William Demarest

William Demarest ( born February 27, 1892 in St. Paul, Minnesota, † December 28, 1983 in Palm Springs, California ) was an American film actor and comedian, who has worked in about 170 films and television productions.

Life

Early on William Demarest appeared as a cellist in a musical trio with his two brothers, George and Rubinstein and was represented as a vaudeville comedian in vaudeville and at fairs. After a period as a professional boxer, he finally signed with Warner Brothers in 1926 and turned to the film. In 1927 he participated in the first sound film The Jazz Singer. From the end of the 20s he appeared in the musicals White Lilacs ( 1928-1929 ), Earl Carroll 's Sketch Book ( 1929-1930 ) and Earl Carroll 's Vanities ( 1931 to 1932 ) on Broadway.

After his return to film, he appeared as an actor grumpy and easily irritable character of the " rough shell, soft core " in countless supporting roles. Unforgotten he remains largely thanks to the works of Preston Sturges, who put him in his first eight films - most effectively in The Great McGinty, The Lady Eve, sensation in Morgan 's Creek and Hail the conquering hero - and regarded him as a sort of good luck charm. For his role in The Jazz Singer (The Jolson Story) Demarest 1946 was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor. Billy Wilder paid him tribute by leaving William Holden mention his name in Sunset Boulevard ( " And there's a great little part for Bill Demarest. One of the trainers, to oldtime player who got beaned and goes out of his head sometimes. " )

In 1957 the actor was amplified for television, where he had success, especially as Uncle Charley in the series My Three Sons, which ran since 1960 and in 1965 he the ailing William Frawley replaced. As My Three Sons series also ran on German television. With his Hollywood anecdotes Demarest was until his death a welcome guest in TV shows, and died at an old age in 1983 from prostate cancer. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale ( California).

Filmography (selection)

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