Will Wright
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Henry "Will" Wright (March 26, 1894, San Francisco, California - June 19, 1962, Los Angeles, California) was an American character actor. He was frequently cast in westerns and in curmudgeonly roles. Over the course of his career, Wright appeared in more than 200 film and television roles. He started his acting career in vaudeville and later moved to the stage, then on to movies, radio, and television. Among the films in which Wright appeared are Shadow of the Thin Man (1941), The Major and the Minor (1943), So Proudly We Hail! (1943), Road to Utopia (1946), Mother Wore Tights (1947), Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), Little Women (1949), Walk Softly, Stranger (1950), Sunset in the West (1950), People Will Talk (1951), The Happy Time (1952), River of No Return (1954), The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Jeanne Eagels (1957), and Gunman's Walk (1958). One of his most famous and memorable film roles was corrupt city official Dolph Pillsbury in the Academy Award-winning All the King's Men (1949). Wright provided the voice of Friend Owl in Walt Disney's animated film Bambi (1942). He guest starred on several television series. Will Wright died of cancer in 1962.
Filmography
Fail Safe
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Fail Safe
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Cape Fear
as Dr. Pearsall
Cape Fear
as Dr. Pearsall
Twenty Plus Two
as Newspaper morgue attendant
Twenty Plus Two
as Newspaper morgue attendant
The Deadly Companions
as Doctor Acton
The Deadly Companions
as Doctor Acton
Inherit the Wind
as Bible Salesman (uncredited)
Inherit the Wind
as Bible Salesman (uncredited)
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
as Pentagon General
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
as Pentagon General
Alias Jesse James
as Titus Queasley
Alias Jesse James
as Titus Queasley
Rock-a-Bye Baby
as Fire Chief (uncredited)
Rock-a-Bye Baby
as Fire Chief (uncredited)
Gunman's Walk
as Judge
Gunman's Walk
as Judge
Quantrill's Raiders
as Judge Wood
Quantrill's Raiders
as Judge Wood
The Missouri Traveler
as Sheriff Marvin Peavy
The Missouri Traveler
as Sheriff Marvin Peavy
Jeanne Eagels
as Marshal (uncredited)
Jeanne Eagels
as Marshal (uncredited)
Johnny Tremain
as Ephraim Lapham
Johnny Tremain
as Ephraim Lapham
The Wayward Bus
as Van Brunt
The Wayward Bus
as Van Brunt
The Iron Sheriff
as Judge
The Iron Sheriff
as Judge
These Wilder Years
as Old Cab Driver
These Wilder Years
as Old Cab Driver
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
as Admiral William S. Sims
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
as Admiral William S. Sims
The Man with the Golden Arm
The Man with the Golden Arm
The Tall Men
as Gus - Bartender (uncredited)
The Tall Men
as Gus - Bartender (uncredited)
The Kentuckian
as John Decker (uncredited)
The Kentuckian
as John Decker (uncredited)
Not as a Stranger
as Mr. Roberts (uncredited)
Not as a Stranger
as Mr. Roberts (uncredited)
Atomic Energy as a Force for Good
as Tim Summers
Atomic Energy as a Force for Good
as Tim Summers
The Raid
as Josiah Anderson
The Raid
as Josiah Anderson
Johnny Guitar
as Ned - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Johnny Guitar
as Ned - Bank Teller (uncredited)
River of No Return
as Trader (uncredited)
River of No Return
as Trader (uncredited)
The Wild One
as Art Kleiner
The Wild One
as Art Kleiner
The Last Posse
as Todd Mitchell
The Last Posse
as Todd Mitchell
Niagara
as Boatman
Niagara
as Boatman
