William Desmond
Acting
Biography
Starting out in dramatic parts, Desmond soon switched to westerns and action serials, and became a major western star. When the sound era began Desmond was almost 50 years old, and was soon relegated to supporting roles.
Born: January 23, 1878
Place of Birth: Horseheads, New York, USA
Known For
Hi, Beautiful
Part of the series of Universal B-musicals teaming Martha O'Driscoll and Noah Beery Jr., this film is also a remake of the 1937 comedy Love in a Bungalow. Patty Callahan (O'Driscoll) offers residence in a model home to soldier Jeff (Beery) and soon falls in love with him. Although the pair are unmarried, they enter a marital contest intended to celebrate the "Happiest G.I. Couple." Winning the contest brings on all sorts of farcical troubles until the couple are able to be united for real. Songs include "Don't Sweetheart Me" and "Best of All."
The Vanishing Legion
A mysterious master criminal known as The Voice plots with his gang to sabotage the Milesburg Oil Company, but the rightful heir has a secret army of her own to protect her rights.
The Return of the Durango Kid
A masked outlaw steals from bank robbers to help the poor.
Rustlers of Red Dog
A movie serial in 12 chapters: After gold is discovered in the town of Nugget, the titular band of thieves and cutthroats inundates the frontier settlement. A group of three compatriots -- upstanding ex-sheriff Jack Woods, his harmonica-playing friend Laramie and tricky, smooth-talking gambler Deacon -- combine their respective skills in a fateful struggle to deceive and disarm the gang.
The Prince and Betty
Young American John Maude is forced to find a job when he falls in love with society girl Betty Keith. He accepts a sudden offer to go to Mervo, a tiny island country, where he is hired by Benjamin Scobell to pose as the lost prince of Mervo as an attraction to bolster the Mervo casino as a rival of Monte Carlo. Scobell also wants John to marry his stepdaughter, who turns out to be Betty. When Betty accuses John of being simply a shill for a gambling house, John closes the casino and tries to stage a revolution to make Mervo a republic.
Phantom Lady
A devoted secretary embarks on a dangerous mission to try to find the elusive woman who may prove her boss didn't murder his wife.
Song of the Saddle
Frank Sr. sells his supplies to Hook, but then Hook has the Bannion Boys bushwhack his wagon to get the money back. Frank is murdered, but Junior gets away. He comes back 10 years later to settle the score as the Singing Cowboy. He finds that Hook is still doing his dirty deeds on the unsuspecting people. Along the way, Frank meets the lovely Jen, who came out in the same wagon train 10 years before.
The Egg and I
World War II veteran Bob MacDonald surprises his new wife, Betty, by quitting his city job and moving them to a dilapidated farm in the country. While Betty gamely struggles with managing the crumbling house and holding off nosy neighbors and a recalcitrant pig, Bob makes plans for crops and livestock. The couple's bliss is shaken by a visit from a beautiful farm owner, who seems to want more from Bob than just managing her property.
Frisco Kid
After a roustabout sailor avoids being shanghaied in 1850s San Francisco, his audacity helps him rise to a position of power in the vice industry of the infamous Barbary Coast.
Strange Confession
A scientist who is working on a cure for influenza is victimized by his unscrupulous boss, who releases the vaccine before it's ready, resulting in the death of the scientist's son.
Filmography
as Allen
as Townsman (uncredited)
as Spectator at Country Dance (Uncredited)
as Settler (uncredited)
as Townsman (uncredited)
as Capt. Boncour
as Peanut Vendor (uncredited)
as Showboat Customer (uncredited)
as Street Ambusher (uncredited)
as Passenger (uncredited)
as Backstage Technician (Uncredited)
as Townsman (uncredited)
as Museum Tourist (uncredited)
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
as Gower Gulch Cowboy (uncredited)
as Stagehand (uncredited)
as Bartender Mike
as Pete
as Williams - Banker
as Townsman
as Townsman
as Bartender
as Tourist
as Irish Cop (uncredited)
as Citizen
as Bill Brine
as Dock Official
as Mr. Mack (cattle buyer)
as Bailiff
as Anderson, Vigilante Member
as Pago Pago Patron (uncredited)
as Bill
as Hawkman Lookout Captain
as Tim
as Captain of the 'Viking'
as Wagon Master
as Vigilante Hangman (uncredited)
as Foreman Burke
as Happy - Bartender
as Gene Travis
as Jim Parker
as Policeman
as Allen
as Guard
as Wagon Master
as Sheriff Pete
as John Brownell
as Gendarme Chief (uncredited)
as Ira Dale [Chs. 1-4, 6, 10-12]
as Marshal Jack Stevens
as Sheriff Barnes
as 'Cash' Horton (as Wm. Desmond)
as Sheriff Campbell
as Parole Officer Donovan
as MacDonald
as Tom Blake
as Dr. Jim Wilson
as Capt. Jim Carson
as Sheriff Joe Thompson
as Prof. Thompson
as Colonel Brownlee
as 1st Suitor (archive footage)
as John Mulford
as Military Cabinet Officer
as Thomas Edmonds
as Capt. Boncour
as San Dimas Sheriff Holden
as Dave Moran
as John Morgan
as General Custer
as John Blaine
as John Mills
as Townsman (uncredited)
as Lacy
as Milesburg Sheriff
as Martin Blair
as John Harper
as Self
as Winthrop Lane / The Mystery Rider
as Jim Davis / The Vanishing Rider
as Ned Brown
as Dan Harvey
as Richard Gilmore
as Smiling Bill Flannigan
as Good Deed O'Day
as Rex Brandon
as Sky Parker
as Jack Blaisdel
as Happy Hobo
as John Fairmeadow
as Walter Sandry
as Billy Carson
as Himself
as Himself - Actor
as Phil Grant
as Ben 'Wolf' Darby
as Bob McGuire
as Larry Barclay
as Phineas Fogg III
as Self
as Jack Merrill Sr. / Jack Merrill Jr.
as Bud McGraw
as The Policeman
as Tom Marshall
as David Hunter
as Harry Hawkins
as John Maude
as Jerry Jerome
as Larry Lang
as 'Bare-Fisted' Gallagher
as Dan Burke
as Eugene La Salle
as Jimmie Pendleton
as Bob Baldwin
as Honorable Billy
as The Actor
as Horace
as Garry Garrity
as Brent Brewster
as Carson Stewart
as Paddy O'Hara
as The Author / Horace Lee
as Donald White
as Bruce Smithson
as Prince Carl
as Rev. Donald Bruce
as The Parson
as Jackson Morgan Kent
as Bob Meredith