David Willock (August 13, 1909 – November 12, 1990) was an American character actor. He appeared in 181 films and television series from 1939 to 1979.
Biography
Born in 1909, Willock began his professional career in vaudeville in 1931, teaming with his boyhood friend
Jack Carson
John Elmer Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born American film actor. Carson often played the role of comedic friend in films of the 1940s and 1950s, including ''The Strawberry Blonde'' (1941) with James Cagney and ...
in a comedy song and dance routine. For a time in the mid-1930s, he was a reporter and editor for a Milwaukee newspaper. He first appeared on screen in ''
Good Girls Go to Paris
''Good Girls Go to Paris'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell.
Plot
Jenny Swanson is a waitress in a small college town whose dream is to go to Paris by any means necessary. She confides her plan for ...
'' (1939), in an uncredited bit part.
He teamed with Carson again when Carson invited him to write for his radio show; Willock wrote and played the part of Carson's nephew Tugwell on ''
The Jack Carson Show
''The Jack Carson Show'' is an American old-time radio comedy-variety program. It was broadcast on different seasons on CBS and NBC, beginning on June 2, 1943, and ending on December 20, 1956. The program was also known as ''The Sealtest Village S ...
'' from 1943 to 1949. Willock and
Cliff Arquette
Clifford Charles Arquette (December 27, 1905 – September 23, 1974) was an American actor and comedian. Famous for his persona Charley Weaver, played on numerous television shows.
Early life and career
Cliff Arquette was born on Decemb ...
had their own radio and television shows in the early 1950s. Both versions were called ''Dave and Charley''; the radio version was heard circa 1950, but the television version of it was on the air for only three months in early 1952.
In the 1961–1962 season, he played Harvey Clayton, father of the 1920s teenager Margie Clayton, portrayed by
Cynthia Pepper
Cynthia Pepper (born Cynthia Anne Culpepper; September 4, 1940) is an American actress whose principal work was during the early 1960s. She was the star of the 1961–62 television series ''Margie''. She played Midge (a WAC PFC) in Elvis Presley ...
Margie
Margie is a feminine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Margaret, Marjorie or Margarita.
Margie may refer to:
People
* Margie Ackles (born 1939), American retired figure skater
* Marjorie Margie Alexander (1948–2013), American ...
''. He appeared on an episode of '' Dragnet'' as an ex-
vaudeville
Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...
an who is cheated out of $9,000 that he found on a sidewalk. In 1966, he had an uncredited role as the bartender in the
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
vehicle '' Frankie and Johnny''. Willock is probably most familiar to modern audiences from his performance as Baby Jane Hudson's father in the opening scenes of the cult classic '' What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' (1962). He appeared in two episodes of ''
The Cara Williams Show
''The Cara Williams Show'' is an American situation comedy starring Cara Williams which centers on a married couple who try to conceal their marriage from their employer. Original episodes aired from September 23, 1964, until April 21, 1965 on CBS ...
'' with Cara Williams in 1964 and 1965 and played seven different characters on
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
Eddie Albert
Edward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005) was an American actor and activist. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor; the first nomination came in 1954 for his performance in ''Roman Holiday'', ...
and Eva Gabor, mostly portraying clerks or elevator operators.
Willock did voice acting for animated series, such as the offscreen narrator on '' Wacky Races'' (1968) and as father Augustus "Gus" Holiday on '' The Roman Holidays'' (1972). Willock appeared in a classic 1970 television commercial for "The Great American Soups", directed by American satirist Stan Freberg, alongside tap-dancing star Ann Miller.
He died of complications due to stroke on November 12, 1990 at the age of 81. He is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery. For his contribution to the television industry, Willock has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6358 Hollywood Boulevard.
S.O.S. Tidal Wave
''S.O.S. Tidal Wave'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by John H. Auer and written by Gordon Kahn and Maxwell Shane. The film stars Ralph Byrd, George Barbier (actor), George Barbier, Kay Sutton, Frank Jenks, Marc Lawrence and Dorothy Lee ( ...
'' (1939) - Page (uncredited)
* ''
Good Girls Go to Paris
''Good Girls Go to Paris'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell.
Plot
Jenny Swanson is a waitress in a small college town whose dream is to go to Paris by any means necessary. She confides her plan for ...
'' (1939) - Student (uncredited)
* '' Blondie Takes a Vacation'' (1939) - Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
* '' Golden Boy'' (1939) - Arena Call Boy (uncredited)
* '' Three Sons'' (1939) - Stock Boy (uncredited)
* '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) - Senate Guard (uncredited)
* ''Little Accident'' (1939) - Attendant (uncredited)
* ''
Legion of Lost Flyers
''Legion of Lost Flyers'' (aka ''Legion of Lost Fliers'') is a 1939 American B movie drama film directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Anne Nagel. ''Legion of Lost Flyers'' was released by Universal Pictures on Nove ...
