Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
November 17, 1911
Place of Birth:
New York City, New York, USA
Social Media
William Tannen
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian as Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp.
Tannen was also cast as Gyp Clements in the 1955 episode "The Buntline Special" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Beginning on September 11, 1956, in the second season of the series, with the setting moved from Wichita to Dodge City, Kansas, Tannen filled the Hal Norton role. His earliest episodes were "Fight or Run", "The Double Life of Dora Hand" and "Clay Allison", the latter two based on historical figures, the saloon singer and actor Dora Hand and the gunfighter Clay Allison. Some of his appearances were uncredited. His last credited role was "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" (May 6, 1958), with Myron Healey as the frontier gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday. His last uncredited roles aired thereafter in May and June 1958, "Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson", based on the historical figure Ben Thompson played by Denver Pyle, "Frame-up", and "My Husband".
He was cast as Ike Clanton, not on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, but in the 1964 episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. Jim Davis portrayed Wyatt Earp in this particular episode. Tannen appeared twice, one role uncredited in Davis' earlier syndicated western series, Stories of the Century, including the role of Dutch Charlie in "Milt Sharp", the story of the stagecoach robber Milt Sharp.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Hero and the Terror | Civil Engineer |
| 1966 | Batman | American Delegate (uncredited) |
| 1964 | The Quick Gun | |
| 1960 | Noose for a Gunman | Willetts |
| 1958 | The Return of Dracula | Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited) |
| 1958 | Touch of Evil | Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited) |
| 1957 | The Tijuana Story | |
| 1957 | Gun Duel In Durango | Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited) |
| 1957 | A Hatful of Rain | Celia's Supervisor (uncredited) |
| 1956 | The First Texan | President Jackson's Aide (uncredited) |
| 1956 | Blackjack Ketchum Desperado | Dee Havalik |
| 1956 | Friendly Persuasion | Supply Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1955 | Dial Red O | Devon |
| 1955 | Devil Goddess | Nels Comstock |
| 1954 | Sitting Bull | O'Connor |
| 1954 | The Golden Idol | Sergeant Reed |
| 1954 | The Law vs. Billy the Kid | Dave Rudabaugh |
| 1954 | Jesse James vs. the Daltons | Emmett Dalton |
| 1954 | Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl | Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen) |
| 1953 | I, the Jury | |
| 1953 | 99 River Street | Director |
| 1953 | Raiders of the Seven Seas | Ramon |
| 1953 | Law and Order | Stranger (uncredited) |
| 1953 | Eyes of the Jungle | Jeff Roper |
| 1953 | Dangerous Crossing | Ship's Officer (uncredited) |
| 1953 | El Paso Stampede | Henchman Joe |
| 1953 | Jack McCall, Desperado | Spargo |
| 1953 | Kiss Me Kate | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Flat Top | Commander (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land | 'Doc' Edwards |
| 1952 | The Bad and the Beautiful | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Road Agent | Toll Gate Guard |
| 1952 | Talk About a Stranger | Driggs |
| 1951 | I Was an American Spy | American Captain (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Best of the Badmen | Bill - Adjutant (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Insurance Investigator | 1st Hood |
| 1951 | A Yank in Korea | Lt. Lewis |
| 1951 | Roaring City | Ed Gannon |
| 1951 | Blue Blood | Sparks |
| 1950 | Pygmy Island | Kruger |
| 1950 | Pal, Canine Detective | |
| 1950 | Sunset in the West | John Kimball (as William J. Tannen) |
| 1950 | Riders of the Range | Trump Dixon |
| 1950 | The Flying Missile | Lieutenant |
| 1950 | Chain Gang | Harry Cleaver |
| 1950 | Three Secrets | Bobby Lynch (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Convicted | Prison Guard (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Armored Car Robbery | Officer Johnson (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Annie Get Your Gun | Barker (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Abandoned | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1949 | All the King's Men | Man in City Bar (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Alaska Patrol | Dajek |
| 1949 | The Mysterious Desperado | Bart Barton |
| 1948 | The Three Musketeers | Traveler (uncredited) |
| 1948 | An Innocent Affair | Gaylord |
| 1948 | Walk a Crooked Mile | FBI Chemist |
| 1947 | Cynthia | Dingle Clerk (Uncredited) |
| 1947 | High Barbaree | Officer of the Deck (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Our Old Car | Officer Donahue (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Week-End at the Waldorf | Photographer (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Main Street After Dark | Wallet-Preparer (uncredited) |
