William Demarest
Biography
William Demarest was an American character actor born on February 27, 1892, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He began his acting career in vaudeville, performing with his wife Estelle Collette as "Demarest and Colette". Demarest transitioned to Broadway and later worked in film, appearing in over 140 films starting in 1926. He frequently played crusty but good-hearted roles. Demarest collaborated with director Preston Sturges, appearing in ten films written by Sturges. He is known for his prolific acting career, which spanned multiple decades. Demarest died on December 28, 1983, at the age of 91.
Career overview
William Demarest was a prolific American character actor, known for his roles in film and television. He began his acting career in 1926 and went on to appear in over 140 films. Demarest frequently played crusty but good-hearted roles. He started in show business working in vaudeville, appearing with his wife as "Demarest and Colette", then moved on to Broadway.
Demarest worked regularly with director Preston Sturges, becoming part of a "stock" troupe of actors that Sturges repeatedly cast in his films. He appeared in ten films written by Sturges. Demarest's career spanned multiple decades, ending in the 1970s. He was a veteran of World War I.
Demarest's acting credits include films such as The Twilight Zone, Pan Smith přichází, and Tales of Wells Fargo. He is also known for playing Uncle Charley in the television show My Three Sons. Demarest's extensive filmography showcases his versatility as a character actor, with a wide range of roles that have become iconic in American cinema and television.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about William Demarest.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
168 titles- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Charlie O'Casey (archive footage)
- Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- The Millionaire (1978) as Oscar Pugh
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Studio Gatekeeper
- Ellery Queen (1975) as Alexander 'Pop' Denny
- The Wild McCullochs (1975) as Father Gurkin
- Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) as Mr. Harris
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Cyrus McFee
- McMillan & Wife (1971) as Andy Kenesaw
- That Darn Cat! (1965) as Mr. MacDougall
- Viva Las Vegas (1964) as Mr. Martin
- Burke's Law (1963) as Charlie Who
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) as Paul Keller
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Police Chief Aloysius
- The Jerry Lewis Show (1963) as Self
- Son of Flubber (1963) as Mr. Hummel
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Going My Way (1962)
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Mr. Aimes
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon (1961) as Jeb
- King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein (1961) as Henry Hecht
- Twenty Plus Two (1961) as Desmond Slocum
- My Three Sons (1960) as Charley O'Casey
- Pepe (1960) as Movie Studio Gateman
- Bonanza (1959) as Enos Milford
- Bonanza (1959) as Angus Tweedy
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Joe Britt
- The Rebel (1959) as Ulysses Bowman
- Love and Marriage (1959) as William Harris
- Wagon Train (1957) as Mr. Hennessey
- Tales of Wells Fargo (1957) as Jeb Gaine (credit only)
- The Mountain (1956) as Father Belacchi
- The Rawhide Years (1956) as Brand Comfort
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Tom Akins
- The Far Horizons (1955) as Sgt. Gass
- Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Mago
- Sincerely Yours (1955) as Sam Dunne
- Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) as Dan Bianco
- The Private War of Major Benson (1955) as John
- Lucy Gallant (1955) as Charles Madden
- Studio 57 (1954)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Mr. Hummel (archive footage)
- Jamboree (1954) as Self
- The Yellow Mountain (1954) as Jackpot Wray
- Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) as Campbell
- Dangerous When Wet (1953) as Pa Higgins
- The Lady Wants Mink (1953) as Harvey Jones
- Here Come the Girls (1953) as Dennis Logan
- What Price Glory (1952) as Corporal Kiper
- The Blazing Forest (1952) as Syd Jessup
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Senator Burnside
- The Strip (1951) as Fluff
- Excuse My Dust (1951) as Harvey Bullitt
- Behave Yourself! (1951) as O'Ryan
- The First Legion (1951) as Monsignor Michael Carey
- When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950) as Herman Kluggs
- Riding High (1950) as Happy
- He's a Cockeyed Wonder (1950) as Bob Sears
- Never a Dull Moment (1950) as Mears
- Red, Hot and Blue (1949) as Charlie Baxter
- Sorrowful Jones (1949) as Regret
- Jolson Sings Again (1949) as Steve Martin
- Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) as Lt. Shawn
- On Our Merry Way (1948) as Floyd
- Whispering Smith (1948) as Bill Dansing
- The Sainted Sisters (1948) as Vern Tewilliger
- The Perils of Pauline (1947) as George 'Mac' McGuire
- Variety Girl (1947) as Barker
- The Jolson Story (1946) as Steve Martin
- Our Hearts Were Growing Up (1946) as Peanuts Schultz
- Hollywood Victory Caravan (1945) as Bill, the Security Guard
- Pardon My Past (1945) as Chuck Gibson
