William Hudson (actor)

For other people with the same name, see William Hudson.
William Hudson
Hudson in the trailer for Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)
Born
William Woodson Hudson Jr.

(1919-01-24)January 24, 1919
Gilroy, California, U.S.
DiedApril 5, 1974(1974-04-05) (aged 55)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesBill Hudson
OccupationActor
Years active1943–1971
RelativesJohn Hudson (brother)

William Woodson Hudson Jr. (January 24, 1919 – April 5, 1974) was an American actor. He played Ranger Clark in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and Special Agent Mike Andrews in the Emmy Award nominated spy drama I Led Three Lives.[1]

History

After appearing uncredited in over a dozen movies, Hudson got his break in 1951's Hard, Fast and Beautiful. He appeared in a few other movies and TV shows before being cast as Special Agent Mike Andrews in I Led Three Lives. In 1954, while also still doing I Led Three Lives, Hudson was cast in the television serial Rocky Jones, Space Ranger as Ranger Clark.

After his stint as Clark on Rocky Jones, Hudson starred in several science fiction, fantasy, and monster movies, in such films as The She Creature, The Amazing Colossal Man. He played the husband in 1958's cult classic Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. In 1964 he was cast as the doomed first Captain of the Seaview, John Phillips, in the pilot episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In 1965 he was back on Voyage as a different character in an episode infamous among fans of the series due to its heavy use of archive footage from the pilot episode (specifically a scene with Hudson and Richard Basehart leaving the Nelson Institute, being chased and attacked by a helicopter and which ended with the death of Hudson's character and the car going off a cliff aflame)[2] giving him the dubious honour of being the only person "killed" on that show twice. In 1966 he was cast as a reporter in the second part of the first Television appearance of Mr. Freeze in a first-season episode of Batman titled "Rats Like Cheese".[3] From then on he had several small parts in various movies and TV shows, his last part being Mr. Dunn in 1971's How's Your Love Life?.

He died at age 55 on April 5, 1974, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California from cirrhosis. He was survived by his twin brother, actor John Hudson.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1943 The Cross of Lorraine French Soldier Film role, Uncredited
1943 Destination Tokyo 'Copperfin' Intercom Man Film role, Uncredited
1944 The Impostor Pilot Film role, Uncredited
1944 Weird Woman Second Gossiping Male Student Film role, Uncredited
1945 Objective, Burma! Fred Hollis Film role, Uncredited
1945 Over 21 Officer Candidate Film role, Uncredited
1945 Pride of the Marines Joe - Soldier in Hospital Film role, Uncredited
1946 Lover Come Back Worker at Styles Inc. Film role, Uncredited
1949 The Lady Gambles Horse Player Film role, Uncredited
1949 The Red Menace Passerby at Protest Film role, Uncredited
1949 Task Force Lt. Leenhouts Film role, Uncredited
1949 Sands of Iwo Jima Marine Film role, Uncredited
1950 Father Makes Good Thompson Film role, Uncredited
1951 Hard, Fast and Beautiful Intern Film role
1951 Let's Go Navy! Aide #1 Film role, Uncredited
1951 Starlift Joe - Crew Chief Film role, Uncredited
1952 The Steel Trap Raglin, Bank Teller #2 Film role
1954 Trader Tom of the China Seas James Dean Film role, Uncredited
1954 The High and the Mighty Reporter Film role, Uncredited
1954 Rocky Jones, Space Ranger Ranger Clark TV series, guest role
1954 The Silver Chalice Soldierin Chase Film role, Uncredited
1955 Strategic Air Command Forecaster Film role, Uncredited
1955 The Eternal Sea Communication Officer Film role, Uncredited
1955 Air Strike Lt. John Smith Film role
1955 Mister Roberts Olson Film role
1955 The McConnell Story Soldier in Office Film role, Uncredited
1956 The Killer Is Loose Detective on Stakeout Film role, Uncredited
1956 The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Paratrooper Film role, Uncredited
1956 The She-Creature Bob, the ex-fiancé Film role
1956 The Wrong Man Police Lieutenant from 110th Precinct Film role, Uncredited
1957 Battle Hymn Navy Lieutenant Film role
1957 The Man Who Turned to Stone Dr. Jess Rogers Film role
1957 Band of Angels Officer Film role, Uncredited
1957 Man of a Thousand Faces David Anderson, Reporter Film role, Uncredited
1957 The Amazing Colossal Man Dr. Paul Linstrom Film role
1957 My Man Godfrey Howard Film role
1953-1957 I Led Three Lives Special Agent Mike Andrews TV series, Recurring role on series
1958 Darby's Rangers Operator Film role, Uncredited
1958 Attack of the 50 Foot Woman Harry Archer Film role
1958 The Naked and the Dead Major Film role, Uncredited
1958 The Saga of Hemp Brown Young Lieutenant Film role, Uncredited
1958 The Last Hurrah Votes Tallyman Film role, Uncredited
1954-1958 Death Valley Days Lester Allen Pelton / Elias Jackson Baldwin / Steve McIntyre TV series, 3 episodes
1959 The Restless Gun Episode "The Painted Beauty"
1960 Bells Are Ringing Party Guest Film role, Uncredited
1960 The Great Impostor FBI Man Film role, Uncredited
1961 Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series) Sheriff season 3 episode 16 (The last restreat)
1962 Moon Pilot Space Flight Technician Film role, Uncredited
1963 My Six Loves Reporter Film role, Uncredited
1965 Bus Riley's Back in Town Country Club Bartender Film role, Uncredited
1964-1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Different guest roles TV series, 2 episodes
1966 Moment to Moment Officer Film role, Uncredited
1966 The Oscar Film role, Uncredited
1967 The Reluctant Astronaut Fireman Film role, Uncredited
1970 Airport Mr. Donovan - Passenger Film role, Uncredited
1971 How's Your Love Life? Mr. Dunn Film role

References

  1. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045397/awards Awards list for I Led Three Lives at IMDb.com [user-generated source]
  2. ^ http://www.iann.net/voyage/voy2.htm EPISODE GUIDE, section EPISODE 43 - "The X-factor" (December 5, 1965)
  3. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519498/ Rats Like Cheese at IMDb.com [user-generated source]
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