William Tracy (December 1, 1917 – July 18, 1967) was an American character actor.

William Tracy
Tracy in Tanks a Million (1941)
Born(1917-12-01)December 1, 1917
DiedJuly 18, 1967(1967-07-18) (aged 49)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1925–1964

Early life and career edit

Tracy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is perhaps best known for the role of Pepi Katona, the delivery boy, in The Shop Around the Corner (1940). He starred in the John Ford film Tobacco Road (1941), and appeared in Brother Rat (1938) and Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941).

In 1940, Tracy began a recurring role as Sgt. Dorian "Dodo" Doubleday in eight films teamed with Joe Sawyer as Sgt. Ames, the first six for Hal Roach's Streamliners service comedies, beginning with Tanks a Million (1941). This B-movie comedy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical Score.[1] In 1942, he starred alongside Randolph Scott, John Payne and Alan Hale Jr in To the Shores of Tripoli. Then back again as Sgt Doubleday for two more at Hal Roach studios and the last two were for Lippert turesPic, concluding with Mr. Walkie Talkie (1952) being set during the Korean War.

In the 1950s, Tracy primarily did television work, where his most notable role was "Hotshot Charlie" in the 1953 series Terry and the Pirates. He previously played the lead role of Terry Lee in the 1940 serial with the same title.

On the June 14, 1951 episode of the radio series Suspense, The Truth About Jerry Baxter, the 33-year-old Tracy played the title character, a teenage marijuana addict. The episode claimed to be drawn from actual events, but is more like a radio version of Reefer Madness.

He was married to actress Lois James from 1945-1954.

Tracy died in Hollywood, California, at the age of 49.[2] He is interred in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[3]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1938 Brother Rat Misto Bottome
Angels with Dirty Faces Jerry - as a Boy
1939 The Jones Family in Hollywood Danny Regan
Million Dollar Legs Egghead Jackson
The Amazing Mr. Williams Messenger Boy uncredited
1940 The Shop Around the Corner Pepi Katona
Terry and the Pirates Terry Lee serial
Strike Up the Band Phillip Turner
Gallant Sons 'Beefy' Monrose
1941 Mr. and Mrs. Smith Sammy
Tobacco Road Dude Lester
Her First Beau Mervyn Roberts
She Knew All the Answers Benny
Tillie the Toiler Mac
Tanks a Million 1st Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday
Cadet Girl The Runt, a Cadet
1942 Hay Foot Staff Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday
About Face
Fall In
Young America Earl Tucker, alias Ivan Leslie
To the Shores of Tripoli Johnny Dent
George Washington Slept Here Steve Eldridge
1943 Yanks Ahoy Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday
1948 Here Comes Trouble Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday
The Walls of Jericho Cully Caxton
1949 Henry, the Rainmaker Charlie Richards
1950 One Too Many Billy Leighton
1951 Sunny Side of the Street Al Little
As You Were Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday
1952 Mr. Walkie Talkie Sgt. Doubleday
1957 The Wings of Eagles Air Officer uncredited
1959 -30- Unnamed Writer

References edit

  1. ^ "The 14th Academy Awards – 1942". Oscars.org. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "William Tracy". www.rusc.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

External links edit