The Happy Time
as Family Doctor
The Happy Time
as Family Doctor
O. Henry's Full House
as Hotel Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
as Hotel Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
as Hotel Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
O. Henry's Full House
as Hotel Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
Holiday for Sinners
as The Man with a Cigar
Holiday for Sinners
as The Man with a Cigar
Lure of the Wilderness
as Sheriff Brink
Lure of the Wilderness
as Sheriff Brink
Lydia Bailey
as Consul (uncredited)
Lydia Bailey
as Consul (uncredited)
Paula
as Raymond Bascom
Paula
as Raymond Bascom
Young Man with Ideas
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Young Man with Ideas
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Las Vegas Story
as Mike Fogarty
The Las Vegas Story
as Mike Fogarty
People Will Talk
as John Higgins (uncredited)
People Will Talk
as John Higgins (uncredited)
The Tall Target
as Thomas Ogden (uncredited)
The Tall Target
as Thomas Ogden (uncredited)
Never Trust a Gambler
as Cap Douglas (uncredited)
Never Trust a Gambler
as Cap Douglas (uncredited)
Excuse My Dust
as Race judge
Excuse My Dust
as Race judge
My Forbidden Past
as Luther Toplady
My Forbidden Past
as Luther Toplady
Vengeance Valley
as Mr. Willoughby
Vengeance Valley
as Mr. Willoughby
Dallas
as Judge Harper
Dallas
as Judge Harper
Walk Softly, Stranger
as Jake - Poker Player (uncredited)
Walk Softly, Stranger
as Jake - Poker Player (uncredited)
Sunset in the West
as Sheriff Tad Osborne
Sunset in the West
as Sheriff Tad Osborne
No Way Out
as Dr. Cheney (uncredited)
No Way Out
as Dr. Cheney (uncredited)
The Savage Horde
as Judge Thomas Cole
The Savage Horde
as Judge Thomas Cole
A Ticket to Tomahawk
as Marshal Kit Dodge
A Ticket to Tomahawk
as Marshal Kit Dodge
House by the River
as Inspector Sarten
House by the River
as Inspector Sarten
Mrs. Mike
as Dr. McIntosh
Mrs. Mike
as Dr. McIntosh
Adam's Rib
as Judge Marcasson
Adam's Rib
as Judge Marcasson
All the King's Men
as Dolph Pillsbury
All the King's Men
as Dolph Pillsbury
They Live by Night
as Mobley
They Live by Night
as Mobley
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
as Roscoe Johnson (uncredited)
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
as Roscoe Johnson (uncredited)
Brimstone
as Martin Tredwell
Brimstone
as Martin Tredwell
Lust for Gold
as Parsons (uncredited)
Lust for Gold
as Parsons (uncredited)
The Price of Freedom
as McTrees
The Price of Freedom
as McTrees
Grape Nutty
as Crow (Voice)
Grape Nutty
as Crow (Voice)
Big Jack
as Will Farnsworth
Big Jack
as Will Farnsworth
The Green Promise
as Mr. Grenstedt
The Green Promise
as Mr. Grenstedt
Little Women
as Mr. Grace (uncredited)
Little Women
as Mr. Grace (uncredited)
Act of Violence
as Pop
Act of Violence
as Pop
Whispering Smith
as Sheriff McSwiggin
Whispering Smith
as Sheriff McSwiggin
An Act of Murder
as Judge Jim Wilder
An Act of Murder
as Judge Jim Wilder
Disaster
as Pop Hansford
Disaster
as Pop Hansford
The Walls of Jericho
as Dr. Patterson (uncredited)
The Walls of Jericho
as Dr. Patterson (uncredited)
Black Eagle
as Sheriff Clancy
Black Eagle
as Sheriff Clancy
Relentless
as Sam - the Horse Dealer
Relentless
as Sam - the Horse Dealer
Green Grass of Wyoming
as Jake Willis
Green Grass of Wyoming
as Jake Willis
So This Is New York
as Uncle Fergus (uncredited)
So This Is New York
as Uncle Fergus (uncredited)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
as Eph Hackett (uncredited)
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
as Eph Hackett (uncredited)
