William Bakewell
Acting • Born 1908-05-02 – Died 1993-04-15
Biography
William Bakewell (May 2, 1908 – April 15, 1993), also known as Billy Bakewell, was an American actor, who achieved his greatest fame as one of the premiere juvenile performers of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Bakewell, educated at Los Angeles Harvard Military School, began his film career as an extra in the silent movie Fighting Blood (1924), and went on to appear in some 170 films and television shows. He had supporting roles at the end of the silent era and reached the peak of his career around 1930. He is perhaps best remembered for playing German soldier Albert Kropp in the film classic All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), and Rodney Jordan, Joan Crawford's brother, in Dance, Fools, Dance (1931). He also co-starred in Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929) with Winnie Lightner and Lilyan Tashman. In 1933, he contributed to the founding of the Screen Actors Guild, and was member 44 of the original 50. He never achieved stardom after the Depression years, although he became familiar in dozens of films, including his short appearance as a mounted soldier in Gone with the Wind (1939) whom Scarlett O'Hara asks when the Yankee soldiers are coming to Atlanta. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army with the rank of second lieutenant. He was stationed at the 73rd Evacuation Hospital and at the Radio Section of the Special Service Division as the Post Intelligence Officer. He also worked under the department that handled distribution of recorded programs to overseas station circuits. He starred in the Columbia Pictures serial Hop Harrigan (1946), where he played a top Air Corps pilot. He also portrayed Major Tobias Norton and a Keelboat Race Master of Ceremonies in the phenomenally popular Disney series Davy Crockett (1954-1955). In the 1960s, he guest starred in numerous situation comedy television series, including Guestward, Ho!, Pete and Gladys, Bringing Up Buddy, The Tab Hunter Show, Mister Ed, Leave It to Beaver, The Jack Benny Program, Petticoat Junction , and Hazel. He also was cast in episodes of Peter Gunn, Sea Hunt, Wagon Train, The Roaring 20s, The Virginian, Arrest and Trial, and 87th Precinct He played the Virginia statesman George Wythe in the episode "George Mason" in the 1965 NBC documentary series, Profiles in Courage. He made his last film in 1975. For four decades, Bakewell served on the board of Motion Picture and Television Fund. He died on April 15, 1993 of leukemia at the age of 84.
Filmography
142 credits
All Quiet on the Western Front
Movie • 1930
Albert Kropp
Gone with the Wind
Movie • 1939
Mounted Officer
Laddie
Movie • 1935
Robert Pryor
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Movie • 1942
Mr. Hubbell
I Live on Danger
Movie • 1942
Mac
Lucky Me
Movie • 1954
Motorist (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Movie • 1947
Winters
Seven Sinners
Movie • 1940
Ensign
Romance on the High Seas
Movie • 1948
Dudley (Travel Agent)
The Capture
Movie • 1950
Herb Tolin, Bolsa Grande Oil
Together We Live
Movie • 1935
Billy
West Point
Movie • 1928
'Tex' McNeil
Three Cornered Moon
Movie • 1933
Douglas Rimplegar
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl
Movie • 1926
Salesman
The Dawn Express
Movie • 1942
Tom Fielding
Gold Diggers of Broadway
Movie • 1929
Wally Saunders
Davy Crockett Goes to Congress
Movie • 1955
Norton
Green Eyes
Movie • 1934
Cliff Miller
Dance, Fools, Dance
Movie • 1931
Rodney Jordan
Trapped by G-Men
Movie • 1937
Dick Withers
On With the Show!
Movie • 1929
Jimmy
Guilty Hands
Movie • 1931
Tommy Osgood
The Trespasser
Movie • 1947
Bruce Coleman
Politics
Movie • 1931
Benny Emerson
Strangers All
Movie • 1935
Dick Carter
Straight Is the Way
Movie • 1934
Dr. Wilkes
You Can't Buy Everything
Movie • 1934
Don Bell (adult)
Lady Luck
Movie • 1936
Dave Haines
Happiness C.O.D.