- Along Came Jones (1945) as George Fury
- Salty O'Rourke (1945) as Smitty
- Duffy's Tavern (1945) as William Demarest
- Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) as Sgt. Heppelfinger
- Nine Girls (1944) as Walter Cummings
- The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker
- The Great Moment (1944) as Eben Frost
- Once Upon a Time (1944) as Brandt
- Stage Door Canteen (1943) as William Demarest
- Dangerous Blondes (1943) as Detective Gatling
- True to Life (1943) as Uncle Jake
- The Palm Beach Story (1942) as First Member Ale and Quail Club
- All Through the Night (1942) as Sunshine
- Pardon My Sarong (1942) as Detective Kendall
- My Favorite Spy (1942) as Flower Pot Policeman
- Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (1942) as Police Officer
- Johnny Doughboy (1942) as Harry Fabian
- Behind the Eight Ball (1942) as McKenzie
- True to the Army (1942) as Sgt. Butts
- Sullivan's Travels (1941) as Mr. Jones
- The Lady Eve (1941) as Muggsy
- The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) as First Detective
- Dressed to Kill (1941) as Inspector Pierson
- Glamour Boy (1941) as Papa Doran
- Rookies on Parade (1941) as Mike Brady
- Ride on Vaquero (1941) as Bartender Barney
- Country Fair (1941) as Stogie McPhee
- Christmas in July (1940) as Mr. Bildocker
- The Great McGinty (1940) as Skeeters - The Politician
- The Golden Fleecing (1940) as Swallow
- The Farmer's Daughter (1940) as Victor Walsh
- Comin' Round the Mountain (1940) as Gutsy Mann
- Little Men (1940) as Constable Tom Thorpe
- Wolf of New York (1940) as Bill Ennis
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) as Bill Griffith
- Laugh It Off (1939) as Barney 'Gimpy' Cole
- The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) as Police Sgt. Ernest Heath
- The Great Man Votes (1939) as Charles Dole
- The Cowboy Quarterback (1939) as Rusty Walker
- Miracles for Sale (1939) as Quinn
- King of the Turf (1939) as Arnold
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938) as Henry Kipper
- Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (1938) as Daro
- While New York Sleeps (1938) as Red Miller
- One Wild Night (1938) as Collins
- Josette (1938) as Joe, Diner Owner
- Romance on the Run (1938) as Police Lt. Eckhardt
- Rosalie (1937) as Army Coach
- Oh, Doctor (1937) as Marty Short
- Blonde Trouble (1937) as Paul Sears
- Easy Living (1937) as Wallace Whistling
- Wake Up and Live (1937) as Radio Center Tour Guide
- Time Out for Romance (1937) as Willoughby Sproggs
- Big City (1937) as Mr. Beecher
- The Great Gambini (1937) as Sergeant Kirby
- Don't Tell the Wife (1937) as Larry 'Horace' Tucker
- The Hit Parade (1937) as Parole Officer
- The Great Hospital Mystery (1937) as Mr. Beatty
- The Great Ziegfeld (1936) as Gene Buck (uncredited)
- Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) as Sergeant Kelly
- Love on the Run (1936) as Editor
- Wedding Present (1936) as 'Smiles' Benson
- Mind Your Own Business (1936) as Droopy
- Hands Across the Table (1935) as Regi's Date Natty (uncredited)
- The Murder Man (1935) as 'Red' Maguire
- The Casino Murder Case (1935) as Auctioneer (uncredited)
- After Office Hours (1935) as Police Detective (uncredited)
- Diamond Jim (1935) as Harry Hill
- White Lies (1935) as Roberts
- Bright Lights (1935) as Detective
- Many Happy Returns (1934) as Brinker
- Fugitive Lady (1934) as Steve Rogers
- Fog Over Frisco (1934) as Spike Smith
- Seeing Things (1930) as The Heir
- Sharp Shooters (1928) as 'Hi Jack' Murdock
- A Girl in Every Port (1928) as Man in Bombay (uncredited)
- The Crash (1928) as Louie
- The Butter and Egg Man (1928) as Jack McLure
- Five and Ten Cent Annie (1928) as Briggs
- Pay as You Enter (1928) as 'Terrible Bill' McGovern
- The Jazz Singer (1927) as Buster Billings (uncredited)
- Simple Sis (1927)
- Finger Prints (1927) as Cuffs Egan
- The Night Court (1927) as Defense Counsel
- The Gay Old Bird (1927) as Mr. Fixit
- A Sailor's Sweetheart (1927) as Detective
- The First Auto (1927) as The Village Cut-Up
- What Happened To Father (1927) as Detective Dibbin
- A Million Bid (1927) as George Lamont
- The Bush Leaguer (1927) as John Gilroy
- Don't Tell the Wife (1927) as Ray Valerian
- The Black Diamond Express (1927) as Train Engine Fireman
- A Reno Divorce (1927) as James, the chauffeur
- Matinee Ladies (1927) as Man About Town
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William Demarest best known for?
William Demarest is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), Ellery Queen (1975), McMillan & Wife (1971), McMillan & Wife (1971).
When and where was William Demarest born?
William Demarest was born on February 27, 1892 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. They passed away on December 28, 1983.
How many credits does William Demarest have?
William Demarest has accumulated over 168 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1927 to 1999.
What is William Demarest's background in cinema and television?
William Demarest was an American character actor born on February 27, 1892, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He began his acting career in vaudeville, performing with his wife Estelle Collette as "Demarest and Colette". Demarest transitioned to Broadway and later worked in film, appearing in over 140 films starting in 1926. H...