William Tracy

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Clarence William Tracy , also William Tracey (born December 1, 1917 in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA, † June 18, 1967 in Hollywood , California , USA) was an American film actor . For a long time he was predestined for the role of sons or smart young men in Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s.

Life

William Tracy trained as an actor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and had his first roles in musicals on Broadway . The first feature film he starred in was Brother Rat in 1938 . He then worked in over 30 other films, mostly in supporting roles. He played his most famous roles in 1940 in the film Rendezvous after the store closes as the shrewd errand boy "Pepi" and in the film series Terry and the Pirates , based on the comic strip Terry and the Pirates , where he also played one of his few leading roles. As a comedian duo he made several comedies with Joe Sawyer in the early 1940s, produced by Hal Roach , in which he played the role of Sergeant Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday . Often Tracy also played film sons, for example in John Ford's film burlesque Tabakstrasse (1941) about a backwoods family in the southern states.

Major film stars he has appeared with included Ronald Reagan , Jane Wyman , James Cagney , Humphrey Bogart , Betty Grable , Jackie Coogan , Melvyn Douglas , Margaret Sullavan , James Stewart , Frank Morgan , Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland . After serving in World War II , Tracy continued his Hollywood career from 1948, but was now too old for his previous roles and could no longer build on his earlier successes. On television, Tracy played a supporting role in the television series Terry and the Pirates , in the theatrical version of which he had played the main character years earlier, but the series was canceled after only a short time in 1953. His last feature film was Jack Webb's drama 30 in 1959.

William Tracy is not related to the famous actor Spencer Tracy . He was married to Lois James from 1945 to 1958 and had one daughter. He died in Hollywood in 1967 at the age of 49.

Filmography

  • 1938: Brother Council
  • 1938: Chicago Angels with Dirty Faces
  • 1939: The Jones Family in Hollywood
  • 1939: Million Dollar Legs
  • 1939. The Amazing Mr. Williams
  • 1940: Rendezvous after closing time (The Shop Around the Corner)
  • 1940: Terry and the Pirates
  • 1940: Hot Rhythms in Chicago (Strike Up the Band)
  • 1940: Gallant Sons
  • 1941: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)
  • 1941: Tobacco Road (Tobacco Road)
  • 1941: Her First Beau
  • 1941: She Knew All the Answers
  • 1941: Tillie the Toiler
  • 1941: Tanks a Million
  • 1941: Cadet Girl
  • 1942: Hay Foot
  • 1942: Young America
  • 1942: To the Shores of Tripoli
  • 1942: About Face (short film)
  • 1942: Our Home Sweet Home (George Washington Slept Here)
  • 1942: Fall In
  • 1943: Yanks Ahoy
  • 1948: Here Comes Trouble
  • 1948: The Walls of Jericho
  • 1949: Henry, the Rainmaker
  • 1950: One Too Many
  • 1951: Sunny Side of the Street
  • 1951: As You Were
  • 1952: Mr. Walkie Talkie
  • 1952–1953: Terry and the Pirates (TV series, 13 episodes)
  • 1957: The Eagle equal (The Wings of Eagles)
  • 1959: -30-
  • 1962–1964: Perry Mason (TV series, 3 episodes)

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personal data
SURNAME Tracy, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Tracey, William; Tracy, Clarence William (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American film actor
DATE OF BIRTH December 1, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
DATE OF DEATH June 18, 1967
Place of death Hollywood , California , USA