William Wright (actor)

William Wright
Wright in Impact (1949)
Born(1911-01-05)January 5, 1911
DiedJanuary 19, 1949(1949-01-19) (aged 38)
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1949

William Wright (January 5, 1911 – January 19, 1949) was an American actor. He is unrelated to the more famous character actor Will Wright.[citation needed]

Career

He was a leading man in films who was most popular in the 1940s when he was typically compared to Clark Gable, whose career was temporarily derailed by World War II. Wright even played Gable's part in a 1945 musical comedy remake of It Happened One Night entitled Eve Knew Her Apples.[1] He also played Philo Vance in Philo Vance Returns (1947) and the title role in King of the Gamblers (1948). Wright's other films include Escape in the Fog (1945),[2] Rose of the Yukon (1949), Daughter of the Jungle (1949), and Impact (1949).[3] Wright died from cancer in 1949 at the age of 38, he was buried at his birthplace in Ogden, Utah.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1936 China Clipper Pilot
1937 Swing High, Swing Low Attendant Uncredited
1937 Blazing Barriers CCC Boy Uncredited
1941 Rookies on Parade Bob Madison
1941 Kiss the Boys Goodbye Reporter Uncredited
1941 World Premiere Luther Shinkley
1941 The Devil Pays Off Christopher Waring
1941 Glamour Boy Hank Landon
1941 Louisiana Purchase Ambulance Driver Uncredited
1942 Fly-by-Night Intern Uncredited
1942 True to the Army Lt. Danvers
1942 Not a Ladies' Man John Keen
1942 Sweetheart of the Fleet Lt. Philip Blaine
1942 Meet the Stewarts Winkie Rogers Uncredited
1942 Henry and Dizzy Announcer Uncredited
1942 Night in New Orleans George Wallace
1942 Sweater Girl Announcer Uncredited
1942 Parachute Nurse Lt. Woods
1942 A Man's World Dan O'Driscoll
1942 Lucky Legs 'Pinkie' Connors
1942 Daring Young Man Sam Long
1942 Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood Slick Barton
1942 A Night to Remember Scott Carstairs
1943 Reveille with Beverly Barry Lang
1943 Murder in Times Square Det. Lt. Tabor
1943 Saddles and Sagebrush Krag Savin
1944 One Mysterious Night Paul Martens
1944 Dancing in Manhattan Steve Crawford
1945 Eadie Was a Lady Tommy Foley
1945 Escape in the Fog Barry Malcolm
1945 Eve Knew Her Apples Ward Williams
1946 The Mask of Diijon Tony Holiday
1946 Lover Come Back Jimmy Hennessey
1946 Down Missouri Way Mike Burton
1946 Nocturne Mr. Billings (scenes deleted)
1947 The Beginning or the End Colonel John Lansdale
1947 Philo Vance Returns Philo Vance
1947 Gas House Kids Go West Jim Kingsley
1947 Doctor Jim Dr. Sylvester
1948 King of the Gamblers Dave Fowler
1949 Rose of the Yukon Tom Clark
1949 Daughter of the Jungle Carl Easton
1949 Impact Prosecutor
1949 Air Hostess Fred MacCoy (final film role)

References

  1. ^ "'Eve Knew Her Apples'". Eastside Journal. Los Angeles, California. July 18, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "'Film review'". Daily News. Los Angeles, California. May 19, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "WILLIAM WRIGHT". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "'William Wright Funeral Set'". Los Angeles Mirror. Los Angeles, California. January 24, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved May 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.