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

I, the Jury

Intern Fenwick

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Ellis

Woman of the Year

Director

99 River Street

Joseph

Air Raid Wardens

Ludwig

Nazi Agent

Devlan

Fingers at the Window

Jordan

The Canterville Ghost

Robert Graves

Whistling in the Dark

Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)

Tarzan's New York Adventure

Lieut. Freddy Townsend

Flight Command

Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Men of the Timberland

Ramon

Raiders of the Seven Seas

Commander (uncredited)

Flat Top

American Captain (uncredited)

I Was an American Spy

Stranger (uncredited)

Law and Order

President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)

The First Texan

O'Connor

Sitting Bull

Jeff Roper

Eyes of the Jungle

Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)

The Return of Dracula

Kent (uncredited)

Exclusive Story

Photographer (uncredited)

Week-End at the Waldorf

Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)

Best of the Badmen

Traveler (uncredited)

The Three Musketeers

'Doc' Edwards

Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land

1st Hood

Insurance Investigator

The Quick Gun

Kruger

Pygmy Island

Driver

I'll Wait for You

Lt. Lewis

A Yank in Korea

Sergeant Reed

The Golden Idol

Gaylord

An Innocent Affair

Cesar

She Couldn't Take It

Dee Havalik

Blackjack Ketchum Desperado

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Abandoned

Devon

Dial Red O

Intern Attending Terry

Speed

Ship's Officer (uncredited)

Dangerous Crossing

Civil Engineer

Hero and the Terror

Reporter (uncredited)

The Bad and the Beautiful

Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)

Two-Faced Woman

Rosy Rosenberg

The Band Plays On

Doctor at Accident

Four Girls in White

Fred Sutton

The Big Store

The Tijuana Story

Lewis, Arnold's Henchman

Stand Up and Fight

Reporter

Women Are Trouble

Assistant Doorman (uncredited)

The Ice Follies of 1939

Green's Clerk

Within the Law

Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

Broadway Serenade

Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

The Hardys Ride High

Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)

It's a Wonderful World

State Trooper (uncredited)

Another Thin Man

Spectator in Theatre Box

Miracles for Sale

McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

Dark Shadows

Bates - Intern (uncredited)

The Secret of Dr. Kildare

Radio Announcer (uncredited)

Fast and Furious

Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)

Murder in the Fleet

Governor's Aide (uncredited)

Fury

Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)

Main Street After Dark

Man in City Bar (uncredited)

All the King's Men

Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)

Gun Duel in Durango

Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)

Love Crazy

Dajek

Alaska Patrol

Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)

Touch of Evil

Pal, Canine Detective

Harmon (uncredited)

Broadway Melody of 1940

Norman Crocker

When Love Is Young

Ronny Belvedere

My Grandfather's Clock

Sgt. Reynolds

Wyoming

Frank R. Stockton

The Lady or the Tiger?

Bart Barton

The Mysterious Desperado

Dave Rudabaugh

The Law vs. Billy the Kid

Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)

Boom Town

Nels Comstock

Devil Goddess

Marshall-Agent in Antwerp

Pound Foolish

Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)

Cairo

Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

Friendly Persuasion

Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)

Gallant Sons

Nazi Clerk

The Mortal Storm

Pierre

New Moon

Sergeant

Florian

Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

I Love You Again

Gus

Sky Murder

Sailor

Phantom Raiders

Ted Milner

Sporting Blood

John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)

Sunset in the West

Emmett Dalton

Jesse James vs. the Daltons

Trump Dixon

Riders of the Range

Lieutenant

The Flying Missile

Toll Gate Guard

Road Agent

Harry Cleaver

Chain Gang

Matt Herman

Down in San Diego

Henchman Joe

El Paso Stampede

Spargo

Jack McCall, Desperado

Willetts

Noose for a Gunman

Ed Gannon

Roaring City

Captain

For God and Country

Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)

Andy Hardy Meets Debutante

Mechanic (uncredited)

The Affairs of Martha

Officer Donahue (uncredited)

Our Old Car

Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Great Morgan

American Delegate (uncredited)

Batman

Flag Lt. Dudley

Stand by for Action

Eddie

Joe Smith, American

FBI Chemist

Walk a Crooked Mile

MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)

The Perfect Set-Up

MGM Reporter

A Thrill for Thelma

Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)

A Gun in His Hand

Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)

Main Street Today

Eugene Shepherd

Presenting Lily Mars

The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle

The Spectacle Maker

One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)

The Corsican Brothers

Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)

Grand Central Murder

Tony

Crash Donovan

Bobby Lynch (uncredited)

Three Secrets

Prison Guard (uncredited)

Convicted

Officer Johnson (uncredited)

Armored Car Robbery

Driggs

Talk About a Stranger

Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

Sparks

Blue Blood

Jasper Dean

Pacific Rendezvous

Barker (uncredited)

Annie Get Your Gun

Agent Flammer

Ship Ahoy

Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)

The Mad Miss Manton

Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)

Cynthia

Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)

A Hatful of Rain

Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)

The Story of Dr. Jenner

Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)

Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl

France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)

For Me and My Gal

Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)

Maisie Gets Her Man

Lead Man (Uncredited)

Maisie Goes to Reno

Taxi Driver

1-2-3-Go!

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Kiss Me Kate

Officer of the Deck (uncredited)

High Barbaree

Actor in Film Scene (uncredited)

The Wild Man of Borneo

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

136

Gender

Male

Birthday

1911-11-17

Place of Birth

New York City, New York, USA

Also Known As

Bill Tannan