| 1945 | The Great Morgan | Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1945 | A Gun in His Hand | Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood | Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Canterville Ghost | Jordan |
| 1944 | Dark Shadows | McKay's Assistant (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Main Street Today | Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Maisie Goes to Reno | Lead Man (Uncredited) |
| 1943 | Air Raid Wardens | Joseph |
| 1943 | For God and Country | Captain |
| 1943 | Presenting Lily Mars | Eugene Shepherd |
| 1942 | Woman of the Year | Ellis |
| 1942 | Nazi Agent | Ludwig |
| 1942 | Fingers at the Window | Devlan |
| 1942 | Tarzan's New York Adventure | Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1942 | The Lady or the Tiger? | Frank R. Stockton |
| 1942 | Cairo | Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited) |
| 1942 | The Affairs of Martha | Mechanic (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Stand by for Action | Flag Lt. Dudley |
| 1942 | Joe Smith, American | Eddie |
| 1942 | Grand Central Murder | Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Pacific Rendezvous | Jasper Dean |
| 1942 | Ship Ahoy | Agent Flammer |
| 1942 | For Me and My Gal | France Soldier-Driver (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Maisie Gets Her Man | Army Stage Manager (Uncredited) |
| 1941 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Intern Fenwick |
| 1941 | Whistling in the Dark | Robert Graves |
| 1941 | Men of the Timberland | Cafe Patron (uncredited) |
| 1941 | I'll Wait for You | Driver |
| 1941 | Two-Faced Woman | Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited) |
| 1941 | The Big Store | Fred Sutton |
| 1941 | Love Crazy | Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Down in San Diego | Matt Herman |
| 1941 | The Corsican Brothers | One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited) |
| 1941 | 1-2-3-Go! | Taxi Driver |
| 1940 | Flight Command | Lieut. Freddy Townsend |
| 1940 | Broadway Melody of 1940 | Harmon (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Wyoming | Sgt. Reynolds |
| 1940 | Boom Town | Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Pound Foolish | Marshall-Agent in Antwerp |
| 1940 | Gallant Sons | Spath, a Gangster (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Mortal Storm | Nazi Clerk |
| 1940 | New Moon | Pierre |
| 1940 | I Love You Again | Hotel Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Florian | Sergeant |
| 1940 | Sky Murder | Gus |
| 1940 | Phantom Raiders | Sailor |
| 1940 | Sporting Blood | Ted Milner |
| 1940 | Andy Hardy Meets Debutante | Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Four Girls in White | Doctor at Accident |
| 1939 | Stand Up and Fight | Lewis, Arnold's Henchman |
| 1939 | Within the Law | Green's Clerk |
| 1939 | The Ice Follies of 1939 | Assistant Doorman (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Broadway Serenade | Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Hardys Ride High | Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1939 | It's a Wonderful World | Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Another Thin Man | State Trooper (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Miracles for Sale | Spectator in Theatre Box |
| 1939 | The Secret of Dr. Kildare | Bates - Intern (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Fast and Furious | Radio Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Story of Dr. Jenner | Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited) |
| 1938 | The Mad Miss Manton | Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited) |
| 1937 | When Love Is Young | Norman Crocker |
| 1936 | Exclusive Story | Kent (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Speed | Intern Attending Terry |
| 1936 | Women Are Trouble | Reporter |
| 1936 | Fury | Governor's Aide (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Perfect Set-Up | MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Crash Donovan | Tony |
| 1935 | She Couldn't Take It | Cesar |
| 1935 | Murder in the Fleet | Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited) |
| 1935 | A Thrill for Thelma | MGM Reporter |
| 1934 | The Band Plays On | Rosy Rosenberg |
| 1934 | My Grandfather's Clock | Ronny Belvedere |
| 1934 | The Spectacle Maker | The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Here's Lucy | Workman #2 |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Keenan |
| 1957 | Perry Mason | Police Sergeant |
| 1957 | Perry Mason | Frank - Studio Guard |
| 1956 | Hey, Jeannie! | Paul Revere |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke | John Hirschbeck |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Champion | Rustler |
| 1955 | The Adventures of Champion | Logan |
| 1955 | The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke | Townsman |
| 1952 | Dangerous Assignment | |
| 1951 | The Adventures of Kit Carson |