Died: May 28, 1969 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California
Occupation: Actor
Active: '40s-'50s
Major Genres: Drama, Action
Career Highlights: The Bells of St. Mary's, One Too Many, The Corn Is Green
First Major Screen Credit: The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Biography
Few of the performers in director John Ford's How Green Was My Valley (1941) were as qualified to appear in the film as Rhys Williams. Born in Wales and intimately familiar from childhood with that region's various coal-mining communities, the balding, pug-nosed Williams was brought to Hollywood to work as technical director and dialect coach for Ford's film. The director was so impressed by Williams that he cast the actor in the important role of Welsh prize fighter Dai Bando. Accruing further acting experience in summer stock, Rhys Williams became a full-time Hollywood character player, appearing in such films as Mrs. Miniver (1942), The Spiral Staircase (1946), The Inspector General (1949), and Our Man Flint (1966). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
