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William Henry "Will" Wright was an American actor. He was frequently cast in westerns and as a curmudgeonly and argumentative old man. Over the course of his career, Wright appeared in more than 200 film and television roles.
Birth Name
William Henry Wright
Born
Monday, 26 March 1894
Died
Tuesday, 19 June 1962
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| The Naked Archaeologist | (archive footage) | 2005 |
| Fail Safe | Bit Part | 1964 |
| Cape Fear | Dr. Pearsall | 1962 |
| The Dick Van Dyke Show | Sam Petrie | 1961 |
| Twenty Plus Two | 1961 | |
| The Deadly Companions | Doctor Acton | 1961 |
| Mister Ed | Mr. Thompson | 1961 |
| The Law and Mr. Jones | Judge | 1960 |
| The Andy Griffith Show | Ben Weaver | 1960 |
| Outlaws | Augie Fitch | 1960 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| The Naked Archaeologist | (archive footage) | 2005 |
| Fail Safe | Bit Part | 1964 |
| Cape Fear | Dr. Pearsall | 1962 |
| The Dick Van Dyke Show | Sam Petrie | 1961 |
| Twenty Plus Two | 1961 | |
| The Deadly Companions | Doctor Acton | 1961 |
| Mister Ed | Mr. Thompson | 1961 |
| The Law and Mr. Jones | Judge | 1960 |
| The Andy Griffith Show | Ben Weaver | 1960 |
| Outlaws | Augie Fitch | 1960 |
| The Blue Angels | Reese | 1960 |
| Pete and Gladys | Justice of the Peace | 1960 |
| Thriller | Constable Tom Walker | 1960 |
| The Tall Man | Mayor Hackett | 1960 |
| Inherit the Wind | Bible Salesman | 1960 |
| Mr. Lucky | The Leadville Kid | 1959 |
| Shotgun Slade | Ethan Kellogg | 1959 |
| Dennis the Menace | Mr. Merrivale / Merrivale the Florist | 1959 |
| Laramie | Doc Bigelow / Dr. Burns / Dr. Sindley | 1959 |
| Riverboat | J.C. Sickel | 1959 |
| Bonanza | Will Reagan / Seth Coombs / Micah Bailey | 1959 |
| The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock | Pentagon General | 1959 |
| Alias Jesse James | Titus Queasley | 1959 |
| Rawhide | Grandfather / Grandpa | 1959 |
| 77 Sunset Strip | Luther Hanks | 1958 |
| Bat Masterson | Billy Willow | 1958 |
| Lawman | Tecumsah Pruitt / Luke Saint | 1958 |
| The Rough Riders | Adam Bunch | 1958 |
| Frontier Doctor | Kent Davenport | 1958 |
| The Donna Reed Show | Oliver | 1958 |
| Rescue 8 | Ezra Wilkins | 1958 |
| Bronco | Dr. Winkler | 1958 |
| Rock-a-Bye Baby | Fire Chief | 1958 |
| Gunman's Walk | Judge | 1958 |
| Quantrill's Raiders | Judge / Judge Wood | 1958 |
| The Missouri Traveler | Sheriff Peavy / Sheriff Marvin Peavy | 1958 |
| Casey Jones | Ed Corley | 1957 |
| Trackdown | Luke Monroe / Zack | 1957 |
| The Real McCoys | Frank Goody / Sam | 1957 |
| The Restless Gun | Hiram Grover / Jim Blackwell | 1957 |
| Maverick | Atherton Flayger / Boone Gillis / General Eakins / General Hoyt Bosco / Jabe Hallock / Sheriff Chester Bentley | 1957 |
| Perry Mason | James Vardon / Chuck Clark / Adam Thompson | 1957 |
| Sugarfoot | John Chamberlain / Job Turner / Charlie Cade | 1957 |
| Jeanne Eagels | Marshal | 1957 |
| Johnny Tremain | Ephraim Lapham | 1957 |
