Person
William Desmond
Acting · 1878–1949 · Horseheads, New York, USA
Biography
Starting out in dramatic parts, Desmond soon switched to westerns and action serials, and became a major western star. When the sound era began Desmond was almost 50 years old, and was soon relegated to supporting roles.
Known for
Naughty Marietta
Gendarme Chief (uncredited)
Tall in the Saddle
Townsman (uncredited)
No Defense
John Harper
Phantom of the Opera
Stagehand (uncredited)
Crack-Up
Police Chief
Hello, 'Frisco
William Desmond
Whitewashed Walls
Larry Donovan
The Criminal
Donald White
Phantom Lady
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Naughty Nineties
Showboat Customer (uncredited)
Filmography
- 1956Savage FuryAllen
- 1947Thunder MountainTownsman (uncredited)
- 1947The Egg and ISpectator at Country Dance (Uncredited)
- 1947Code of the WestSettler (uncredited)
- 1947Trail StreetTownsman (uncredited)
- 1946Desert CommandCapt. Boncour
- 1945Strange ConfessionPeanut Vendor (uncredited)
- 1945The Naughty NinetiesShowboat Customer (uncredited)
- 1945The Return of the Durango KidStreet Ambusher (uncredited)
- 1944Hi, BeautifulPassenger (uncredited)
- 1944The ClimaxBackstage Technician (Uncredited)
- 1944Tall in the SaddleTownsman (uncredited)
- 1944The Mummy's GhostMuseum Tourist (uncredited)
- 1944Phantom LadyCourtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- 1943Thank Your Lucky StarsGower Gulch Cowboy (uncredited)
- 1943Phantom of the OperaStagehand (uncredited)
- 1943The Lone Star TrailBartender Mike
- 1943Cheyenne RoundupPete
- 1942Overland MailWilliams - Banker
- 1942The Silver BulletTownsman
- 1942Down Rio Grande WayTownsman
- 1941Bury Me Not on the Lone PrairieBartender
- 1941Where Did You Get That Girl?Tourist
- 1940Junior G-MenIrish Cop (uncredited)
- 1940The Boys from SyracuseCitizen
- 1940Winners of the WestBill Brine
- 1937Tim Tyler's LuckDock Official
- 1936Headin' for the Rio GrandeMr. Mack (cattle buyer)
- 1936Song of the GringoBailiff
- 1936The Vigilantes Are ComingAnderson, Vigilante Member
- 1936Hollywood BoulevardPago Pago Patron (uncredited)
- 1936Treachery Rides the RangeBill
- 1936Flash GordonHawkman Lookout Captain
- 1936Song of the SaddleTim
- 1936The Adventures of Frank MerriwellCaptain of the 'Viking'
- 1936The Broken Coin
- 1936Custer's Last StandWagon Master
- 1935Frisco KidVigilante Hangman (uncredited)
- 1935Tailspin Tommy in The Great Air MysteryForeman Burke
- 1935Powdersmoke RangeHappy - Bartender
- 1935Courage of the NorthGene Travis
- 1935The Roaring WestJim Parker
- 1935Social ErrorPoliceman
- 1935The Call of the SavageAllen
- 1935The Ghost RiderGuard
- 1935Cyclone of the SaddleWagon Master
- 1935The Cowboy and the BanditSheriff Pete
- 1935Born to BattleJohn Brownell
- 1935Naughty MariettaGendarme Chief (uncredited)
- 1935Wild WatersSheriff Manning
- 1935Timber TerrorsRoyce Horter
- 1935Rustlers of Red DogIra Dale [Chs. 1-4, 6, 10-12]
- 1934When Lightning StrikesMarshal Jack Stevens
- 1934Frontier DaysSheriff Barnes
- 1934The Way of the West'Cash' Horton (as Wm. Desmond)
- 1934The Red RiderSheriff Campbell
- 1934I Can't EscapeParole Officer Donovan
- 1934Crack-UpPolice Chief
- 1934The Vanishing ShadowMacDonald
- 1934The Rawhide TerrorTom Blake
- 1934Border GunsDr. Jim Wilson
- 1934Pirate TreasureCapt. Jim Carson
