CINEFILER

William Tannen

Born
November 17, 1911
Died
December 2, 1976
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
Touch of Evil
(1958)
Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
Batman
(1966)
American Delegate (uncredited)
Sitting Bull
(1954)
O'Connor
The Three Musketeers
(1948)
Traveler (uncredited)
All the King's Men
(1949)
Man in City Bar (Uncredited)
The Bad and the Beautiful
(1952)
Reporter (uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1941)
Intern Fenwick
Fury
(1936)
Governor's Aide (uncredited)
Woman of the Year
(1942)
Ellis
Tarzan's New York Adventure
(1942)
Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
Annie Get Your Gun
(1950)
Barker (uncredited)
Hero and the Terror
(1988)
Civil Engineer
The Big Store
(1941)
Fred Sutton
The Canterville Ghost
(1944)
Jordan
Another Thin Man
(1939)
State Trooper (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
(1940)
Harmon (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Bands Plays On
(1934)
Rosy Rosenberg
My Grandfather's Clock
(1934)
Ronny Belvedere
The Spectacle Maker
(1934)
The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle
She Couldn't Take It
(1935)
Cesar
Murder in the Fleet
(1935)
Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
A Thrill for Thelma
(1935)
MGM Reporter
Speed
(1936)
Intern Attending Terry
Women Are Trouble
(1936)
Reporter
Fury
(1936)
Governor's Aide (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
(1936)
MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
Crash Donovan
(1936)
Tony
Exclusive Story
(1936)
Kent (uncredited)
When Love Is Young
(1937)
Norman Crocker
The Mad Miss Manton
(1938)
Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
Four Girls in White
(1939)
Doctor at Accident
Stand Up and Fight
(1939)
Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
The Ice Follies of 1939
(1939)
Assistant Doorman (Uncredited)
Within the Law
(1939)
Green's Clerk
Broadway Serenade
(1939)
Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Hardys Ride High
(1939)
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Another Thin Man
(1939)
State Trooper (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale
(1939)
Spectator in Theatre Box
Fast and Furious
(1939)
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
(1939)
Bates - Intern (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful World
(1939)
Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
The Story of Dr. Jenner
(1939)
Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)
Flight Command
(1940)
Lieut. Freddy Townsend
Broadway Melody of 1940
(1940)
Harmon (uncredited)
Wyoming
(1940)
Sgt. Reynolds
Boom Town
(1940)
Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
Gallant Sons
(1940)
Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
The Mortal Storm
(1940)
Nazi Clerk
New Moon
(1940)
Pierre
Sky Murder
(1940)
Gus
Florian
(1940)
Sergeant
Phantom Raiders
(1940)
Sailor
Sporting Blood
(1940)
Ted Milner
I Love You Again
(1940)
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
(1940)
Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1941)
Intern Fenwick
Down in San Diego
(1941)
Matt Herman
Whistling in the Dark
(1941)
Robert Graves
I'll Wait for You
(1941)
Driver
The Big Store
(1941)
Fred Sutton
The Corsican Brothers
(1941)
One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
Love Crazy
(1941)
Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
Men of the Timberland
(1941)
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Two-Faced Woman
(1941)
Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
Woman of the Year
(1942)
Ellis
Fingers at the Window
(1942)
Devlan
Nazi Agent
(1942)
Ludwig
The Lady or the Tiger?
(1942)
Frank R. Stockton
The Affairs of Martha
(1942)
Mechanic (uncredited)
Stand by for Action
(1942)
Flag Lt. Dudley
Joe Smith, American
(1942)
Eddie
Grand Central Murder
(1942)
Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
Pacific Rendezvous
(1942)
Jasper Dean
Ship Ahoy
(1942)
Agent Flammer
For Me and My Gal
(1942)
France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man
(1942)
Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
Tarzan's New York Adventure
(1942)
Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
Air Raid Wardens
(1943)
Joseph
For God and Country
(1943)
Captain
Presenting Lily Mars
(1943)
Eugene Shepherd
The Canterville Ghost
(1944)
Jordan
Main Street Today
(1944)
Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
Maisie Goes to Reno
(1944)
Lead Man (Uncredited)
Dark Shadows
(1944)
McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
The Great Morgan
(1945)
Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand
(1945)
Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
(1945)
Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
Week-End at the Waldorf
(1945)
Photographer (uncredited)
Main Street After Dark
(1945)
Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
Our Old Car
(1946)
Officer Donahue (uncredited)
Cynthia
(1947)
Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
An Innocent Affair
(1948)
Gaylord
Walk a Crooked Mile
(1948)
FBI Chemist
The Three Musketeers
(1948)
Traveler (uncredited)
All the King's Men
(1949)
Man in City Bar (Uncredited)
The Mysterious Desperado
(1949)
Bart Barton
Alaska Patrol
(1949)
Dajek
Abandoned
(1949)
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Pygmy Island
(1950)
Kruger
Sunset in the West
(1950)
John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
Riders of the Range
(1950)
Trump Dixon
The Flying Missile
(1950)
Lieutenant
Chain Gang
(1950)
Harry Cleaver
Three Secrets
(1950)
Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
Convicted
(1950)
Prison Guard (uncredited)
Armored Car Robbery
(1950)
Officer Johnson (uncredited)
Annie Get Your Gun
(1950)
Barker (uncredited)
Pal, Canine Detective
(1950)
Insurance Investigator
(1951)
1st Hood
A Yank in Korea
(1951)
Lt. Lewis
Roaring City
(1951)
Ed Gannon
Blue Blood
(1951)
Sparks
I Was an American Spy
(1951)
American Captain (uncredited)
Best of the Badmen
(1951)
Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land
(1952)
'Doc' Edwards
Road Agent
(1952)
Toll Gate Guard
Talk About a Stranger
(1952)
Driggs
The Bad and the Beautiful
(1952)
Reporter (uncredited)
Flat Top
(1952)
Commander (uncredited)
99 River Street
(1953)
Director
El Paso Stampede
(1953)
Henchman Joe
Jack McCall, Desperado
(1953)
Spargo
I, the Jury
(1953)
Raiders of the Seven Seas
(1953)
Ramon
Law and Order
(1953)
Stranger (uncredited)
Eyes of the Jungle
(1953)
Jeff Roper
Dangerous Crossing
(1953)
Ship's Officer (uncredited)
Sitting Bull
(1954)
O'Connor
The Law vs. Billy the Kid
(1954)
Dave Rudabaugh
The Golden Idol
(1954)
Sergeant Reed
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
(1954)
Emmett Dalton
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
(1954)
Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
Dial Red O
(1955)
Devon
Devil Goddess
(1955)
Nels Comstock
Blackjack Ketchum Desperado
(1956)
Dee Havalik
The First Texan
(1956)
President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
A Hatful of Rain
(1957)
Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
The Tijuana Story
(1957)
Gun Duel In Durango
(1957)
Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
Touch of Evil
(1958)
Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
The Return of Dracula
(1958)
Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
Noose for a Gunman
(1960)
Willetts
The Quick Gun
(1964)
Batman
(1966)
American Delegate (uncredited)
Hero and the Terror
(1988)
Civil Engineer
Data provided by TMDB