| The Wayward Bus | Van Brunt | 1957 |
| Leave It to Beaver | Pete at Firehouse #7 | 1957 |
| The Iron Sheriff | Judge | 1957 |
| Tales of Wells Fargo | Jeff Parrish / Joe Dooley / Sheriff Tom Clements | 1957 |
| Mr. Adams and Eve | Calhern | 1957 |
| Zane Grey Theatre | King - Newspaper Editor | 1956 |
| Dr. Christian | Ben | 1956 |
| Circus Boy | Sourdough Harry | 1956 |
| Hey, Jeannie! | Mr. Wright / McClish | 1956 |
| The Adventures of Jim Bowie | Deacon Haskell | 1956 |
| These Wilder Years | Old Cab Driver | 1956 |
| The Charles Farrell Show | Rich Mr. Barker | 1956 |
| The Man with the Golden Arm | Harry Lane | 1955 |
| The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Adm. William S. Sims / Admiral William S. Sims | 1955 |
| Fury | Windy / Mr. Malakey | 1955 |
| The 20th Century-Fox Hour | Judge O'Neill | 1955 |
| The Tall Men | Gus - Bartender | 1955 |
| Cheyenne | Doc McAllep | 1955 |
| The Kentuckian | John Decker - Shopkeeper / John Decker | 1955 |
| Not as a Stranger | Mr. Roberts | 1955 |
| Damon Runyon Theater | Devereau | 1955 |
| Stage 7 | Mr. Quinby | 1955 |
| The Millionaire | Grandpa Costello | 1955 |
| The Bob Cummings Show | Burt 'Pappy' Mason / Burt Mason | 1955 |
| The Magical World of Disney | Ephraim Lapham | 1954 |
| The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin | Herpo Huntington | 1954 |
| December Bride | Mr. Jordon / Doctor | 1954 |
| Father Knows Best | Ace | 1954 |
| Willy | Skinner | 1954 |
| Lassie | Caleb Brown | 1954 |
| The Raid | Josiah Anderson | 1954 |
| Johnny Guitar | Ned - Bank Teller | 1954 |
| River of No Return | Trading Post Proprietor / Trader | 1954 |
| Public Defender | Horace Bascomb | 1954 |
| The Wild One | Art Kleiner | 1953 |
| The Danny Thomas Show | Will Finch / Mr. Johnson | 1953 |
| The Loretta Young Show | Father Gourdian | 1953 |
| The Last Posse | Todd Mitchell | 1953 |
| You Are There | Philip Arnold | 1953 |
| General Electric Theater | Grandpaw / Jake Marley / McCrain | 1953 |
| Niagara | Boatman | 1953 |
| My Hero | Sam Hamilton | 1952 |
| The Happy Time | Family Doctor | 1952 |
| Our Miss Brooks | Henry Finley | 1952 |
| The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Cabin Owner / Fireball McDonald / Justice of the Peace / Mr. Hendrix / Mr. Jackson / Mr. Stewart | 1952 |
| The Ford Television Theatre | Mr. Crane / Wentworth | 1952 |
| Cavalcade of America | George's Father | 1952 |
| Four Star Playhouse | Willie / Scupper | 1952 |
| O. Henry's Full House | Manager (segment "The Clarion Call") | 1952 |
| Holiday for Sinners | The Man with a Cigar | 1952 |
| Lure of the Wilderness | Sheriff Brink | 1952 |
| Footlights Theater | Wentworth | 1952 |
| Lydia Bailey | Consul | 1952 |
| Paula | Raymond Bascom | 1952 |
| Young Man with Ideas | Party Guest | 1952 |
| The Las Vegas Story | Mike Fogarty | 1952 |
| Death Valley Days | Jim Barker | 1952 |
| I Love Lucy | Mr. Walters / Sheriff | 1951 |
| Schlitz Playhouse | Father / Pop | 1951 |
