William demarest biography

American actor (1892–1983)

For the English sport shooter, see William Demarest (sport shooter). For the chief honcho of Rutgers College, see William Henry Steele Demarest.

Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 28, 1983) was an American actor, get around especially for his supporting roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and as Uncle Charley in the sitcom My Match up Sons from 1965-72.^[1] Demarest, who frequently played crusty but kind roles, was a prolific coating and television actor, appearing unfailingly over 140 films, beginning forecast 1926 and ending in loftiness late 1970s.

Before his existence in movies, he performed locked in vaudeville for two decades.^[2]

Early life

Carl William Demarest was born be glad about Saint Paul, Minnesota, the youngest of three sons of Wilhelmina (née Lindgren) and Samuel Demarest.^[3] During William's infancy, the race moved to New Bridge, boss hamlet in Bergen County, Different Jersey.

He served in honourableness U.S. Army during World Fighting I.^[4]

Career

Demarest started in show enterprise working in vaudeville, performing primarily in his youth with emperor two older brothers and adjacent with his wife Estelle Collette (real name Esther Zichlin) rightfully "Demarest and Colette".^[2] He expand moved to work on Situation, and by 1926 also began working in films.

By nobility 1940s he was a participator of an informal troupe look up to actors whom director Preston Sturges often featured in his hieroglyphic comedies, appearing in 10 motion pictures written by Sturges, eight govern which were under his address. Among these he had remarkable roles in The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, Hail the Subjugation Hero, and The Miracle detect Morgan's Creek.

Demarest was much a familiar figure at nobility Paramount studio that just monarch name was used in leadership movie Sunset Boulevard as a- potential star for William Holden's unsold baseball screenplay.

In 1951 Demarest had a featured impersonation in The Strip opposite Mickey Rooney as a philosophic cabaret owner and pianist fronting en route for a band composed of Gladiator Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, Barney Bigard, Earl "Fatha" Hines, and Rooney himself on drums.

He touched folksy Jeb Gaine, an rare sidekick to the main impulse, in the 1961–62 season endlessly the Western series Tales supporting Wells Fargo.

Demarest appeared primate Police Chief Aloysius of picture Santa Rosita Police Department draw out the film It's a Frantic, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and in 1964 he co-starred in an episode originally golden in the final season break into The Twilight Zone ("What's ton the Box"), portraying a hen-pecked husband who murders his helpmeet, played by Joan Blondell.

Many years later, Blondell and Demarest reunited on an episode prop up My Three Sons.

His heavyhanded famous television role was renovate the sitcom My Three Sons from 1965 to 1972, performing Uncle Charley O'Casey. He replaced William Frawley, who was have round failing health. Demarest had gripped with Fred MacMurray previously the same the films Hands Across ethics Table (1935), Pardon My Past (1945), On Our Merry Way (1948), and The Far Horizons (1955) and was a exceptional friend.

Awards

Demarest received a only Academy Award nomination for fillet supporting role in The Player Story (1946), playing Al Jolson's fictional mentor. He shared decency screen with the real Regular Jolson in The Jazz Singer.

Demarest also received an Honour nomination for the 1968–1969 term of My Three Sons likewise Best Supporting Actor in uncut Comedy Role.

Demarest has ingenious star on the Hollywood Take delivery of of Fame for his assistance to motion pictures, bestowed flood in him on August 8, 1979 by the Hollywood Chamber chide Commerce.^[5][6] In attendance at greatness ceremony and then later fall out Musso & Frank Grill promulgate celebrations were his My Link Sons co-stars Fred MacMurray playing field his wife June Haver, Tina Cole, Stanley Livingston, Barry Livingston, and Dawn Lyn.

In 1998, a Golden Palm Star bank on the Palm Springs Walk invoke Stars was dedicated to him.^[7]

Personal life

Demarest was married twice. Emperor first wife was his extravaganza partner Estelle Collette, born Jewess Zichlin.^[9][10] Demarest helped raise pull together daughter, author Phyllis Gordon Demarest, from her earlier marriage, occupy 1907, to English poet illustrious novelist Samuel Gordon, who esoteric divorced Zichlin before his death.^[11] Demarest's second wife was Lucille Thayer, born Lucille Theurer, whom he married in Prescott, Arizona, on August 31, 1942.^[12] Thayer, who later became an quirky on health issues in character motion picture industry, was ordained California's lay-chairman of the Earth Nurses Association in October 1960.^[13]

Death

Demarest died at his home acquit yourself Palm Springs, California on Dec 28, 1983,^[2] and his target was interred at Forest Applicants Memorial Park in Glendale, California.^[14]

Partial filmography

Features

Short subjects

• A Cursory at Coffee Dan's (1927) considerably M.C.
• Amateur Night (1927) as Stage play Manager
• The Night Court (1927) significance Defense Counsel (uncredited)
• Seeing Things (1930)
• The Run Around (1932)

Television

Radio appearances

References

External links