- 1933Fargo ExpressSheriff Joe Thompson
- 1933Perils of PaulineProf. Thompson
- 1933Strawberry RoanColonel Brownlee
- 1933Mr. Broadway1st Suitor (archive footage)
- 1933Gordon of Ghost CityJohn Mulford
- 1933Laughing at LifeMilitary Cabinet Officer
- 1933The Phantom of the AirThomas Edmonds
- 1933The Three MusketeersCapt. Boncour
- 1933The Rustler's RoundupSan Dimas Sheriff Holden
- 1933Clancy of the MountedDave Moran
- 1932A Scarlet Week-End
- 1932Jungle MysteryJohn Morgan
- 1932The Last FrontierGeneral Custer
- 1932Heroes of the WestJohn Blaine
- 1931Battling with Buffalo BillJohn Mills
- 1931The Lightning WarriorTownsman (uncredited)
- 1931Oklahoma JimLacy
- 1931Hell-Bent for FriscoThe Editor
- 1931First AidChief of Police
- 1931The Vanishing LegionMilesburg Sheriff
- 1930The Phantom of the WestMartin Blair
- 1929No DefenseJohn Harper
- 1929No ChildrenSelf
- 1928The Mystery RiderWinthrop Lane / The Mystery Rider
- 1928The Devil's TrademarkMorgan Gray
- 1928The Vanishing RiderJim Davis / The Vanishing Rider
- 1927The Return of the Riddle RiderRandolph Parker / The Riddle Rider
- 1926The Strings of SteelNed Brown
- 1925The Ace of SpadesDan Harvey
- 1925The MeddlerRichard Gilmore
- 1925The Burning TrailSmiling Bill Flannigan
- 1925Red ClayChief John Nisheto
- 1925DupedJohn Morgan
- 1925Straight ThroughGood Deed O'Day
- 1925Barriers of the LawRex Brandon
- 1925Ridin' PrettySky Parker
- 1925OutwittedJack Blaisdel
- 1924The Riddle RiderRandolph Parker / The Riddle Rider
- 1924The Sunset TrailHappy Hobo
- 1924The Measure of a ManJohn Fairmeadow
- 1924Hello, 'FriscoWilliam Desmond
- 1924Big TimberWalter Sandry
- 1924The Breathless MomentBilly Carson
- 1923The Extra GirlHimself
- 1923Beasts of ParadisePhil Grant
- 1923Shadows of the NorthBen 'Wolf' Darby
- 1923McGuire of the MountedBob McGuire
- 1923The Phantom FortuneLarry Barclay
- 1923Around the World in 18 DaysPhineas Fogg III
- 1922Night Life in HollywoodSelf
- 1922Perils of the YukonJack Merrill Sr. / Jack Merrill Jr.
- 1921Fightin' MadBud McGraw
- 1921The Policeman and the BabyThe Policeman
- 1921The Child Thou Gavest MeTom Marshall
- 1921The Parish PriestReverend John Whalen
- 1921Women Men LoveDavid Hunter
- 1920Twin BedsHarry Hawkins
- 1919The Prince and BettyJohn Maude
- 1919The Blue BandannaJerry Jerome
- 1919A Sage Brush HamletLarry Lang
- 1919Bare-Fisted Gallagher'Bare-Fisted' Gallagher
- 1919The Mints of HellDan Burke
- 1919Whitewashed WallsLarry Donovan
- 1919Her Code of HonorEugene La Salle
- 1919Life's a Funny PropositionJimmie Pendleton
- 1918The PretenderBob Baldwin
- 1918An Honest ManBenny Boggs
- 1918Society for SaleHonorable Billy
- 1918The Marriage BubbleThe Actor
- 1918Captain of His SoulHorace
- 1917The Sudden GentlemanGarry Garrity
- 1917Married in Name Only
- 1917Flying ColorsBrent Brewster
- 1917Master of His HomeCarson Stewart
- 1917Paws of the BearRay Bourke
- 1917Paddy O'HaraPaddy O'Hara
- 1917The Last of the IngramsJules Ingram
- 1917The Iced BulletThe Author / Horace Lee
- 1916A Gamble in Souls
- 1916The CriminalDonald White
- 1916The Dawn MakerBruce Smithson
- 1916Bullets and Brown EyesPrince Carl
- 1916PeggyRev. Donald Bruce
- 1915Peer GyntThe Parson
- 1915The Majesty of the LawJackson Morgan Kent
- 1915KilmenyBob Meredith
- 1904The Sign of the Cross
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