| People Will Talk | Uncle John Higgins | 1951 |
| The Tall Target | Thomas I. Ogden - Train Passenger | 1951 |
| Never Trust a Gambler | Cap Douglas | 1951 |
| The Amos 'n Andy Show | Jennings | 1951 |
| Excuse My Dust | Race judge | 1951 |
| My Forbidden Past | Luther Toplady | 1951 |
| Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok | Sheriff Hastings | 1951 |
| Vengeance Valley | Mr. Willoughby | 1951 |
| The Living Christ Series | Annas / Herod The Great | 1951 |
| Dallas | Judge Harper | 1950 |
| The Jack Benny Program | Cafe Owner / Conductor | 1950 |
| Walk Softly, Stranger | Jake, Poker Player | 1950 |
| The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | Judge Kramer / Frank / Chuck Fuller | 1950 |
| Beulah | Judge | 1950 |
| Lux Video Theatre | Mr. Grenstad / Judge / Commodore | 1950 |
| Sunset in the West | Sheriff Tad Osborne | 1950 |
| No Way Out | Dr. Cheney | 1950 |
| The Savage Horde | Judge Thomas Cole | 1950 |
| A Ticket to Tomahawk | Marshal Kit Dodge | 1950 |
| House by the River | Inspector Sarten | 1950 |
| Mrs. Mike | Dr. McIntosh | 1949 |
| Adam's Rib | Judge Marcasson | 1949 |
| All the King's Men | Dolph Pillsbury | 1949 |
| Miss Grant Takes Richmond | Roscoe Johnson | 1949 |
| The Lone Ranger | Griff Allison / Uncle Ed | 1949 |
| Brimstone | Martin Tredwell | 1949 |
| Lust for Gold | Parsons | 1949 |
| Big Jack | Will Farnsworth | 1949 |
| The Green Promise | Mr. Grenstedt / Mr. Grinstedt | 1949 |
| Little Women | Mr. Grace - Proprietor | 1949 |
| Act of Violence | Pop | 1948 |
| Whispering Smith | Sheriff McSwiggin | 1948 |
| An Act of Murder | Judge Jim Wilder | 1948 |
| Disaster | Pop Hansford | 1948 |
| Black Eagle | Sheriff Clancy | 1948 |
| They Live by Night | Mobley | 1948 |
| The Walls of Jericho | Dr. Patterson / Dr. Nathan J. Patterson | 1948 |
| Green Grass of Wyoming | Jake Willis | 1948 |
| So This Is New York | Uncle Fergus | 1948 |
| Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House | Eph Hackett | 1948 |
| The Inside Story | J.J. Johnson / J. J. Johnson | 1948 |
| Relentless | Sam - the Horse Dealer | 1948 |
| California's Golden Beginning | 1948 | |
| Wild Harvest | Mike Alperson | 1947 |
| Along the Oregon Trail | Jim Bridger | 1947 |
| Cynthia | Gus Wood, Thatcher's Real Estate Rep | 1947 |
| Mother Wore Tights | Withers | 1947 |
| Uncle Tom's Cabaña | Uncle Tom | 1947 |
| Keeper of the Bees | Dr. Grayson | 1947 |
| The Trouble with Women | Commissioner | 1947 |
| The Long Night | Mr. Tully - the Janitor | 1947 |
| Blaze of Noon | Mr. Thomas | 1947 |
| Danger Street | Police Chief Bullward / Bullward - Police Chief | 1947 |
| California | Chairman | 1947 |
| Fair Weather Fiends | Wolfie Wolf / Wolfie Wolf (voice) | 1946 |
| Blue Skies | Dan - Stage Manager | 1946 |
| The Jolson Story | Sourpuss Movie Patron | 1946 |
| The Reckless Driver | Wally Walrus / Wally Walrus (voice) | 1946 |
| Big Town | Station Agent | 1946 |
| Down Missouri Way | Prof. Morris | 1946 |
| The Inner Circle | Henry Boggs | 1946 |
