Occupation Actor Years active 1926 - 1979 | Name William Challee Role Actor | |
 | ||
Full Name William John Challe Born April 6, 1904 ( 1904-04-06 ) Chicago, Illinois, USA Movies War Hunt, Zachariah, Noose for a Gunman, Moonchild, Outrage Similar People Ruth Nelson, Denis Sanders, Morris Ankrum, George Englund, John Cromwell | ||
William John Challee (April 6, 1904 – March 11, 1989) was an American actor.
Contents
Biography
William Challee appeared on Broadway by 1926 and by 1931 in early Group Theatre productions. He married actress Ruth Nelson in 1931; they later divorced. The two appeared in the 1947 film The Sea of Grass, in supporting roles, after they were divorced.
In 1937 Challee staged a suite of one-act plays, at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, under the heading Plays of the Sea. The suite consisted of the Eugene O'Neill plays Bound East for Cardiff, In the Zone, The Long Voyage Home and Moon of the Caribbees. They were produced by the Federal Theatre Project of the WPA, running for 68 performances from October 29, 1937.
Chalee was living in Chicago by 1940. By the middle 1940s, Chalee was working in films in California, mainly in supporting and uncredited roles. Challee married dancer Ella Franklin Crawford on April 19, 1944 in Santa Monica.
Chalee appeared in episodes of numerous television series, including a 1953 episode ("Stage for Mademoiselle") of The Lone Ranger and a 1957 episode ("The Case of the Runaway Corpse") of Perry Mason.
Challee played the incapacitated family patriarch in the 1970 film Five Easy Pieces, whose illness brings "son" Jack Nicholson home to the family estate.
In 1984 he married his long-time partner Joan Wheeler Ankrum. Together, in 1960, they opened the Ankrum Gallery on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Challee was buried in Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.
Broadway roles
Filmography
Actor
1976
From Noon Till Three as
Piano Player (uncredited)
1976
Dynasty (TV Movie) as
Plunkett
1975
The Family Holvak (TV Series) as
Town character
- The Long Way Home: Part 2 (1975) - Town character
1975
Long Way Home (TV Movie) as
Town Character
1974
Movin' On (TV Series) as
Ansel
- Antiques (1974) - Ansel
1973
Police Story (TV Series) as
Old Man
- Line of Fire (1973) - Old Man
1973
Emergency! (TV Series) as
Ezekial Johnson
- Alley Cat (1973) - Ezekial Johnson
1972
Irish Whiskey Rebellion as
Timothy
1966
Bonanza (TV Series) as
Stableman / Jake / Pa Younger / ...
- The Initiation (1972) - Stableman
- Forever (1972) - Jake
- The Younger Brothers' Younger Brother (1972) - Pa Younger
- The Emperor Norton (1966) - Mark Twain
1972
Moonchild as
Alchemist
1972
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid as
Old-Timer (uncredited)
1971
Sarge (TV Series) as
Drunk
- John Michael O'Flaherty Presents the Eleven O'Clock War (1971) - Drunk
1962
Gunsmoke (TV Series) as
Baylock / Feist
- Cleavus (1971) - Baylock
- The Gallows (1962) - Feist
1971
Family Affair (TV Series) as
Mr. Cooley
- The Joiners (1971) - Mr. Cooley
1971
Zachariah as
Old Man
1970
Night Gallery (TV Series) as
2nd Old Man (segment "The Little Black Bag")
- Room with a View/The Little Black Bag/The Nature of the Enemy (1970) - 2nd Old Man (segment "The Little Black Bag")
1970
Five Easy Pieces as
Nicholas Dupea
1969
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) as
Murphy
- Once Upon a Time: Part 2 (1969) - Murphy (uncredited)
1967
The Wild Wild West (TV Series) as
Prisoner #1 / Fargo
- The Night of the Sedgewick Curse (1968) - Prisoner #1
- The Night of the Bogus Bandits (1967) - Fargo
1967
Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) as
bearded man singing Christmas carol
- The Christmas Story (1967) - bearded man singing Christmas carol (uncredited)
1967
Iron Horse (TV Series) as
Jake Benson
