William Wright (January 5, 1911 – January 19, 1949) was an American actor.
Career He was a leading man in films who was most popular in the 1940s when he was typically compared to Clark Gable, whose career was temporarily derailed by World War II. Wright even played Gable's part in a 1945 musical comedy remake of It Happened One Night entitled Eve Knew Her Apples. He also played Philo Vance in Philo Vance Returns (1947) and the title role in King of the Gamblers (1948). Wright's other films include Escape in the Fog (1945), Rose of the Yukon (1949), Daughter of the Jungle (1949), and Impact (1949). Wright died from cancer in 1949, two weeks after his 38th birthday; he was buried at his birthplace in Ogden, Utah.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1936 China Clipper Pilot 1937 Swing High, Swing Low Attendant Uncredited1937 Blazing Barriers CCC Boy Uncredited1941 Rookies on Parade Bob Madison 1941 Kiss the Boys Goodbye Reporter Uncredited1941 World Premiere Luther Shinkley 1941 The Devil Pays Off Christopher Waring 1941 Glamour Boy Hank Landon 1941 Louisiana Purchase Ambulance Driver Uncredited1942 Fly-by-Night Intern Uncredited1942 True to the Army Lt. Danvers 1942 Not a Ladies' Man John Keen 1942 Sweetheart of the Fleet Lt. Philip Blaine 1942 Meet the Stewarts Winkie Rogers Uncredited1942 Henry and Dizzy Announcer Uncredited1942 Night in New Orleans George Wallace 1942 Sweater Girl Announcer Uncredited1942 Parachute Nurse Lt. Woods 1942 A Man's World Dan O'Driscoll 1942 Lucky Legs 'Pinkie' Connors 1942 Daring Young Man Sam Long 1942 Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood Slick Barton 1942 A Night to Remember Scott Carstairs 1943 Reveille with Beverly Barry Lang 1943 Murder in Times Square Det. Lt. Tabor 1943 Saddles and Sagebrush Krag Savin 1944 One Mysterious Night Paul Martens 1944 Dancing in Manhattan Steve Crawford 1945 Eadie Was a Lady Tommy Foley 1945 Escape in the Fog Barry Malcolm 1945 Eve Knew Her Apples Ward Williams 1946 The Mask of Diijon Tony Holiday 1946 Lover Come Back Jimmy Hennessey 1946 Down Missouri Way Mike Burton 1946 Nocturne Mr. Billings (scenes deleted)1947 The Beginning or the End Colonel John Lansdale 1947 Philo Vance Returns Philo Vance 1947 Gas House Kids Go West Jim Kingsley 1947 Doctor Jim Dr. Sylvester 1948 King of the Gamblers Dave Fowler 1949 Rose of the Yukon Tom Clark 1949 Daughter of the Jungle Carl Easton 1949 Impact Prosecutor 1949 Air Hostess Fred MacCoy (final film role)
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