| Rendezvous with Annie | Elmer Snodgrass | 1946 |
| Hot Cargo | Tim Chapman | 1946 |
| Who's Cookin Who? | Wolfie Wolf | 1946 |
| One Exciting Week | Otis Piper | 1946 |
| Without Reservations | Pullman Conductor | 1946 |
| They Made Me a Killer | Henry - the Blacksmith / Henry, the Blacksmith | 1946 |
| The Blue Dahlia | 'Dad' Newell | 1946 |
| Apple Andy | The Devil / Devil | 1946 |
| Johnny Comes Flying Home | Foreman | 1946 |
| The Hoodlum Saint | Allan Smith - Times Editor | 1946 |
| The Madonna's Secret | The Riverman | 1946 |
| Scarlet Street | Globe Loan Office Manager | 1945 |
| The Loose Nut | Construction Worker / Construction Worker (voice) | 1945 |
| Road to Utopia | Mr. Latimer | 1945 |
| State Fair | Hog Judge | 1945 |
| The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry | Mr. Nelson | 1945 |
| Bewitched | Mr. Herkheimer | 1945 |
| You Came Along | Col. Dale V. Armstrong | 1945 |
| Rhapsody in Blue | Rachmaninoff | 1945 |
| Salome, Where She Danced | Sheriff | 1945 |
| Fall Guy | Mr. Nedsen, Parkson's Attorney | 1945 |
| High Powered | Jeff Hines | 1945 |
| Grissly's Millions | John Frey | 1945 |
| Practically Yours | Sen. Cowling | 1944 |
| Dangerous Passage | Postal Clerk | 1944 |
| The Town Went Wild | Judge Harry Schrank | 1944 |
| Wilson | Hughes Campaign Orator in Maine | 1944 |
| Take It Big | Rodeo Judge | 1944 |
| The Navy Way | Baldy - Triangle A Ranch Hand | 1944 |
| In Old Oklahoma | Doctor | 1943 |
| Here Comes Elmer | Horace Parrot | 1943 |
| Minesweeper | Naval Captain | 1943 |
| So Proudly We Hail! | Col. Clark / Colonel Clark (Uncredited) | 1943 |
| Sleepy Lagoon | Cyrus Coates | 1943 |
| The Good Fellows | Brother from Danville | 1943 |
| Cowboy in Manhattan | Higgins | 1943 |
| Submarine Alert | Local Sheriff | 1943 |
| The Meanest Man in the World | Pawn Shop Owner | 1943 |
| Tennessee Johnson | Alderman | 1942 |
| The Major and the Minor | Ticket Agent #1 | 1942 |
| A Letter from Bataan | Mr. Limpert - the Mailman | 1942 |
| Wildcat | John 'Paw' Smithers | 1942 |
| Bambi | Friend Owl | 1942 |
| Tales of Manhattan | Old Concertgoer (Laughton sequence) | 1942 |
| The Postman Didn't Ring | Mr. Slade | 1942 |
| Saboteur | J.C. Lormans - Company Official | 1942 |
| Shut My Big Mouth | Long / Jim Long | 1942 |
| Shadow of the Thin Man | Maguire - Nervous Ticket Seller | 1941 |
| The Tell-Tale Heart | Second Deputy Sheriff | 1941 |
| Nothing But the Truth | Mr. Bart Prichard | 1941 |
| Mob Town | Pawnbroker | 1941 |
| Honky Tonk | Townsman at Meeting House | 1941 |
| Blossoms in the Dust | Senator / Texas Senator | 1941 |
| The Richest Man in Town | Frederick Johnson | 1941 |
| Cracked Nuts | Sylvanus Boogle | 1941 |
| Maisie Was a Lady | Judge Thatcher / Judge Thatcher (Uncredited) | 1941 |
| You, the People | Mr. Roberts / Mr. Roberts - City Purchasing Official | 1940 |
| Blondie Plays Cupid | Tucker / Mr. Tucker | 1940 |
| It's a Small World | Courtroom spectator | 1935 |
| Pure Feud | Lem | 1934 |