Movie • 1935
Ken Sherridan
On Probation
Movie • 1935
Bill Coleman
Dangerous Holiday
Movie • 1937
Tom Connor
King of the Bandits
Movie • 1947
Captain Frank Mason
Jungle Menace
Movie • 1937
Tom Banning
Crimson Romance
Movie • 1934
Adolph
Radar Men from the Moon
Movie • 1952
Ted Richards
Exiled to Shanghai
Movie • 1937
Andrew
Reducing
Movie • 1931
Tommy Haverly
The Show of Shows
Movie • 1929
Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)
Playing Around
Movie • 1930
Jack
Straightaway
Movie • 1933
Billy Dawson
Speed Wings
Movie • 1934
Jerry
The Last Edition
Movie • 1925
'Ink' Donovan
The Iron Mask
Movie • 1929
Louis XIV / Twin Brother
A Man of Sentiment
Movie • 1933
John Russell
Sons of Steel
Movie • 1934
Roland Chadburne
A Woman of Experience
Movie • 1931
Count Karl Runyi
Harold Teen
Movie • 1928
Percival
While Paris Sleeps
Movie • 1932
Paul Renoir
The Bat Whispers
Movie • 1930
Brook
Lucky Devils
Movie • 1933
Slugger Jones
The Curtain Falls
Movie • 1934
Barry Graham
Set This Town on Fire
Movie • 1973
Desk Clerk
Zenobia
Movie • 1939
Townsman at Zeke's Recitation
Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
Movie • 1955
Maj. Tobias Norton
Bruised Celluloid
Movie • 1984
Himself
The Shield of Honor
Movie • 1927
Jerry MacDowell
Cheaters at Play
Movie • 1932
Maurice Perry
Daybreak
Movie • 1931
Otto
Jungle Terror
Movie • 1946
Tom Branning
The Saint Takes Over
Movie • 1940
Shipboard Card Player
The Quitter
Movie • 1934
Russell Tilford
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Movie • 1966
Brig. Gen. Swift (uncredited)
Mile a Minute Love
Movie • 1937
Bob
When the Redskins Rode
Movie • 1951
Appleby
The Higgins Family
Movie • 1938
Eddie Davis
Sea Spoilers
Movie • 1936
Lieut. Commander Mays
The Postman Didn't Ring
Movie • 1942
Robert Harwood Jr.
Annapolis
Movie • 1928
Skippy
The Battle of the Sexes
Movie • 1928
The Son
Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
Movie • 1956
Official at Keel Boat Race (uncredited)
Hop Harrigan: America's Ace of the Airways
Movie • 1946
Hop Harrigan
Beyond Tomorrow
Movie • 1940
David Chadwick
Old Ironsides
Movie • 1926
Young Philadelphian (uncredited)
The Fabulous Dorseys
Movie • 1947
Eddie
The Farmer's Daughter
Movie • 1947
Windor
Back Street
Movie • 1932
Richard Saxel
The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe
Movie • 1942
Hugh Pleasant
Quality Street
Movie • 1937
Lieutenant Spicer
Messenger of Peace
Movie • 1947
Pastor Willie von Adel
Hotel Imperial
Movie • 1939
Cadet (uncredited)
King of the Mounties
Movie • 1942
Cpl. Hall Ross
Wells Fargo Gunmaster
Movie • 1951
Charlie Lannon
Come Fill the Cup
Movie • 1951
Hal Ortman
So This Is Love
Movie • 1953
Charles, Waiter (uncredited)
Hot Stuff
Movie • 1929
Mack Moran
The Strongest Man in the World
Movie • 1975
Professor
The Latest from Paris
Movie • 1928
Bud Dolan
Paid
Movie • 1930
Carney
King of the Turf
Movie • 1939
Intern
The Party's Over
Movie • 1934
Clay
Night Wind
Movie • 1948
Capt. Kingston
Arthur Takes Over
Movie • 1948
Lawrence White
Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter
Movie • 1954
Major Norton
Mother
Movie • 1927
Jerry Ellis
The Duke of West Point
Movie • 1938
Committee Captain
So This Is New York
Movie • 1948
Hotel Clerk
The Heart Thief
Movie • 1927
You Gotta Stay Happy
Movie • 1948
Dick Hebert
The Spirit of Notre Dame
Movie • 1931
Jim Stewart
Call Her Mom
Movie • 1972
Jeremy's Father
Lady of the Pavements
Movie • 1929
A Pianist
Whispering Wires
Movie • 1926
Yanks Ahoy
Movie • 1943
Ens. Crosby (uncredited)
The Devil's Trademark
Movie • 1928
Tom Benton
Mister Ed
TV • 1961
Green Acres
TV • 1965
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
Colonel Harris
That Girl
TV • 1966
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV • 1962
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Ralph Craig
Sea Hunt
TV • 1958
Leave It to Beaver
TV • 1957
Bringing Up Buddy
TV • 1960
87th Precinct
TV • 1961
Nanny and the Professor
TV • 1970
Carnival Host
Highway Patrol
TV • 1955
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Sam Branch
Peter Gunn
TV • 1958
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Major Dort
M Squad
TV • 1957
Detective
Hazel
TV • 1961
Pete and Gladys
TV • 1960
Profiles in Courage
TV • 1964
Wythe
Guestward, Ho!
TV • 1960
I'm the Law
TV • 1953
The Roaring 20's
TV • 1960
The Great Gildersleeve
TV • 1955
Boston Blackie
TV • 1951
Maverick
TV • 1957
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Nate Eastman
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Actor
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
Herbert
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Robert Cooper
Nanny and the Professor
TV • 1970
Norm
Love, American Style
TV • 1969
Elroy
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Michael Dailey
Run for Your Life
TV • 1965
County Attorney Lassiter
Harbor Command
TV • 1957
Officer Maxwell
Boston Blackie
TV • 1951
Ron Taylor
Casey Jones
TV • 1957
Ben Slater
Official Detective
TV • 1957
Sam Graves