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William Bakewell
Actor

William Bakewell

2 May 1908Born
15 Apr 1993Died
84Age at death
136Credits

Biography

William Bakewell (May 2, 1908 – April 15, 1993), also known as Billy Bakewell, was an American actor, who achieved his greatest fame as one of the premiere juvenile performers of the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Bakewell, educated at Los Angeles Harvard Military School, began his film career as an extra in the silent movie Fighting Blood (1924), and went on to appear in some 170 films and television shows. He had supporting roles at the end of the silent era and reached the peak of his career around 1930.

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He is perhaps best remembered for playing German soldier Albert Kropp in the film classic All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), and Rodney Jordan, Joan Crawford's brother, in Dance, Fools, Dance (1931). He also co-starred in Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929) with Winnie Lightner and Lilyan Tashman. In 1933, he contributed to the founding of the Screen Actors Guild, and was member 44 of the original 50. He never achieved stardom after the Depression years, although he became familiar in dozens of films, including his short appearance as a mounted soldier in Gone with the Wind (1939) whom Scarlett O'Hara asks when the Yankee soldiers are coming to Atlanta.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army with the rank of second lieutenant. He was stationed at the 73rd Evacuation Hospital and at the Radio Section of the Special Service Division as the Post Intelligence Officer. He also worked under the department that handled distribution of recorded programs to overseas station circuits.

He starred in the Columbia Pictures serial Hop Harrigan (1946), where he played a top Air Corps pilot. He also portrayed Major Tobias Norton and a Keelboat Race Master of Ceremonies in the phenomenally popular Disney series Davy Crockett (1954-1955).

In the 1960s, he guest starred in numerous situation comedy television series, including Guestward, Ho!, Pete and Gladys, Bringing Up Buddy, The Tab Hunter Show, Mister Ed, Leave It to Beaver, The Jack Benny Program, Petticoat Junction , and Hazel. He also was cast in episodes of Peter Gunn, Sea Hunt, Wagon Train, The Roaring 20s, The Virginian, Arrest and Trial, and 87th Precinct He played the Virginia statesman George Wythe in the episode "George Mason" in the 1965 NBC documentary series, Profiles in Courage. He made his last film in 1975.

For four decades, Bakewell served on the board of Motion Picture and Television Fund. He died on April 15, 1993 of leukemia at the age of 84.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 136 credits.

  1. 1975The Strongest Man in the WorldFilm: Professor
  2. 1973Set This Town on FireFilm: Desk Clerk
  3. 1972Call Her MomFilm: Jeremy's Father
  4. 1971Alias Smith and JonesSeries (1 episode)
  5. 1970Nanny and the ProfessorSeries: Carnival Host, Norm (1 episode)
  6. 1969Love, American StyleSeries: Elroy (1 episode)
  7. 1968It Takes a ThiefSeries: Hotel Clerk (1 episode)
  8. 1966Not With My Wife, You Don't!Film: Brig. Gen. Swift (uncredited)
  9. 1966That GirlSeries (1 episode)
  10. 1965I Dream of JeannieSeries: Colonel Harris (1 episode)
  11. 1965Green AcresSeries (1 episode)
  12. 1965Run for Your LifeSeries: County Attorney Lassiter (1 episode)
  13. 1964Profiles in CourageSeries: Wythe (1 episode)
  14. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries: Ralph Craig, Actor, Herbert (1 episode)
  15. 1962The Beverly HillbilliesSeries (1 episode)
  16. 1962The VirginianSeries: Sam Branch, Nate Eastman (1 episode)
  17. 1961HazelSeries (1 episode)
  18. 196187th PrecinctSeries (1 episode)
  19. 1961Mister EdSeries (1 episode)
  20. 1960The Roaring 20'sSeries (1 episode)
  21. 1960Bringing Up BuddySeries (1 episode)
  22. 1960Guestward, Ho!Series (1 episode)
  23. 1960Pete and GladysSeries (1 episode)
  24. 1958Peter GunnSeries (1 episode)
  25. 1958Sea HuntSeries (2 episodes)
  26. 1957Harbor CommandSeries: Officer Maxwell (1 episode)
  27. 1957Casey JonesSeries: Ben Slater (1 episode)
  28. 1957Leave It to BeaverSeries (1 episode)
  29. 1957MaverickSeries (1 episode)
  30. 1957M SquadSeries: Detective (1 episode)
  31. 1957Down Liberty RoadFilm: Waldo (Uncredited)
  32. 1957Official DetectiveSeries: Sam Graves (1 episode)
  33. 1956Davy Crockett and the River PiratesFilm: Official at Keel Boat Race (uncredited)
  34. 1955Highway PatrolSeries (1 episode)
  35. 1955The Great GildersleeveSeries (1 episode)
  36. 1955Davy Crockett, King of the Wild FrontierFilm: Maj. Tobias Norton
  37. 1955Davy Crockett Goes to CongressFilm: Norton
  38. 1954Davy Crockett, Indian FighterFilm: Major Norton
  39. 1954Lucky MeFilm: Motorist (uncredited)
  40. 1953So This Is LoveFilm: Charles, Waiter (uncredited)
  41. 1953I'm the LawSeries (1 episode)
  42. 1952Radar Men from the MoonFilm: Ted Richards
  43. 1951Come Fill the CupFilm: Hal Ortman
  44. 1951Boston BlackieSeries: Ron Taylor (1 episode)
  45. 1951When the Redskins RodeFilm: Appleby
  46. 1951Wells Fargo GunmasterFilm: Charlie Lannon
  47. 1950Lux Video TheatreSeries: Major Dort, Robert Cooper, Michael Dailey (1 episode)
  48. 1950The CaptureFilm: Herb Tolin, Bolsa Grande Oil
  49. 1948You Gotta Stay HappyFilm: Dick Hebert
  50. 1948Night WindFilm: Capt. Kingston
  51. 1948Romance on the High SeasFilm: Dudley (Travel Agent)
  52. 1948So This Is New YorkFilm: Hotel Clerk
  53. 1948Arthur Takes OverFilm: Lawrence White
  54. 1947King of the BanditsFilm: Captain Frank Mason
  55. 1947Messenger of PeaceFilm: Pastor Willie von Adel
  56. 1947The Bachelor and the Bobby-SoxerFilm: Winters
  57. 1947The TrespasserFilm: Bruce Coleman
  58. 1947The Farmer's DaughterFilm: Windor
  59. 1947The Fabulous DorseysFilm: Eddie
  60. 1946Jungle TerrorFilm: Tom Branning
  61. 1946Hop Harrigan: America's Ace of the AirwaysFilm: Hop Harrigan
  62. 1943Yanks AhoyFilm: Ens. Crosby (uncredited)
  63. 1942King of the MountiesFilm: Cpl. Hall Ross
  64. 1942The Loves of Edgar Allan PoeFilm: Hugh Pleasant
  65. 1942The Postman Didn't RingFilm: Robert Harwood Jr.
  66. 1942I Live on DangerFilm: Mac
  67. 1942The Dawn ExpressFilm: Tom Fielding
  68. 1942Dr. Kildare's VictoryFilm: Mr. Hubbell
  69. 1940Seven SinnersFilm: Ensign
  70. 1940The Saint Takes OverFilm: Shipboard Card Player
  71. 1940Beyond TomorrowFilm: David Chadwick
  72. 1939Gone with the WindFilm: Mounted Officer
  73. 1939Hotel ImperialFilm: Cadet (uncredited)
  74. 1939ZenobiaFilm: Townsman at Zeke's Recitation
  75. 1939King of the TurfFilm: Intern
  76. 1938The Duke of West PointFilm: Honor Committee Spokesman
  77. 1938The Higgins FamilyFilm: Eddie Davis
  78. 1937Exiled to ShanghaiFilm: Andrew
  79. 1937Trapped by G-MenFilm: Dick Withers
  80. 1937Jungle MenaceFilm: Tom Banning

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.