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William Demarest
William Demarest
91 years (Feb 27, 1892 – Dec 28, 1983)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
134 Movies
12 TV Shows

William Demarest

Time and sheer volume of work have made William Demarest a veteran actor whose work covers more eras of the industry than most. 1927 is the year the filmography opens. The count stands at 146 titles, and the range inside it is wide. his Bill Griffith in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' is the best-remembered role on the list. The list also holds 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'. He earned a the Academy Award nomination for 'The Jolson Story'.
Time and sheer volume of work have made William Demarest a veteran actor whose work covers more eras of the industry than most. 1927 is the year the filmography opens. The count stands at 146 titles, and the range inside it is wide. his Bill Griffith in 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' is the best-remembered role on the list. The list also holds 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'. He earned a the Academy Award nomination for 'The Jolson Story'.
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Full Filmography
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Studio Gatekeeper
★ 4.4
1976
Film
Ellery Queen
Alexander 'Pop' Denny · 1 episode
★ 7.5
1975–
TV
The Wild McCullochs
Father Gurkin
★ 4.5
1975
Film
McMillan & Wife
Andy Kenesaw · 2 episodes
★ 6.9
1971–
TV
That Darn Cat!
Mr. MacDougall
★ 6.6
1965
Film
Viva Las Vegas
Mr. Martin
★ 6.1
1964
Film
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Police Chief Aloysius
★ 7.0
1963
Film
Burke's Law
Charlie Who · 1 episode
★ 6.2
1963–
TV
Son of Flubber
Mr. Hummel
★ 6.1
1963
Film
Frequently Asked Questions
Is William Demarest still alive?
William Demarest passed away on December 28, 1983 at age 91.
What are the most famous roles of William Demarest?
William Demarest is best known for roles in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Sullivan's Travels.
How many movies has William Demarest been in?
Over a 56-year career (since 1927), William Demarest has appeared in 134 movies and 12 TV shows.
What was William Demarest's first movie?
The career of William Demarest began with Finger Prints (1927).
What is William Demarest's most recent movie or series?
William Demarest's most recent release is The Millionaire, which premiered on December 19, 1978.
What TV shows has William Demarest appeared in?
On television, William Demarest has appeared in The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
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William Demarest
William Demarest
1892-02-27 · Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known for playing Uncle Charley in My Three Sons. A veteran of World War I, Demarest became a prolific film and television actor, appearing in over 140 films, beginning in 1926 and ending in the 1970s. He frequently played crusty but good-hearted roles. Demarest started in show business working in vaudeville, appearing with his wife Estelle Collette (real name Esther Zychlin) as "Demarest and Colette", then moved on to Broadway. Demarest worked regularly with director Preston Sturges, becoming part of a "stock" troupe of actors that Sturges repeatedly cast in his films. He appeared in ten films written by Sturges, eight of which were under his direction, including The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. Demarest was such a familiar figure at the Paramount studio that just his name was used in the movie Sunset Boulevard as a potential star for William Holden's unsold baseball screenplay.

Demarest appeared with veteran western film star Roscoe Ates in the 1958 episode "And the Desert Shall Blossom" of CBS's Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In the story line, Ates and Demarest appear as old timers living in the Nevada desert. The local sheriff, played by Ben Johnson, appears with an eviction notice, but he agrees to let the pair stay on their property if they can make a dead rosebush bloom within the next month.

In 1959 Demarest was named the lead actor of the 18-week sitcom Love and Marriage on NBC in the 1959–1960 season. Demarest played William Harris, the owner of a failing music company who refuses to handle popular rock and roll music, which presumably might save the firm from bankruptcy. Joining Demarest on the series were Jeanne Bal, Murray Hamilton and Stubby Kaye.

Demarest appeared as Police Chief Aloysius of the Santa Rosita Police Department in the film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), as well as on a memorable episode ("What's in the Box") of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone as a hen-pecked husband driven to the murder of his wife.

His most famous television role was in the ABC and then CBS sitcom My Three Sons from 1965 to 1972, playing Uncle Charley O'Casey. He replaced William Frawley, whose failing health had made procuring insurance impossible. Demarest had worked with Fred MacMurray previously in the films Hands Across the Table (1935), Pardon My Past (1945), On Our Merry Way (1948), and The Far Horizons (1955) and was a personal friend of MacMurray. Also, he worked with Irene Dunne in Never a Dull Moment (1950).

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Known for
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