William Demarest

 
Actor:

William Demarest

  • Born: Feb 27, 1892 in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Died: Dec 28, 1983 in Palm Springs, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '20s-'50s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Musical
  • Career Highlights: The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, The Palm Beach Story, The Jolson Story
  • First Major Screen Credit: The Jazz Singer (1927)

Biography

Famed for his ratchety voice and cold-fish stare, William Demarest was an "old pro" even when he was a young pro. He began his stage career at age 13, holding down a variety of colorful jobs (including professional boxer) during the off-season. After years in carnivals and as a vaudeville headliner, Demarest starred in such Broadway long-runners as Earl Carroll's Sketch Book. He was signed with Warner Bros. pictures in 1926, where he was briefly paired with Clyde Cook as a "Mutt and Jeff"-style comedy team. Demarest's late-silent and early-talkie roles varied in size, becoming more consistently substantial in the late 1930s. His specialty during this period was a bone-crushing pratfall, a physical feat he was able to perform into his 60s. While at Paramount in the 1940s, Demarest was a special favorite of writer/director Preston Sturges, who cast Demarest in virtually all his films: The Great McGinty (1940); Christmas in July (1940); The Lady Eve (1941); Sullivan's Travels (1942); The Palm Beach Story (1942); Hail the Conquering Hero (1944); Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944), wherein Demarest was at his bombastic best as Officer Kockenlocker; and The Great Moment (1944). For his role as Al Jolson's fictional mentor Steve Martin in The Jolson Story (1946), Demarest was Oscar-nominated (the actor had, incidentally, appeared with Jolie in 1927's The Jazz Singer). Demarest continued appearing in films until 1975, whenever his increasingly heavy TV schedule would allow. Many Demarest fans assumed that his role as Uncle Charlie in My Three Sons (66-72) was his first regular TV work: in truth, Demarest had previously starred in the short-lived 1960 sitcom Love and Marriage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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Filmography: William Demarest

The Wild McCullochs

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Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

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That Darn Cat

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Viva Las Vegas

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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

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Son of Flubber

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The Mountain

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Wikipedia: William Demarest
William Demarest
WilliamDemerestandCherylWalkerStageDoorCanteen.jpg
Demarest with Cheryl Walker in the film Stage Door Canteen (1943)
Born February 27 1892(1892--)
St. Paul, Minnesota
Died December 28 1983 (aged 91)
Palm Springs, California

William Demarest (February 27, 1892December 28, 1983) was an American character actor.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was a very prolific film and TV actor, having worked on over 140 films. He worked frequently with director Preston Sturges, becoming part of a "stock" troupe of actors that Sturges repeatedly cast in his films. He started in show business working in vaudeville, then moved on to Broadway. His film career began in 1926 and spanned the decades up to the 1970s. His most famous TV role was in My Three Sons from 1965 to 1972, playing Uncle Charley and replacing William Frawley, whose failing health had made procuring insurance impossible.

Demarest received a single Academy Award nomination, for his supporting role in The Jolson Story, playing Al Jolson's fictional mentor. He had previously shared the screen with the real Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer.

Demarest died in Palm Springs, California and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Filmography

Features:

Short Subjects:

  • A Night at Coffee Dan's (1927)
  • Amateur Night (1927)
  • The Night Court (1927)
  • Seeing Things (1930)
  • The Run Around (1932)

External links


 
 

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Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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