- Dealer's Choice (1967) - Jake Benson
1967
Winchester '73 (TV Movie) as
Liveryman (uncredited)
1967
The Invaders (TV Series) as
Danielson
- Nightmare (1967) - Danielson
1960
The Andy Griffith Show (TV Series) as
Checker Player / Townsman
- Floyd's Barbershop (1967) - Checker Player
- The Manhunt (1960) - Townsman (as Bill Challee)
1963
The Fugitive (TV Series) as
Jim / Les, the Sheriff
- Wine Is a Traitor (1966) - Jim (as William Challe)
- See Hollywood and Die (1963) - Les, the Sheriff (uncredited)
1966
Billy the Kid Versus Dracula as
Tom - Station Agent (as William Chalee)
1965
The Cincinnati Kid as
Old Man (uncredited)
1965
Joy in the Morning as
Old Derelict (uncredited)
1965
Nightmare in the Sun as
Old coot in bar (as Bill Challee)
1963
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) as
Wint Davis / Jess Bartholomew
- Final Performance (1965) - Wint Davis
- The Star Juror (1963) - Jess Bartholomew
1964
Seven Days in May as
Gen. Riley (uncredited)
1964
Ben Casey (TV Series) as
Mike Stiles
- One Nation Indivisible (1964) - Mike Stiles
1957
Wagon Train (TV Series) as
Slocum / Freighter / Homeowner
- The Geneva Balfour Story (1964) - Slocum
- The Molly Kincaid Story (1963) - Freighter (uncredited)
- The Jean LeBec Story (1957) - Homeowner
1963
Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV Series) as
Old Man
- The Hunt (1963) - Old Man
1962
The Virginian (TV Series) as
Duffy / Prisoner
- Brother Thaddeus (1963) - Duffy
- The Brazen Bell (1962) - Prisoner (uncredited)
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) as
The Clerk
- A Killing at Sundial (1963) - The Clerk
1963
The Dakotas (TV Series) as
Pete
- Thunder in Pleasant Valley (1963) - Pete (uncredited)
1961
The Twilight Zone (TV Series) as
Rude man on porch / Jasen
- Mute (1963) - Rude man on porch (uncredited)
- The Grave (1961) - Jasen
1963
The Hook as
Schmidt (uncredited)
1961
The Untouchables (TV Series) as
Mike Kilkenny / Jed Ryan
- Downfall (1962) - Mike Kilkenny
- The Big Train: Part 2 (1961) - Jed Ryan (uncredited)
1962
War Hunt as
Lt. Colonel
1962
All Fall Down as
Third Bum (uncredited)
1962
Frontier Circus (TV Series) as
Arnold
- Quick Shuffle (1962) - Arnold
1962
The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) as
Dr. Clement Connell
- Price of Tomatoes (1962) - Dr. Clement Connell
1957
Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) as
Jim Suggett / Pa Sawyer / Shotgun Guard
- Return to Yesterday (1962) - Jim Suggett
- The Lobo (1961) - Pa Sawyer (uncredited)
- Hank Aka Chips (1957) - Shotgun Guard
1961
The Investigators (TV Series) as
Eelie
- The Dead End Man (1961) - Eelie
1960
Laramie (TV Series) as
Charlie Graves / Saunders
- The Accusers (1961) - Charlie Graves
- Duel at Parkison Town (1960) - Saunders
1961
The Law and Mr. Jones (TV Series) as
'Professor' Jason Phillips
- No Law for Ghosts (1961) - 'Professor' Jason Phillips
1961
The Real McCoys (TV Series) as
Mr. Gribbon
- Money in the Bank (1961) - Mr. Gribbon
1961
Bat Masterson (TV Series) as
Dr. Edgerton
- Meeting at Mimbers (1961) - Dr. Edgerton (as Bill Challee)
1961
Two Faces West (TV Series) as
Caleb
- The Wayward (1961) - Caleb
1959
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) as
Petrie / Barney Welch
- Incident in a Small Jail (1961) - Petrie
- Human Interest Story (1959) - Barney Welch
1960
The Detectives (TV Series) as
Fighter Kelley / Mike Anson
- An Eye for an Eye (1961) - Fighter Kelley
- The Other Side (1960) - Mike Anson
1958
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series) as
Witness / Lou Dundee
- Old Slanders (1961) - Witness (uncredited)
- Sweet Revenge (1958) - Lou Dundee
1961
Have Gun - Will Travel (TV Series) as
Sam Osser
- A Quiet Night in Town: Part 2 (1961) - Sam Osser
- A Quiet Night in Town: Part 1 (1961) - Sam Osser
1960
Aftermath (TV Movie)
1960
Cimarron as
Barber (uncredited)
1960