The Inside Story
as J. J. Johnson
The Inside Story
as J. J. Johnson
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
as Pop Williams
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
as Pop Williams
Speaking of Animals: Home Sweet Home
as Babirusa / Pig (voice)
Speaking of Animals: Home Sweet Home
as Babirusa / Pig (voice)
California's Golden Beginning
California's Golden Beginning
Wild Harvest
as Mike Alperson
Wild Harvest
as Mike Alperson
Along the Oregon Trail
as Jim Bridger
Along the Oregon Trail
as Jim Bridger
Cynthia
as Gus Wood, Thatcher's Real Estate Rep
Cynthia
as Gus Wood, Thatcher's Real Estate Rep
Mother Wore Tights
as Withers (uncredited)
Mother Wore Tights
as Withers (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
as Uncle Tom (uncredited)
Uncle Tom's Cabaña
as Uncle Tom (uncredited)
Keeper of the Bees
as Dr. Grayson
Keeper of the Bees
as Dr. Grayson
The Trouble with Women
as Commissioner (uncredited)
The Trouble with Women
as Commissioner (uncredited)
Danger Street
as Police Chief Bullward
Danger Street
as Police Chief Bullward
The Long Night
as Mr. Tully - the Janitor (uncredited)
The Long Night
as Mr. Tully - the Janitor (uncredited)
Blaze of Noon
as Mr. Thomas
Blaze of Noon
as Mr. Thomas
California
as Chairman (uncredited)
California
as Chairman (uncredited)
Fair Weather Fiends
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
Fair Weather Fiends
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
Blue Skies
as Dan - Stage Manager (uncredited)
Blue Skies
as Dan - Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Jolson Story
as Sourpuss Movie Patron (uncredited)
The Jolson Story
as Sourpuss Movie Patron (uncredited)
The Reckless Driver
as Wally Walrus (voice)
The Reckless Driver
as Wally Walrus (voice)
Big Town
as Station Agent (uncredited)
Big Town
as Station Agent (uncredited)
Down Missouri Way
as Prof. Morris
Down Missouri Way
as Prof. Morris
The Inner Circle
as Henry Boggs
The Inner Circle
as Henry Boggs
Rendezvous with Annie
as Elmer Snodgrass
Rendezvous with Annie
as Elmer Snodgrass
Hot Cargo
as Tim Chapman
Hot Cargo
as Tim Chapman
Who's Cookin Who?
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
Who's Cookin Who?
as Wolfie Wolf (voice)
One Exciting Week
as Otis Piper
One Exciting Week
as Otis Piper
Without Reservations
as Pullman Conductor (uncredited)
Without Reservations
as Pullman Conductor (uncredited)
They Made Me a Killer
as Henry, the Blacksmith
They Made Me a Killer
as Henry, the Blacksmith
The Blue Dahlia
as "Dad" Newell
The Blue Dahlia
as "Dad" Newell
Apple Andy
as Devil
Apple Andy
as Devil
Johnny Comes Flying Home
as Foreman (uncredited)
Johnny Comes Flying Home
as Foreman (uncredited)
The Hoodlum Saint
as Allan 'Knucklehead' Smith - Times Editor (uncredited)
The Hoodlum Saint
as Allan 'Knucklehead' Smith - Times Editor (uncredited)
Road to Utopia
as Mr. Latimer (uncredited)
Road to Utopia
as Mr. Latimer (uncredited)
The Madonna's Secret
as The Riverman
The Madonna's Secret
as The Riverman
Prospecting for Petroleum
as The Professor (voice)
Prospecting for Petroleum
as The Professor (voice)
Scarlet Street
as Globe Loan Office Manager (uncredited)
Scarlet Street
as Globe Loan Office Manager (uncredited)
The Loose Nut
as Construction Worker (voice)
The Loose Nut
as Construction Worker (voice)
State Fair
as Hog Judge (uncredited)
State Fair
as Hog Judge (uncredited)
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
as Mr. Nelson
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry
as Mr. Nelson
You Came Along
as Col. Dale V. Armstrong (uncredited)
