William Reynolds (actor)

Early years

Reynolds’ mother died when he was five years old, and he was sent to boarding schools. He eventually attended Pasadena City College and worked in their radio department.

Film

After a talent agent spotted the handsome, capable actor in some minor theatrical roles, Reynolds signed with Universal Studios in 1952 and began appearing in pictures such as Carrie (1952), where he had a prominent role as the son of Laurence Olivier. Reynolds was drafted into the United States Army in 1952, but en route to Korea he stayed in Japan doing radio work. He returned to Universal making horror film Cult of the Cobra (1955). He also appeared in the Douglas Sirk melodramas All That Heaven Allows (1955) and There's Always Tomorrow (1956). He often played the son of the leading character.

Television

Reynolds became tired of his dull, stereotyped roles in the movies and began his move to television in 1959, playing the title role in Pete Kelly's Blues.^:826-827 During this series, he developed a close friendship with actor and producer Jack Webb. 1959 [Twilight Zone] first season episode 19, 'The Purple Testament,' Lt. Fitzgerald. In 1960–1961, he starred as Sandy Wade on the ABC/Warner Brothers television series The Islanders. He also guest starred in 1961 as Jerry Bolton on the episode "Nobody's Millions" of another ABC/WB drama series, The Roaring 20s.

In 1962-1963, Reynolds costarred on ABC's The Gallant Men. He then played Hoodoo Henderson as an adult in 1966's Walt Disney film Follow Me, Boys!.

Two years with no acting jobs led Reynolds to enhance his education, and he passed the examinations to become a lawyer specializing in real estate.

Reynolds caught his big break co-starring with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., in another ABC series, the long-running The F.B.I.. Reynolds first made guest appearances in seasons one and two in 1966, before he appeared as series regular Special Agent Tom Colby from 1967 to 1973. He was replaced by actor Shelly Novack for the final season, because the network considered Reynolds, then at the age of forty-one, too old for the part. Still, he managed to make two appearances as Colby in the ninth season (1973–74), which included the final network-aired episode, a rerun of "The Animal," on September 8, 1974.

He also did guest roles in Jack Webb-produced shows such as Dragnet, and in other series like Maverick, Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, starring in the episode "The Purple Testament" (Season 1, Episode 19) .

Later years

Reynolds left show business after The F.B.I. ended its run and became a businessman. In 2004, he made an appearance at a Twilight Zone convention in Los Angeles.

Personal life

Reynolds married actress Molly Sinclair in 1950 and remained with her until her death in 1992. The couple had a daughter born in 1958 and a son born the following year.