William Tannen

Personal Info

Known ForActing
Born1911-11-17
BirthplaceNew York City, New York, USA

William Tannen

Acting

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.

Filmography

Acting (137)

1988
Hero and the Terroras Civil Engineer
5.3
1966
Batmanas American Delegate (uncredited)
6.4
1960
6.0
1958
The Return of Draculaas Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
5.6
1958
Touch of Evilas Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
7.7
1957
A Hatful of Rainas Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
6.8
1957
Gun Duel in Durangoas Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
5.6
1956
Friendly Persuasionas Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
6.6
1956
The First Texanas President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
6.7
1956
7.3
1955
Top Gunas Torchy (uncredited)
6.6
1955
Devil Goddessas Nels Comstock
6.7
1955
Dial Red Oas Devon
5.2
1954
Sitting Bullas O'Connor
5.3
1954
The Law vs. Billy the Kidas Dave Rudabaugh
5.0
1954
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girlas Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
5.7
1954
5.9
1954
The Golden Idolas Sergeant Reed
4.8
1953
Kiss Me Kateas Taxi Driver (uncredited)
6.5
1953
El Paso Stampedeas Henchman Joe
7.0
1953
99 River Streetas Director
6.8
1953
Dangerous Crossingas Ship's Officer (uncredited)
6.4
1953
Eyes of the Jungleas Jeff Roper
8.0
1953
Law and Orderas Stranger (uncredited)
5.7
6.0
1952
The Bad and the Beautifulas Reporter (uncredited)
7.3
1952
Flat Topas Commander (uncredited)
4.6
6.2
1952
Road Agentas Toll Gate Guard
7.0
6.0
1951
Best of the Badmenas Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
6.5
1951
Roaring Cityas Ed Gannon
5.1
1951
I Was an American Spyas American Captain (uncredited)
6.6
1951
5.7
1951
A Yank in Koreaas Lt. Lewis
7.0
1951
Blue Bloodas Sparks
10.0
1950
The Flying Missileas Lieutenant
5.3
1950
Pygmy Islandas Kruger
4.8
1950
Chain Gangas Harry Cleaver
7.5
1950
Three Secretsas Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
6.5
1950
Sunset in the Westas John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
7.4
1950
Convictedas Prison Guard (uncredited)
6.2
1950
Armored Car Robberyas Officer Johnson (uncredited)
6.5
1950
Annie Get Your Gunas Barker (uncredited)
6.7
1950
Riders of the Rangeas Trump Dixon
6.3
1949
All the King's Menas Man in City Bar (uncredited)
7.0
1949
Abandonedas Taxi Driver (uncredited)
6.2
1949
6.7
1949
10.0
1948
The Three Musketeersas Traveler (uncredited)
6.8
1948
4.8
1948
Walk a Crooked Mileas FBI Chemist
6.2
1947
Cynthiaas Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
6.2
1947
High Barbareeas Officer of the Deck (uncredited)
5.6
1946
Our Old Caras Officer Donahue (uncredited)
7.0
1945
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywoodas Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
5.8
1945
Week-End at the Waldorfas Photographer (uncredited)
6.5
1945
A Gun in His Handas Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
6.1
1945
Main Street After Darkas Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
4.5
1945
The Great Morganas Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
6.0
1944
Dark Shadowsas McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
8.9
1944
Maisie Goes to Renoas Lead Man (Uncredited)
6.6
6.9
1944
Main Street Todayas Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
6.3
1943
8.0
1943
Presenting Lily Marsas Eugene Shepherd
6.4
1943
7.2
1942
Stand by for Actionas Flag Lt. Dudley
7.0
1942
For Me and My Galas France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
6.5
1942
Cairoas Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)
6.3
1942
The Affairs of Marthaas Mechanic (uncredited)
6.6
1942
Maisie Gets Her Manas Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
6.7
1942
Pacific Rendezvousas Jasper Dean
7.5
1942
Tarzan's New York Adventureas Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
6.4
1942
Grand Central Murderas Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
5.7
5.7
1942
Ship Ahoyas Agent Flammer
6.3
1942
The Lady or the Tiger?as Frank R. Stockton
7.0
1942
Nazi Agentas Ludwig
6.6
1942
7.0
6.5
1942
The Corsican Brothersas One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
7.0
1941
Two-Faced Womanas Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
6.4
1941
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeas Intern Fenwick
6.5
1941
Whistling in the Darkas Robert Graves
5.9
1941
Down in San Diegoas Matt Herman
6.7
1941
The Big Storeas Fred Sutton
6.3
1941
Love Crazyas Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
6.8
1941
6.8
1941
Men of the Timberlandas Cafe Patron (uncredited)
8.0
1941
1-2-3-Go!as Taxi Driver
6.6
1941
The Wild Man of Borneoas Actor in Film Scene (uncredited)
6.7
1940
Flight Commandas Lieut. Freddy Townsend
5.9
1940
Gallant Sonsas Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
7.4
1940
6.8
1940
Wyomingas Sgt. Reynolds
6.7
1940
Boom Townas Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
7.0
1940
I Love You Againas Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
7.2
1940
Sporting Bloodas Ted Milner
4.2
1940
Andy Hardy Meets Debutanteas Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
5.7
1940
New Moonas Pierre
6.9
1940
The Mortal Stormas Nazi Clerk
7.3
1940
6.1
1940
Florianas Sergeant
4.5
1940
Broadway Melody of 1940as Harmon (uncredited)
6.8
1940
Pound Foolishas Marshall-Agent in Antwerp
8.0
1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildareas Bates (uncredited)
6.1
1939
Another Thin Manas State Trooper (uncredited)
7.1
1939
Fast and Furiousas Radio Announcer (uncredited)
5.2
1939
Miracles for Saleas Spectator in Theatre Box
6.4
1939
It's a Wonderful Worldas Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
6.5
1939
The Hardys Ride Highas Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
6.5
1939
Broadway Serenadeas Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
6.6
1939
The Story of Dr. Jenneras Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)
8.0
1939
Within the Lawas Green's Clerk
6.5
1939
The Ice Follies of 1939as Assistant Doorman (uncredited)
5.6
1939
Four Girls in Whiteas Doctor at Accident
7.2
1939
Stand Up and Fightas Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
6.0
1938
The Mad Miss Mantonas Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
6.4
1937
When Love Is Youngas Norman Crocker
10.0
1936
8.0
1936
7.0
1936
Furyas Governor's Aide (uncredited)
7.5
1936
Speedas Intern Attending Terry
5.9
1936
The Perfect Set-Upas MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
6.5
1936
Exclusive Storyas Kent (uncredited)
7.2
1935
A Thrill for Thelmaas MGM Reporter
6.1
5.3
1935
Murder in the Fleetas Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
6.6
1934
The Band Plays Onas Rosy Rosenberg
8.3
1934
My Grandfather's Clockas Ronny Belvedere
8.0
1934
The Spectacle Makeras The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle
6.3