You Came Along
as Col. Dale V. Armstrong (uncredited)
Bewitched
as Mr. Herkheimer
Bewitched
as Mr. Herkheimer
Rhapsody in Blue
as Rachmaninoff
Rhapsody in Blue
as Rachmaninoff
Salome, Where She Danced
as Sheriff
Salome, Where She Danced
as Sheriff
Fall Guy
as Mr. Nedsen, Parkson's Attorney (uncredited)
Fall Guy
as Mr. Nedsen, Parkson's Attorney (uncredited)
High Powered
as Jeff Hines
High Powered
as Jeff Hines
Grissly's Millions
as John Frey
Grissly's Millions
as John Frey
Practically Yours
as Sen. Cowling (uncredited)
Practically Yours
as Sen. Cowling (uncredited)
Dangerous Passage
as Postal Clerk (uncredited)
Dangerous Passage
as Postal Clerk (uncredited)
The Town Went Wild
as Judge Harry Schrank (uncredited)
The Town Went Wild
as Judge Harry Schrank (uncredited)
Wilson
as Hughes Campaign Orator in Maine (uncredited)
Wilson
as Hughes Campaign Orator in Maine (uncredited)
Take It Big
as Rodeo Judge (uncredited)
Take It Big
as Rodeo Judge (uncredited)
You Can't Ration Love
as Judge Cary - Justice of the Peace
You Can't Ration Love
as Judge Cary - Justice of the Peace
The Navy Way
as Baldy - Triangle A Ranch Hand (uncredited)
The Navy Way
as Baldy - Triangle A Ranch Hand (uncredited)
In Old Oklahoma
as Doctor
In Old Oklahoma
as Doctor
Here Comes Elmer
as Horace Parrot
Here Comes Elmer
as Horace Parrot
So Proudly We Hail
as Colonel Clark (Uncredited)
So Proudly We Hail
as Colonel Clark (Uncredited)
Sleepy Lagoon
as Cyrus Coates
Sleepy Lagoon
as Cyrus Coates
The Good Fellows
as Brother from Danville (uncredited)
The Good Fellows
as Brother from Danville (uncredited)
Cowboy in Manhattan
as Higgins
Cowboy in Manhattan
as Higgins
The Meanest Man in the World
as Pawn Shop Owner (uncredited)
The Meanest Man in the World
as Pawn Shop Owner (uncredited)
Tennessee Johnson
as Alderman (uncredited)
Tennessee Johnson
as Alderman (uncredited)
The Major and the Minor
as Ticket Agent #1 (uncredited)
The Major and the Minor
as Ticket Agent #1 (uncredited)
A Letter From Bataan
as Mr. Limpert
A Letter From Bataan
as Mr. Limpert
Wildcat
as John 'Paw' Smithers
Wildcat
as John 'Paw' Smithers
Bambi
as Friend Owl (voice) (uncredited)
Bambi
as Friend Owl (voice) (uncredited)
The Postman Didn't Ring
as Mr. Slade
The Postman Didn't Ring
as Mr. Slade
Saboteur
as J.C. Lormans - Company Official (uncredited)
Saboteur
as J.C. Lormans - Company Official (uncredited)
Shut My Big Mouth
as Jim Long
Shut My Big Mouth
as Jim Long
USS VD: Ship of Shame
as Commandant (uncredited)
USS VD: Ship of Shame
as Commandant (uncredited)
Shadow of the Thin Man
as Maguire (uncredited)
Shadow of the Thin Man
as Maguire (uncredited)
The Tell-Tale Heart
as Second Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
The Tell-Tale Heart
as Second Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Nothing but the Truth
as Mr. Bart Prichard (uncredited)
Nothing but the Truth
as Mr. Bart Prichard (uncredited)
Mob Town
as Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Mob Town
as Pawnbroker (uncredited)
Honky Tonk
as Townsman at Meeting House (uncredited)
Honky Tonk
as Townsman at Meeting House (uncredited)
Blossoms in the Dust
as Senator
Blossoms in the Dust
as Senator
Cracked Nuts
as Sylvanus Boogle
Cracked Nuts
as Sylvanus Boogle
Maisie Was a Lady
as Judge Thatcher (Uncredited)
Maisie Was a Lady
as Judge Thatcher (Uncredited)
You, the People
as Mr. Roberts
You, the People
as Mr. Roberts
Blondie Plays Cupid
as Mr. Tucker
Blondie Plays Cupid
as Mr. Tucker
It's A Small World
as Courtroom spectator (uncredited)
It's A Small World
as Courtroom spectator (uncredited)