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Will Wright

Acting

Born March 25, 1894 · San Francisco, California, USA

Died June 19, 1962

Also known as William Henry Wright · William H. Wright

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Henry "Will" Wright (March 26, 1894, San Francisco, California - June 19, 1962, Los Angeles, California) was an American character actor. He was frequently cast in westerns and in curmudgeonly roles. Over the course of his career, Wright appeared in more than 200 film and television roles. He started his acting career in vaudeville and later moved to the stage, then on to movies, radio, and television. Among the films in which Wright appeared are Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), The Major and the Minor (1943), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), Road to Utopia (1946), Mother Wore Tights (1947), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), Little Women (1949), Walk Softly, Stranger (1950), Sunset in the West (1950), People Will Talk (1951), The Happy Time (1952), River of No Return (1954), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Jeanne Eagels (1957), and Gunman's Walk (1958). One of his most famous and memorable film roles was corrupt city official Dolph Pillsbury in the Academy Award-winning All the King's Men (1949). Wright provided the voice of Friend Owl in Walt Disney's animated film Bambi (1942). He guest starred on several television series. Will Wright died of cancer in 1962.

Filmography50+ titles

Down Missouri Way

1946as Prof. Morris

I Love Lucy

1951as Sheriff

Fail Safe

1964as Bit Part (uncredited)

Inherit the Wind

1960as Bible Salesman (uncredited)

Perry Mason

1957as James Vardon

The Dick Van Dyke Show

1961as Sam Petrie

The Andy Griffith Show

1960as Ben Weaver

Scarlet Street

1945as Globe Loan Office Manager (uncredited)

Cape Fear

1962as Dr. Pearsall

Johnny Guitar

1954as Ned - Bank Teller (uncredited)

Little Women

1949as Mr. Grace (uncredited)

Nothing But the Truth

1941as Mr. Bart Prichard (uncredited)

Rawhide

1959as Grandfather

The Man with the Golden Arm

1955

People Will Talk

1951as Uncle John Higgins (uncredited)

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

1950as Judge Kramer

Adam's Rib

1949as Judge Marcasson

The Major and the Minor

1942as Ticket Agent #1 (uncredited)

Leave It to Beaver

1957as Pete at Firehouse #7

All the King's Men

1949as Dolph Pillsbury

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

1948as Eph Hackett (uncredited)

The Town Went Wild

1944as Judge Harry Schrank (uncredited)

Bambi

1942as Friend Owl (voice) (uncredited)

Shadow of the Thin Man

1941as Maguire (uncredited)

Maisie Was a Lady

1941as Judge Thatcher (Uncredited)

Maverick

1957as Sheriff Chester Bentley

O. Henry's Full House

1952as Hotel Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)

No Way Out

1950as Dr. Cheney (uncredited)

Act of Violence

1949as Pop

Saboteur

1942as J.C. Lormans - Company Official (uncredited)

Rock-a-Bye Baby

1958as Fire Chief (uncredited)

Quantrill's Raiders

1958as Judge Wood

Niagara

1953as Boatman

Four Star Playhouse

1952as Willie

House by the River

1950as Inspector Sarten

The Lone Ranger

1949as Uncle Ed

Thriller

1960as Constable Tom Walker

Gunman's Walk

1958as Judge

The Missouri Traveler

1958as Sheriff Marvin Peavy

River of No Return

1954as Trader (uncredited)

The Blue Dahlia

1946as "Dad" Newell

Road to Utopia

1945as Mr. Latimer (uncredited)

Blossoms in the Dust

1941as Senator

Mr. Lucky

as The Leadville Kid

Dennis the Menace

1959as Merrivale

The Iron Sheriff

1957as Judge

The Wild One

1953as Art Kleiner

The Inside Story

1948as J. J. Johnson

State Fair

1945as Hog Judge (uncredited)

Rhapsody in Blue

1945as Rachmaninoff