 34th Street1994IMDb rating 6.7as C.F. Cole
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman1993IMDb rating 4.0as Hamilton Cobb
Sommersby1993IMDb rating 6.3as Reverend Powell
Uncle Buck1989IMDb rating 7.1as Mr. Hatfield (voice)
She's Having a Baby1988IMDb rating 6.0as Russ Bainbridge
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night1987IMDb rating 6.2as Puppetino (voice)
Surviving1985IMDb rating 7.4as Dr. Madsen
Grandview, U.S.A.1984IMDb rating 5.5as Bob Cody
Now You See Him, Now You Don't1972IMDb rating 6.2as Professor Lufkin
A Taste of Evil1971IMDb rating 6.2as Harold Jennings
Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971IMDb rating 6.3as The President
Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4as Roy K. Sizemore
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story1971IMDb rating 8.2as Charlie Snead
The Mephisto Waltz1971IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Roger West
Brewster McCloud1970IMDb rating 6.8as Weeks
The Gypsy Moths1969IMDb rating 6.3as V. John Brandon
Prescription: Murder1968IMDb rating 7.9as Burt Gordon
The Detective1968IMDb rating 6.5as Colin MacIver
Hour of the Gun1967IMDb rating 6.6as Texas Jack Vermillion
The Americanization of Emily1964IMDb rating 7.3as Captain Harry Spaulding
To Kill a Mockingbird1962IMDb rating 8.2as Mr. Gilmer

Best known for

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

Top

Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971 Action, Sci-Fias The President
IMDb rating 6.345K votes
To Kill a Mockingbird1962 Dramaas Mr. Gilmer
IMDb rating 8.2353K votes
She's Having a Baby1988as Russ Bainbridge
IMDb rating 6.015K votes
Sommersby1993as Reverend Powell
IMDb rating 6.324K votes
Uncle Buck1989as Mr. Hatfieldvoice
IMDb rating 7.1123K votes
Prescription: Murder1968as Burt Gordon
IMDb rating 7.96.8K votes
Brewster McCloud1970as Weeks
IMDb rating 6.86.6K votes
Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman1993as Hamilton Cobb
IMDb rating 4.03.5K votes

Most often with

John Hughes directed two of these films. Thirteen 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

Frank Welker

Robert Duvall

M. Emmet Walsh

James Earl Jones

Roddy McDowall

Kurt Russell

John HughesDirector, 2 films

Films together

Frank Welker2 films together, 1972 to 1987
Frank Welker's page
- Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night1987IMDb rating 6.2Windom as PuppetinovoiceWelker as Igorvoice
- Now You See Him, Now You Don't1972IMDb rating 6.2Windom as Professor LufkinWelker as Myles
Robert Duvall2 films together, 1962 to 1968
Robert Duvall's page
- The Detective1968IMDb rating 6.5Windom as Colin MacIverDuvall as Nestor
- To Kill a Mockingbird1962IMDb rating 8.2Windom as Mr. GilmerDuvall as Boo Radley
M. Emmet Walsh2 films together, 1971 to 1984
M. Emmet Walsh's page
- Grandview, U.S.A.1984IMDb rating 5.5Windom as Bob CodyWalsh as Mr. Clark
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971IMDb rating 6.3Windom as The PresidentWalsh as Aide
James Earl Jones2 films together, 1987 to 1993
James Earl Jones's page
- Sommersby1993IMDb rating 6.3Windom as Reverend PowellJones as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
- Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night1987IMDb rating 6.2Windom as PuppetinovoiceJones as Emperor of the Nightvoice
Roddy McDowall2 films together, 1971
Roddy McDowall's page
- A Taste of Evil1971IMDb rating 6.2Windom as Harold JenningsMcDowall as Dr. Michael Lomas
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971IMDb rating 6.3Windom as The PresidentMcDowall as Cornelius
Kurt Russell2 films together, 1971 to 1972
Kurt Russell's page
- Now You See Him, Now You Don't1972IMDb rating 6.2Windom as Professor LufkinRussell as Dexter Reilly
- Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4Windom as Roy K. SizemoreRussell as Johnny Jesus
John HughesDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1989
All films by John Hughes
- Uncle Buck1989IMDb rating 7.1Windom as Mr. Hatfieldvoice
- She's Having a Baby1988IMDb rating 6.0Windom as Russ Bainbridge
Also two films together7 more actors
- James GarnerHour of the Gun (1967) and The Americanization of Emily (1964)
- Jacqueline BissetThe Mephisto Waltz (1971) and The Detective (1968)
- David HuddlestonFools' Parade (1971) and The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971)
- Albert SalmiEscape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and Hour of the Gun (1967)
- Bradford DillmanEscape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) and The Mephisto Waltz (1971)
- Bing RussellNow You See Him, Now You Don't (1972) and A Taste of Evil (1971)
- Barbara ParkinsA Taste of Evil (1971) and The Mephisto Waltz (1971)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What William Windom's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$324 million

10 of the 22 films have a worldwide figure.

10Worldwide figure
5Never in cinemas
7Figure not found

Top grosser

Sommersby1993Reverend Powell$140 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 98% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Sommersby1993as Reverend Powell
$140M43.3% of the total
2
Uncle Buck1989as Mr. Hatfield (voice)
$79M24.5% of the total
3
Miracle on 34th Street1994as C.F. Cole
$46M14.3% of the total
4
She's Having a Baby1988as Russ Bainbridge
$16M4.9% of the total
5
To Kill a Mockingbird1962as Mr. Gilmer
$13M4.1% of the total
6
Escape from the Planet of the Apes1971as The President
$12M3.8% of the total
7
The Detective1968as Colin MacIver
$6.5M2.0% of the total
8
Grandview, U.S.A.1984as Bob Cody
$4.7M1.5% of the total