William Tannen

William Tannen

1911-11-17 – 1976-12-02 (age 65) New York City, New York, USA
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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.

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Known For

Batman
Batman

1966

as American Delegate (uncredited)

Touch of Evil
Touch of Evil

1958

as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)

Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull

1954

as O'Connor

Friendly Persuasion
Friendly Persuasion

1956

as Supply Sergeant (uncredited)

Fury
Fury

1936

as Governor's Aide (uncredited)

The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers

1948

as Traveler (uncredited)

Best of the Badmen
Best of the Badmen

1951

as Bill - Adjutant (uncredited)

Raiders of the Seven Seas
High Barbaree
High Barbaree

1947

as Officer of the Deck (uncredited)

Ship Ahoy
Ship Ahoy

1942

as Agent Flammer

Law and Order
Law and Order

1953

as Stranger (uncredited)

Cynthia
Cynthia

1947

as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)

Roaring City
Roaring City

1951

as Ed Gannon

All the King's Men
All the King's Men

1949

as Man in City Bar (uncredited)

Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows

1944

as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

Flight Command
Flight Command

1940

as Lieut. Freddy Townsend

Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year

1942

as Ellis

The Bad and the Beautiful
The Bad and the Beautiful

1952

as Reporter (uncredited)

Broadway Serenade
Broadway Serenade

1939

as Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)

Alaska Patrol
Alaska Patrol

1949

as Dajek