Outlaws (TV Series) as
Barton
- Starfall: Part 2 (1960) - Barton
1960
Klondike (TV Series) as
Henry Swoger
- Swoger's Mule (1960) - Henry Swoger
1960
The Plunderers as
1st Citizen
1960
Tate (TV Series) as
Old Timer
- Before Sunup (1960) - Old Timer
1960
One Foot in Hell as
Pete's Friend (uncredited)
1955
General Electric Theater (TV Series) as
Redway / Lafe / Wally
- Aftermath (1960) - Redway
- The Family Man (1959) - Lafe
- A Question of Survival (1957)
- The Doctors of Pawnee Kill (1957) - Wally
- The Seeds of Hate (1955)
1960
Noose for a Gunman as
Gorse
1960
Black Saddle (TV Series) as
Gould
- Burden of Guilt (1960) - Gould
1960
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) as
The Sheriff
- Tomorrow (1960) - The Sheriff
1960
Maverick (TV Series) as
Bartender
- The Misfortune Teller (1960) - Bartender
1959
Lawman (TV Series) as
Nat Denning / Bill Porter
- The Hardcase (1960) - Nat Denning
- The Prodigal (1959) - Bill Porter (as Bill Challee)
1960
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus as
Jailbird (uncredited)
1959
The Story on Page One as
Lemke (uncredited)
1959
The Man from Blackhawk (TV Series) as
Stage Driver
- Station Six (1959) - Stage Driver (uncredited)
1959
The Sound and the Fury as
Roustabout (uncredited)
1959
Mackenzie's Raiders (TV Series) as
Sam
- Apache Boy (1959) - Sam
1957
State Trooper (TV Series) as
Pop Boltster / Mr. Willoughby
- Prettiest Dress in Goldfield (1959) - Pop Boltster
- The Only Girl on Boot Hill (1957) - Mr. Willoughby
1958
U.S. Marshal (TV Series) as
Sheriff
- The Promise (1958) - Sheriff
1958
The Texan (TV Series) as
Matt Ainsley / Roy Tovers
- A Time of the Year (1958) - Matt Ainsley
- No Tears for the Dead (1958) - Roy Tovers
1958
Twilight for the Gods as
Sweeney
1958
Casey Jones (TV Series) as
Barlow
- Mrs. Casey Jones (1958) - Barlow
1958
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) as
Hark Purdy
- The Lion's Cub (1958) - Hark Purdy
1958
Saddle the Wind as
Barfly (uncredited)
1956
Broken Arrow (TV Series) as
Sergeant
- Bad Boy (1958) - Sergeant (uncredited)
- Battle at Apache Pass (1956) - Sergeant
1957
Official Detective (TV Series) as
Hatch
- The Creeper (1957) - Hatch
1957
Telephone Time (TV Series) as
Old Sailor / Gramp
- Novel Appeal (1957) - Old Sailor
- The Man Who Discovered O. Henry (1957) - Gramp
1955
Studio 57 (TV Series) as
Old Timer
- Secret Darkness (1957)
- My Son Is Gone (1955) - Old Timer
1957
Perry Mason (TV Series) as
Mr. Medford
- The Case of the Runaway Corpse (1957) - Mr. Medford
1957
The Web (TV Series) as
Miner Who Gives Away His Claim
- Man with a Choice (1957) - Miner Who Gives Away His Claim (uncredited)
1957
Raintree County as
Spectator (uncredited)
1957
The O. Henry Playhouse (TV Series) as
Judge
- Christmas by Injunction (1957) - Judge
1957
Climax! (TV Series)
- The Trial of Captain Wirtz (1957)
1957
Calypso Heat Wave as
Second Thug
1956
The Sheriff of Cochise (TV Series) as
Jim Foster / Callahan
- Copper Wire (1957) - Jim Foster
- Fire on Chiricahua Mountains (1956) - Callahan
1957
Wire Service (TV Series) as
Dill
- Violence Preferred (1957) - Dill
1952
Adventures of Superman (TV Series) as
Clippy Jones / Max / Mack
- The Phony Alibi (1957) - Clippy Jones
- The Monkey Mystery (1952) - Max (as Bill Challee)
- The Haunted Lighthouse (1952) - Mack (uncredited)
1957
Panic! (TV Series) as
Mack
- Nightmare (1957) - Mack
1957
The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) as
Trooper / Malatta
- The Still Trumpet (1957) - Trooper (uncredited)
- Man of the Law (1957) - Malatta
1957
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) as
Mr. Peterson
- Dan Marshall's Brat (1957) - Mr. Peterson
1957
Whirlybirds (TV Series) as
Ted Winters
- Hostage (1957) - Ted Winters
1950
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) as
Fake Soldier / Cal Ames / Blade / ...
