Walter Huston
Biography
Walter Thomas Huston was a Canadian actor and singer born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in early April 1883 (TMDB lists April 3, 1883, while a TMDB biography notes April 5, 1883). He died on April 7, 1950 at the age of 67. Over his career he accumulated 89 credited performances, primarily in acting, and is recognized for his work in film and television. Huston received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which was directed by his son John Huston. He is the patriarch of a four‑generation acting family that includes his son John, grandchildren Anjelica, Danny and Allegra Huston, and great‑grandson Jack Huston.
Career overview
Walter Huston was a Canadian actor and singer whose career spanned stage, film and early television. Born in Toronto, Ontario, he amassed a substantial body of work, with 89 credited performances listed in major film databases. Throughout his professional life he was also known by the variant name Walter Thomas H. His contributions to the performing arts were recognized with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a 1948 film directed by his son.
Beyond his own achievements, Huston is noted as the patriarch of four generations of a prominent acting family. His son John Huston became a celebrated director, and his grandchildren Anjelica Huston, Danny Huston and Allegra Huston continued the family’s presence in film. The lineage extends to great‑grandchild Jack Huston, who also pursued acting. Huston’s career is documented across multiple media platforms, reflecting a legacy that combines personal artistic accomplishment with a lasting familial influence on the entertainment industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
89 titles- A Compassionate Spy (2022) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) as Various Roles (archive footage)
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Discovering Treasure: The Story of 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre' (2003) as Howard (archive footage)
- Why We Fight: World War II: The Battle of China / War Comes to America (2000) as Narrator
- Bogart: The Untold Story (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Joan Crawford: Always the Star (1996) as Self (archive footage)
- John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (1988) as Self (archive footage)
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
- Brasileiros em Hollywood (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- Anniversary (1963) as Himself - Archive Footage (uncredited)
- Armored Attack! (1957) as Dr. Kurin
- The Furies (1950) as T. C. Jeffords
- The Great Sinner (1949) as General Ostrovsky
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) as Howard
- Summer Holiday (1948) as Mr. Nat Miller
- Duel in the Sun (1946) as The Sinkiller
- Dragonwyck (1946) as Ephraim Wells
- Let There Be Light (1946) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- And Then There Were None (1945) as Edward Armstrong
- Know Your Enemy: Japan (1945) as Narrator
- War Comes to America (1945) as Narrator
- Twenty Years After (1944) as (archive footage)
- Dragon Seed (1944) as Ling Tan
- Know Your Ally: Britain (1944) as Narrator
- Why We Fight: The Battle of China (1944) as Abraham Lincoln
- Edge of Darkness (1943) as Dr. Martin Stensgard
- The Outlaw (1943) as Doc Holliday
- Mission to Moscow (1943) as Ambassador Joseph E. Davies
- The North Star (1943) as Dr. Kurin
- December 7th (1943) as Uncle Sam 'U.S.'
- Report from the Aleutians (1943) as Voices of officers (voice)
- For God and Country (1943) as Narrator
- Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike (1943) as Narrator
- The Voice That Thrilled the World (1943) as Jerry Cohan (archive footage)
- Why We Fight: The Battle of Britain (1943) as Narrator
- Why We Fight: Divide and Conquer (1943) as Narrator
- War Department Report (1943) as Narrator (voice)
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) as Jerry Cohan
- In This Our Life (1942) as Bartender (uncredited)
- Why We Fight: Prelude to War (1942) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Safeguarding Military Information (1942) as General (uncredited)
- Always in My Heart (1942) as MacKenzie Scott
- Our Russian Front (1942) as Narrator
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Captain Jacoby (uncredited)
- All That Money Can Buy (1941) as Mr. Scratch
- Swamp Water (1941) as Thursday Ragan
- The Shanghai Gesture (1941) as Sir Guy Charteris
- The Light That Failed (1939) as Torpenhow
- Of Human Hearts (1938) as Ethan Wilkins
- Dodsworth (1936) as Sam Dodsworth
- Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (1936)
- Rhodes of Africa (1936) as Cecil John Rhodes
- Hollywood Hobbies (1935) as Himself
- The Tunnel (1935) as President of the United States
- Keep 'Em Rolling (1934) as Sgt. Benjamin E. Walsh
- Hell Below (1933) as Lieut. Comdr. T.J. Toler USN
- Gabriel Over the White House (1933) as Hon. Judson Hammond - The President of the United States
- Ann Vickers (1933) as Barney Dolphin
- The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933) as Edwin J. Bennett ("The Professor")
- Storm at Daybreak (1933) as Mayor Dushan Radovic
- Law and Order (1932) as Frame 'Saint' Johnson
- American Madness (1932) as Thomas Dickson
- Night Court (1932) as Judge Andrew J. Moffett
- The Wet Parade (1932) as Pow Tarleton
- The Beast of the City (1932) as Captain James "Jim" Fitzpatrick aka Fighting Fitz
- Kongo (1932) as Flint
- The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932) as Captain Corlaix
- Rain (1932) as Alfred Davidson
- The Criminal Code (1931) as Mark Brady
- A House Divided (1931) as Seth Law
- The Star Witness (1931) as District Attorney Whitlock
- Intimate Interviews: Walter Huston (1931) as Self
- The Ruling Voice (1931) as Jack Bannister
- Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) (1931) as Self
- How I Play Golf, by Bobby Jones No. 7: 'The Spoon' (1931) as Judge Walter Huston (uncredited)
- Abraham Lincoln (1930) as Abraham Lincoln
- The Virtuous Sin (1930) as Gregory Platoff
- Behind the Make-Up (1930) as Joe in Clark & White's Office (uncredited)
- The Bad Man (1930) as Pancho Lopez
- An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee (1930) as Self
- 1930 Prelude to "The Birth of a Nation" (1930) as Self
- Two Americans (1929) as Abraham Lincoln
- The Virginian (1929) as Trampas
- The Bishop's Candlesticks (1929) as The Convict
- The Lady Lies (1929) as Robert Rossiter
- Gentlemen of the Press (1929) as Wickland Snell
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Walter Huston best known for?
Walter Huston is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Furies (1950), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), And Then There Were None (1945), The Outlaw (1943).
When and where was Walter Huston born?
Walter Huston was born on April 3, 1883 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They passed away on April 7, 1950.
How many credits does Walter Huston have?
Walter Huston has accumulated over 89 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1929 to 2022.
What is Walter Huston's background in cinema and television?
Walter Thomas Huston was a Canadian actor and singer born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in early April 1883 (TMDB lists April 3, 1883, while a TMDB biography notes April 5, 1883). He died on April 7, 1950 at the age of 67. Over his career he accumulated 89 credited performances, primarily in acting, and is recognized fo...
Walter Huston by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) as Howard — aged about 65
- The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Captain Jacoby (uncredited) — aged about 58
- The Furies (1950) as T. C. Jeffords — aged about 67
- Dodsworth (1936) as Sam Dodsworth — aged about 53
- And Then There Were None (1945) as Edward Armstrong — aged about 62
- The Shanghai Gesture (1941) as Sir Guy Charteris — aged about 58
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