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