- Code of Honor (1957) - Fake Soldier (uncredited)
- Hot Spell in Panamint (1956) - Cal Ames (as Bill Challee)
- The Counterfeit Mask (1956) - Blade (as Bill Challee)
- The Wooden Rifle (1956) - Deputy Jed Crawley (as Bill Challee)
- Adventure at Arbuckle (1955) - Bad-Eye Dixon
- Heart of a Cheater (1955) - Pecos Smith
- Wanted: The Lone Ranger (1955) - Hawk
- The Lost Chalice (1955) - Reno
- Son by Adoption (1953) - Swifty Seldon
- Buried Treasure (1950) - Flint Foster
1956
The Desperados Are in Town as
Tom Kesh
1956
Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (TV Series) as
Joe
- Father Forgets (1956) - Joe
1956
Crossroads (TV Series) as
Sam Hawkins
- Sky Pilot of the Cumberlands (1956) - Sam Hawkins
1956
Chevron Hall of Stars (TV Series)
- Arizona Ames (1956) - (as Bill Challee)
1956
TV Reader's Digest (TV Series) as
Innkeeper Morrell
- The General's Escape (1956) - Innkeeper Morrell
1956
Star Stage (TV Series)
- The Man in the Black Robe (1956)
1956
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Johnson
- Tin Can Skipper (1956) - Johnson
1956
Cheyenne (TV Series) as
Trooper
- Decision (1956) - Trooper (uncredited)
1956
Lassie (TV Series) as
Ed Higgins
- The Stamp Album (1956) - Ed Higgins
1955
Jungle Jim (TV Series) as
John Nelson
- Man from Zanzibar (1955) - John Nelson
1955
Big Town (TV Series)
- Sleeping Pills (1955)
1955
Man with the Gun as
Townsman (uncredited)
1955
Highway Patrol (TV Series) as
Garage Man
- Prison Break (1955) - Garage Man
1955
Chicago Syndicate as
Dolan - a Thug
1955
Man Without a Star as
Brick Gooder (uncredited)
1954
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
- Showdown at Sunset (1954)
1954
Waterfront (TV Series) as
Mr. Hobson
- Christmas in San Pedro - Mr. Hobson
1954
The Glenn Miller Story as
Dispatch Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1952
Chevron Theatre (TV Series)
- I'll Never Know When (1953)
- The Trail (1952)
1952
Gruen Guild Theater (TV Series)
- Birds of Prey (1952)
1952
This Woman Is Dangerous as
Ned Shaw (uncredited)
1952
The Big Trees as
Brother Williams (uncredited)
1951
Front Page Detective (TV Series) as
Fred Stacy
- Gold Venom (1951) - Fred Stacy
1951
On Dangerous Ground as
Thug (uncredited)
1951
Racket Squad (TV Series) as
Gus
- The Bill of Sale Racket (1951) - Gus (as Bill Challee)
1951
The Whip Hand as
Guard (uncredited)
1950
Gambling House as
Parking Attendant (uncredited)
1950
Outrage as
Lee Wilkins
1949
Port of New York as
Leo Stasser
1949
Reign of Terror as
Bourdon (uncredited)
1948
Force of Evil as
Gunman #1 (uncredited)
1948
Beyond Glory as
Sergeant at Depot (uncredited)
1948
Tap Roots as
Sergeant (uncredited)
1948
Another Part of the Forest as
Passenger on the Train (uncredited)
1947
Desperate as
Reynolds
1947
The Guilt of Janet Ames as
Ambulance Surgeon (uncredited)
1947
Boomerang! as
Whitney - Harvey's Assistant (uncredited)
1947
The Sea of Grass as
Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
1946
Nocturne as
Olsen - Police Photographer (uncredited)
1946
Swamp Fire as
Barfly (uncredited)
1946
Without Reservations as
Corporal (uncredited)
1946
From This Day Forward as
Pawnbroker (uncredited)
1946
Deadline at Dawn as
Ray - Newsstand Proprietor (uncredited)
1946
Tokyo Rose as
Mike Kovac
1946
Miss Susie Slagle's as
Interne (uncredited)
1945
A Gun in His Hand (Short) as
Snorky (uncredited)
1945
Counter-Attack as
Paratrooper (uncredited)
1945
God Is My Co-Pilot as
Joe (uncredited)
1945
A Song to Remember as
Titus (uncredited)
1944
None But the Lonely Heart as
Knocker Jones (uncredited)
1944
The Seventh Cross as
Fischer (uncredited)
1944
Days of Glory as
Ducrenko (uncredited)
1944
Easy Life (Short) as
Dick - Thug (uncredited)
1944
The Story of Dr. Wassell as
Radio Man (uncredited)
1943
Destination Tokyo as
Rocky the Quartermaster (uncredited)
1939
High Peril (Short)
1939
...One Third of a Nation... as
Reporter (uncredited)
Self
1971
The Numbers Start with the River (Documentary short) as
Narrator
Archive Footage
1965
Moment of Fear (TV Series)
- The Secret Darkness (1965)
1964
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Jailbird
- Toby Tyler: Part 2 (1964) - Jailbird (uncredited)
- Toby Tyler: Part 1 (1964) - Jailbird (uncredited)
References
William Challee Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA