William Tannen
William Tannen
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.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
146
Gender
Male
Birthday
1911-11-17 (113 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Acting

1988

Hero and the Terror as Civil Engineer

1968

Here's Lucy as Workman #2

1966

Batman as American Delegate (uncredited)

1964

The Quick Gun as Not available

1960

Noose for a Gunman as Willetts

1958

Touch of Evil as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)

1958

The Return of Dracula as Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)

1957

Perry Mason as Police Sergeant

1957

Perry Mason as Frank - Studio Guard

1957

Tales of Wells Fargo as Keenan

1957

A Hatful of Rain as Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)

1957

The Tijuana Story as Not available

1957

Gun Duel In Durango as Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)

1956

Hey, Jeannie! as Paul Revere

1956

Friendly Persuasion as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

1956

The First Texan as President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)

1956

Blackjack Ketchum Desperado as Dee Havalik

1955

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as Not available

1955

Gunsmoke as John Hirschbeck

1955

Gunsmoke as Townsman

1955

Devil Goddess as Nels Comstock

1955

Dial Red O as Devon

1954

Sitting Bull as O'Connor

1954

Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl as Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)

1954

Jesse James vs. the Daltons as Emmett Dalton

1954

The Law vs. Billy the Kid as Dave Rudabaugh

1954

The Golden Idol as Sergeant Reed

1953

Kiss Me Kate as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

1953

Law and Order as Stranger (uncredited)

1953

99 River Street as Director

1953

I, the Jury as Not available

1953

Dangerous Crossing as Ship's Officer (uncredited)

1953

El Paso Stampede as Henchman Joe

1953

Jack McCall, Desperado as Spargo

1953

Eyes of the Jungle as Jeff Roper

1952

Dangerous Assignment as Not available

1952

The Bad and the Beautiful as Reporter (uncredited)

1952

Road Agent as Toll Gate Guard

1952

Talk About a Stranger as Driggs

1952

Flat Top as Commander (uncredited)

1952

Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land as 'Doc' Edwards

1951

The Adventures of Kit Carson as Not available

1951

Best of the Badmen as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)

1951

A Yank in Korea as Lt. Lewis

1951

I Was an American Spy as American Captain (uncredited)

1951

Roaring City as Ed Gannon

1951

Insurance Investigator as 1st Hood

1951

Blue Blood as Sparks

1950

Annie Get Your Gun as Barker (uncredited)

1950

Armored Car Robbery as Officer Johnson (uncredited)

1950

Convicted as Prison Guard (uncredited)

1950

Three Secrets as Bobby Lynch (uncredited)

1950

Sunset in the West as John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)

1950

The Flying Missile as Lieutenant

1950

Pygmy Island as Kruger

1950

Chain Gang as Harry Cleaver

1950

Riders of the Range as Trump Dixon

1950

Pal, Canine Detective as Not available

1949

All the King's Men as Man in City Bar (uncredited)

1949

Abandoned as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

1949

Alaska Patrol as Dajek

1949

The Mysterious Desperado as Bart Barton

1948

The Three Musketeers as Traveler (uncredited)

1948

Walk a Crooked Mile as FBI Chemist

1948

An Innocent Affair as Gaylord

1947

Cynthia as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)

1946

Our Old Car as Officer Donahue (uncredited)

1945

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood as Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)

1945

The Great Morgan as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)

1945

Week-End at the Waldorf as Photographer (uncredited)

1945

Main Street After Dark as Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)

1945

A Gun in His Hand as Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)

1944

The Canterville Ghost as Jordan

1944

Main Street Today as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)

1944

Maisie Goes to Reno as Lead Man (Uncredited)

1944

Dark Shadows as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

1943

Presenting Lily Mars as Eugene Shepherd

1943

Air Raid Wardens as Joseph

1943

For God and Country as Captain

1942

Woman of the Year as Ellis

1942

Tarzan's New York Adventure as Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)

1942

For Me and My Gal as France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)

1942

Nazi Agent as Ludwig

1942

Cairo as Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)

1942

Stand by for Action as Flag Lt. Dudley

1942

Grand Central Murder as Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)

1942

Joe Smith, American as Eddie

1942

Maisie Gets Her Man as Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)

1942

Pacific Rendezvous as Jasper Dean

1942

Ship Ahoy as Agent Flammer

1942

Fingers at the Window as Devlan

1942

The Affairs of Martha as Mechanic (uncredited)

1942

The Lady or the Tiger? as Frank R. Stockton

1941

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as Intern Fenwick

1941

The Big Store as Fred Sutton

1941

The Corsican Brothers as One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)

1941

Love Crazy as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)

1941

Two-Faced Woman as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)

1941

Whistling in the Dark as Robert Graves

1941

1-2-3-Go! as Taxi Driver

1941

I'll Wait for You as Driver

1941

Down in San Diego as Matt Herman

1941

Men of the Timberland as Cafe Patron (uncredited)

1940

Boom Town as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)

1940

Broadway Melody of 1940 as Harmon (uncredited)

1940

I Love You Again as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

1940

The Mortal Storm as Nazi Clerk

1940

Florian as Sergeant

1940

Gallant Sons as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)

1940

Flight Command as Lieut. Freddy Townsend

1940

New Moon as Pierre

1940

Sky Murder as Gus

1940

Sporting Blood as Ted Milner

1940

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante as Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)

1940

Phantom Raiders as Sailor

1940

Pound Foolish as Marshall-Agent in Antwerp

1940

Wyoming as Sgt. Reynolds

1939

Another Thin Man as State Trooper (uncredited)

1939

It's a Wonderful World as Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)

1939

Broadway Serenade as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

1939

Fast and Furious as Radio Announcer (uncredited)

1939

Miracles for Sale as Spectator in Theatre Box

1939

Stand Up and Fight as Lewis, Arnold's Henchman

1939

The Ice Follies of 1939 as Assistant Doorman (uncredited)

1939

The Secret of Dr. Kildare as Bates - Intern (uncredited)

1939

The Story of Dr. Jenner as Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)

1939

Four Girls in White as Doctor at Accident

1939

Within the Law as Green's Clerk

1939

The Hardys Ride High as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

1938

The Mad Miss Manton as Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)

1937

When Love Is Young as Norman Crocker

1936

Fury as Governor's Aide (uncredited)

1936

Crash Donovan as Tony

1936

Speed as Intern Attending Terry

1936

Exclusive Story as Kent (uncredited)

1936

The Perfect Set-Up as MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)

1936

Women Are Trouble as Reporter

1935

Murder in the Fleet as Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)

1935

She Couldn't Take It as Cesar

1935

A Thrill for Thelma as MGM Reporter

1934

The Band Plays On as Rosy Rosenberg

1934

My Grandfather's Clock as Ronny Belvedere

1934

The Spectacle Maker as The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle