Name William Bishop Role Television actor | ||
 | ||
Movies The Walking Hills, Top Gun, The Killer That Stalked N, Coroner Creek, Gun Belt Similar People Ray Nazarro, Alan Le May, Ray Enright, John Sturges, Byron Haskin | ||
William Paxton Bishop (July 16, 1918 - October 3, 1959) was an American television and movie actor from Oak Park, Illinois.
Contents
Early life
Bishop was the son of Edward T. Bishop and Helen MacArthur Bishop. He had a brother, Robert. His elementary and secondary schooling came in New York and New Jersey. He went to West Virginia University where he wanted to study law but left to enter theater. While he was at WVU, Bishop "won laurels as a football player and in other athletics."
His uncle was playwright Charles MacArthur, making him the nephew of stage and screen legend Helen Hayes and the cousin of actor James MacArthur.
Military service
Bishop served in the South Pacific with the Signal Battalion of the United States Army during World War II.
Stage
Bishop's early experiences in acting came on the stage. After some work in little theaters in New York, he appeared on Broadway in Tobacco Road. He was also a charter member of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre.
Television and film
Bishop was best known for his role as Steve Connors on the 1950s NBC comedy series It's a Great Life He was also seen in other programs, including Schlitz Playhouse of Stars and The Loretta Young Show.
He had roles in films including Harriet Craig, The Killer That Stalked New York and The Basketball Fix, plus numerous westerns such as Top Gun, The Tougher They Come, Gun Belt, Cripple Creek and Wyoming Renegades.
Personal life
In 1956, Bishop married Shirley Mohr "in a small Nevada town after being marooned ... by blizzard."
Death
Bishop died in Malibu, California of cancer on October 3, 1959, at age 41. He was survived by his wife, his parents Edward and Helen, his brother Robert, and his sister Janet.
Filmography
Actor
1959
Riverboat (TV Series) as
Monte Loman
- Payment in Full (1959) - Monte Loman
1959
The Oregon Trail as
Capt. George Wayne
1959
The Rifleman (TV Series) as
Dave Stafford
- Outlaw's Inheritance (1959) - Dave Stafford
1959
General Electric Theater (TV Series) as
Williams
- The Lady's Choice (1959) - Williams
1959
Behind Closed Doors (TV Series) as
David Sparrow
- Crypto 40 (1959) - David Sparrow
1958
The Millionaire (TV Series) as
Pete Hopper
- The Pete Hopper Story (1958) - Pete Hopper
1957
The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (TV Series) as
David
- A Lass in Alaska (1957) - David
1957
Short Cut to Hell as
Sgt. Stan Lowery
1954
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Bruce Stevens / Matt Brownley
- Desperation (1957) - Bruce Stevens
- Mantrap (1954) - Matt Brownley
1957
The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) as
Matt Hornbeck
- The Marriage Broker (1957) - Matt Hornbeck
1952
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) as
Charlie Sewell
- The Dead Are Silent (1957)
- Night Ride to Butte (1954) - Charlie Sewell
- Lineman's Luck (1953)
- Drawing Room A (1952)
1957
The Phantom Stagecoach as
Glen Hayden
1957
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) as
Charles Duffy
- The Star Wagon (1957) - Charles Duffy
1956
The White Squaw as
Bob Garth
1956
The Boss as
Bob Herrick
1955
Matinee Theatre (TV Series)
- Pygmalion Jones (1956) - (as Bill Bishop)
- The Persistent Image (1955)
1954
It's a Great Life (TV Series) as
Steve Connors / Steve
- The Housekeeper (1956) - Steve Connors
- Passport for Amy (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Charity Drive (1956) - Steve Connors
- Old Soldiers Never Die (1956) - Steve Connors
- Operation for Earl (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Yachting Party (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Palm Springs Story (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Return of Caroline (1956) - Steve
- The Raffle Ticket (1956) - Steve
- Kid Sister (1956) - Steve Connors
- Glamour Doll (1956) - Steve Connors
- Private Eyes (1956) - Steve Connors
- All for Amy (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Voice (1956) - Steve Connors
- Bachelor Party (1956) - Steve Connors
- Renee and the Survey (1956) - Steve Connors
- Screen Test (1956) - Steve Connors
- Smog Gets in Your Eyes (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Square Circle (1956) - Steve Connors
- House Guest (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Lady and the Painting (1956) - Steve Connors
- Beauty Contest (1956) - Steve Connors
- The Elusive Dime (1956) - Steve Connors
- Hawaiian Holiday (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Fabulous Foundling (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Private Line (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Big Game (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Crystal Ball (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Movie Star (1955) - Steve Connors
- High Pressure (1955) - Steve Connors
- Double Date (1955) - Steve Connors
- Man's Best Friend (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Girl Friend (1955) - Steve Connors
- A Birthday for Earl (1955) - Steve Connors
- Hash House (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Paper Drive (1955) - Steve Connors
- Fortune Hunters (1955) - Steve Connors
- Hay Burner (1955) - Steve Connors
- Call Michigan 4099 (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Easy Chair (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Parakeet (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Inheritance (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Missing Husband (1955) - Steve Connors
- Three Hungry Men (1955) - Steve Connors
- Denny Sings (1955) - Steve Connors
- Formal for Amy (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Boys Clean House (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Hospital (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Matchmakers (1955) - Steve Connors
- Tijuana (1955) - Steve Connors
- Foster Father (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Night Watchman (1955) - Steve Connors
- Winter Sports (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Engagement Ring (1955) - Steve Connors
- Friendship (1955) - Steve Connors
- Kathy's Former Boyfriend (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Borrowed TV Set (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Missing Stamp (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Surprise Party (1955) - Steve Connors
- A Job for Kathy (1955) - Steve Connors
- The Driver's License (1954) - Steve Connors
- There Is a Santa Claus (1954) - Steve Connors
- Denny's Big Night (1954) - Steve Connors
- The Vacuum Cleaner Salesman (1954) - Steve Connors
- The Closet (1954) - Steve Connors
- A Date for Mrs. Morgan (1954) - Steve Connors
- The Boys Redecorate the Attic (1954) - Steve Connors
- Denny Buys a Steer (1954) - Steve Connors
- Turkey Dinner (1954) - Steve Connors
- A Visit from Steve's Mother (1954) - Steve Connors
- I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1954) - Steve Connors
- 50-50 (1954) - Steve Connors
- Daniel's Department Store (1954) - Steve Connors
- Objective Moon (1954) - Steve Connors
- The Baby-Sitters (1954) - Steve Connors
- Go Home to Your Mother (1954) - Steve Connors
- House Hunting (1954) - Steve Connors
1955
Celebrity Playhouse (TV Series)
- Tomorrow We May Part (1956)
- Empty Arms (1955)
1955
Top Gun as
Canby Judd
1955
Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) as
Mel Wingate
- Hour of Nightmare (1955) - Mel Wingate
1955
The Green Mountain Boys (TV Movie) as
Ethan Allen
1955
Wyoming Renegades as
Sundance
1954
Shower of Stars (TV Series) as
Steve
- Entertainment on Wheels (1954) - Steve
1954
City Detective (TV Series) as
Martin
- Sixteen Vertical (1954) - Martin
1954
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series)
- Grenadine (1954)
- And the Beasts Were There (1954)
1953
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) as
Captain Lucas / Joseph Bonaparte / Jean LaFitte
- Spindletop: Texas' First Oil Gushers (1954) - Captain Lucas
- A Time to Grow (1953) - Joseph Bonaparte
- The Pirate's Choice (1953) - Jean LaFitte
1954
Overland Pacific as
Del Stewart
1954
The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) as
Brad Delmar
- The Hollywood Story (1954) - Brad Delmar
1953
The Studebaker Story (Short) as
Henry Studebaker
1952
Fireside Theatre (TV Series) as
Dr. Crawford Long / Peter Warrender / Will
- Bless the Man (1953) - Dr. Crawford Long
- Mission to Algiers (1953)
- Unexpected Wife (1953) - Peter Warrender
- Brown of Calaveras (1952) - Will (as Bill Bishop)
- M'Liss (1952) - (as Bill Bishop)
- Land of Destiny (1952)
1953
Gun Belt as
Ike Clinton
1953
The Redhead from Wyoming as
Jim Averell
1952
Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series)
- Tiger Bait (1952)
1952
The Raiders as
Marshal William Henderson
1952
Breakdown as
Terry Williams
1952
Cripple Creek as
Silver Kirby
1952
Montana Territory as
Opening Off-Screen Narrator (uncredited)
1951
The Basketball Fix as
Mike Taft
1951
Suspense (TV Series)
- This Is Your Confession: Part 2 (1951)
- This Is Your Confession: Part 1 (1951)
1951
The Texas Rangers as
Sam Bass
1951
Lorna Doone as
Carver Doone
1951
The Frogmen as
Ferrino (uncredited)
1950
The Tougher They Come as
Gus Williams
1950
Harriet Craig as
Wes Miller
1950
The Killer That Stalked New York as
Dr. Ben Wood
1949
Mr. Soft Touch as
Radio Broadcaster (voice, uncredited)
1949
Anna Lucasta as
Rudolf Strobel
1949
The Walking Hills as
Dave 'Shep' Wilson
1949
Slightly French as
J.B. (voice, uncredited)
1948
The Untamed Breed as
Larch Keegan
1948
Black Eagle as
Jason Bond
1948
Thunderhoof as
The Kid
1948
Coroner Creek as
Leach Conover
1948
Port Said as
Leslie Sears
1948
Adventures in Silverado as
Bill Foss
1947
Devil Ship as
Sanderson
1947
Song of the Thin Man as
Al Amboy
1947
The Romance of Rosy Ridge as
Ad Buchanan
1947
The Beginning or the End as
2nd Lieutenant - Electronics Officer, Enola Gay (uncredited)
1943
A Guy Named Joe as
Ray - Transport Pilot (uncredited)
1943
Lost Angel as
Reporter (uncredited)
1943
Cry 'Havoc' as
Soldier (uncredited)
1943
Girl Crazy as
Radio Man (uncredited)
1943
Whistling in Brooklyn as
Psychiatrist (uncredited)
1943
Swing Fever as
Soldier with Autograph Book (uncredited)
1943
I Dood It as
Detective (uncredited)
1943
Swing Shift Maisie as
Young Pilot (uncredited)
1943
Salute to the Marines as
Cpl. Anderson (uncredited)
1943
Young Ideas as
French Lieutenant (uncredited)
1943
Seeing Hands (Short) as
Man Pulling Lamp Cord (uncredited)
1943
Pilot #5 as
Cadet (uncredited)
1943
Brief Interval (Short) as
Dr. Oliver Lockwood
Archive Footage
1993
TV's Western Heroes (Video documentary)
References
William Bishop (actor) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA