Acting
William Tannen
EN cinema · 137 credits
Born
17 November 1911
Died
2 December 1976 (aged 65)
Birthplace
New York City, New York, USA
Also known as Bill Tannan · Billy Tannen · Bill Tannen · William J. Tannen · Bill Tanmen
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
Filmography
Hero and the Terror
as Civil Engineer
Batman
as American Delegate (uncredited)
Noose for a Gunman
as Willetts
The Return of Dracula
as Mack Bryant - Dept. of Immigration (uncredited)
Touch of Evil
as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
Gun Duel in Durango
as Larkin - Man Stealing Guns (uncredited)
A Hatful of Rain
as Celia's Supervisor (uncredited)
The First Texan
as President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)
Blackjack Ketchum Desperado
as Dee Havalik
Friendly Persuasion
as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)
Dial Red O
as Devon
Devil Goddess
as Nels Comstock
Top Gun
as Torchy (uncredited)
Sitting Bull
as O'Connor
The Golden Idol
as Sergeant Reed
The Law vs. Billy the Kid
as Dave Rudabaugh
Jesse James vs. the Daltons
as Emmett Dalton
Captain Kidd and the Slave Girl
as Steve Castle (as Bill Tannen)
99 River Street
as Director
Law and Order
as Stranger (uncredited)
Eyes of the Jungle
1953
Eyes of the Jungle
as Jeff Roper
Dangerous Crossing
as Ship's Officer (uncredited)
El Paso Stampede
as Henchman Joe
Jack McCall, Desperado
as Spargo
Kiss Me Kate
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Flat Top
as Commander (uncredited)
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land
as 'Doc' Edwards
The Bad and the Beautiful
as Reporter (uncredited)
Road Agent
as Toll Gate Guard
Talk About a Stranger
as Driggs
I Was an American Spy
as American Captain (uncredited)
Best of the Badmen
as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)
Insurance Investigator
as 1st Hood
A Yank in Korea
as Lt. Lewis
Roaring City
as Ed Gannon
Blue Blood
as Sparks
Pygmy Island
as Kruger
Sunset in the West
as John Kimball (as William J. Tannen)
Riders of the Range
as Trump Dixon
The Flying Missile
as Lieutenant
Chain Gang
as Harry Cleaver
Three Secrets
as Bobby Lynch (uncredited)
Convicted
as Prison Guard (uncredited)
Armored Car Robbery
as Officer Johnson (uncredited)
Annie Get Your Gun
as Barker (uncredited)
Abandoned
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
All the King's Men
as Man in City Bar (uncredited)
Alaska Patrol
as Dajek
The Mysterious Desperado
as Bart Barton
The Three Musketeers
as Traveler (uncredited)
An Innocent Affair
as Gaylord
Walk a Crooked Mile
as FBI Chemist
Cynthia
as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
High Barbaree
as Officer of the Deck (uncredited)
Our Old Car
as Officer Donahue (uncredited)
Week-End at the Waldorf
as Photographer (uncredited)
Main Street After Dark
as Wallet-Preparer (uncredited)
The Great Morgan
as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Gun in His Hand
as Police Lab Technician Wilson (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
as Casting Director / Dr. Caswell Snide (uncredited)
The Canterville Ghost
as Jordan
Dark Shadows
as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
Main Street Today
as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
Maisie Goes to Reno
as Lead Man (Uncredited)
Air Raid Wardens
as Joseph
For God and Country
as Captain
Presenting Lily Mars
as Eugene Shepherd
Woman of the Year
as Ellis
Nazi Agent
as Ludwig
Fingers at the Window
as Devlan
Tarzan's New York Adventure
as Mike, an Airport Clerk (uncredited)
The Lady or the Tiger?
as Frank R. Stockton
Cairo
as Mechanic at Pyramid (uncredited)
The Affairs of Martha
as Mechanic (uncredited)
Stand by for Action
as Flag Lt. Dudley
Joe Smith, American
as Eddie
The Corsican Brothers
as One of Lucien's Men (Uncredited)
Grand Central Murder
as Second Railroad Yardman (uncredited)
Pacific Rendezvous
as Jasper Dean
Ship Ahoy
as Agent Flammer
For Me and My Gal
as France Soldier-Driver (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man
as Army Stage Manager (Uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Intern Fenwick
Whistling in the Dark
as Robert Graves
Men of the Timberland
as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
I'll Wait for You
as Driver
Two-Faced Woman
as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
The Big Store
as Fred Sutton
Love Crazy
as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
Down in San Diego
as Matt Herman
1-2-3-Go!
as Taxi Driver
The Wild Man of Borneo
as Actor in Film Scene (uncredited)
Flight Command
as Lieut. Freddy Townsend
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Harmon (uncredited)
Wyoming
as Sgt. Reynolds
Boom Town
as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
Pound Foolish
as Marshall-Agent in Antwerp
Gallant Sons
as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
The Mortal Storm
as Nazi Clerk
New Moon
as Pierre
I Love You Again
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Florian
as Sergeant
Sky Murder
as Gus
Phantom Raiders
as Sailor
Sporting Blood
as Ted Milner
Andy Hardy Meets Debutante
as Mr. Franklin (voice) (uncredited)
Four Girls in White
as Doctor at Accident
Stand Up and Fight
as Lewis, Arnold's Henchman
Within the Law
as Green's Clerk
The Ice Follies of 1939
as Assistant Doorman (uncredited)
Broadway Serenade
as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
The Hardys Ride High
as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful World
as Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)
Another Thin Man
as State Trooper (uncredited)
Miracles for Sale
as Spectator in Theatre Box
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
as Bates (uncredited)
Fast and Furious
as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
The Story of Dr. Jenner
as Sarah's Sweetheart (uncredited)
The Mad Miss Manton
as Drunk Who Trips in Las Palmas Club (uncredited)
When Love Is Young
as Norman Crocker
Exclusive Story
as Kent (uncredited)
Speed
as Intern Attending Terry
Women Are Trouble
as Reporter
Fury
as Governor's Aide (uncredited)
The Perfect Set-Up
as MGM Crime Reporter Jim (uncredited)
Crash Donovan
as Tony
She Couldn't Take It
as Cesar
Murder in the Fleet
as Pee Wee Adams (Uncredited)
A Thrill for Thelma
as MGM Reporter
The Band Plays On
as Rosy Rosenberg
My Grandfather's Clock
as Ronny Belvedere
The Spectacle Maker
as The Grand Duke as Seen thru the Magic Spectacle