'' (1939) - Blinky, the Radioman
* '' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) - Bellboy (uncredited)
* ''
Brother Rat and a Baby
''Brother Rat and a Baby'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Ray Enright and written by John Cherry Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Finklehoffe. It is the sequel to the 1938 film ''Brother Rat''. The film stars Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris (Ameri ...
'' (1940) - Talking Cadet in Trouble (uncredited)
* ''
Granny Get Your Gun
''Granny Get Your Gun'' is a 1940 American comedy western film directed by George Amy and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars May Robson, Harry Davenport, Margot Stevenson, Hardie Albright, Clem Bevans and Clay Clement. It is based primaril ...
'' (1940) - The Timid Driver (uncredited)
* ''Honeymoon Deferred'' (1940) - Steward (uncredited)
* ''Framed'' (1940) - News Photographer (uncredited)
* '' Black Friday'' (1940) - Student (uncredited)
* '' Too Many Husbands'' (1940) - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
* '' Argentine Nights'' (1940) - Steward (uncredited)
* '' Honeymoon for Three'' (1941) - Hotel Porter (uncredited)
* ''
The Monster and the Girl
''The Monster and the Girl'' is a 1941 American black-and-white horror film directed by Stuart Heisler and released by Paramount Pictures.
Plot
The film revolves around a small-town church organist named Scot Webster ( Philip Terry) attempti ...
'' (1941) - Charlie - Photographer (uncredited)
* '' Mr. District Attorney'' (1941) - Hypo (uncredited)
* '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1941) - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
* ''
The People vs. Dr. Kildare
''The People vs. Dr. Kildare'' is a 1941 drama directed by Harold S. Bucquet, starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Bonita Granville, and Laraine Day. Dr. Kildare performs an emergency operation on a crash victim.
Plot
Ice skater Frances Marlo ...
'' (1941) - Father (uncredited)
* '' She Knew All the Answers'' (1941) - Messenger Boy
* '' Caught in the Draft'' (1941) - Colonel's Orderly (uncredited)
* ''Cracked Nuts'' (1941) - Radio Technician (uncredited)
* ''
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
''Never Give a Sucker an Even Break'' (known in some international releases as ''What a Man!'') is a 1941 Universal Pictures comedy film starring W. C. Fields. Fields also wrote the original story, under the pseudonym "Otis Criblecoblis." Fields ...
'' (1941) - Assistant Director Johnson (uncredited)
* '' Great Guns'' (1941) - Recruit at Target Practice (uncredited)
* ''
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Fall ...
'' (1941) - Bellboy (uncredited)
* ''
The Chocolate Soldier
''The Chocolate Soldier'' (German: ''Der tapfere Soldat'' he courageous soldieror ''Der Praliné-Soldat'') is an operetta composed in 1908 by Oscar Straus (composer), Oscar Straus based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play, ''Arms and the Man' ...
'' (1941) - Messenger Boy with Flowers (uncredited)
* ''
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...
The Mad Doctor of Market Street
''The Mad Doctor of Market Street'' is a 1942 American horror film produced by Universal Pictures starring Lionel Atwill. The film was a low-budget project that utilized the studio's contract players and gave rising director Joseph H. Lewis an ...
'' (1942) - Band Leader (uncredited)
* ''
The Male Animal
''The Male Animal'' is a 1942 American comedy-drama film produced by Warner Bros., starring Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Leslie.
The film was based on a hit 1940 Broadway play of the same name written by James Thurber and Elliott ...
'' (1942) - Student in Bookstore (uncredited)
* ''
To the Shores of Tripoli
''To the Shores of Tripoli'' is a 1942 American Technicolor film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring John Payne, Maureen O'Hara and Randolph Scott. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Its cinematography was nominated for an Ac ...
'' (1942) - Sailor in Car (uncredited)
* '' Two Yanks in Trinidad'' (1942) - Messenger (uncredited)
* ''
This Time for Keeps
''This Time for Keeps'' is a 1947 American romantic musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Johnnie Johnston and opera singer Lauritz Melchior. Produced by MGM, it is about a soldier, returning home ...
'' (1947) - Soda Jerk (uncredited)
* ''
Take a Letter, Darling
''Take a Letter, Darling'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Rosalind Russell. It was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Art Direction ( Hans Dreier, ...
Yankee Doodle Dandy
''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, George To ...
'' (1942) - Stage Manager, 'Peck's Bad Boy' (uncredited)
* '' The Affairs of Martha'' (1942) - Milkman (uncredited)
* ''
Wings for the Eagle
''Wings for the Eagle'' (aka ''Shadow of Their Wings'') is a 1942 American drama film starring Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and George Tobias, directed by Lloyd Bacon. It tells the story of workers at a Lockheed aircraft assembly p ...
Flying Tigers
The First American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Republic of China Air Force, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, was formed to help oppose the Japanese invasion of China. Operating in 1941–1942, it was composed of pilots from the United States ...
'' (1942) - Jim's Aide (uncredited)
* '' For Me and My Gal'' (1942) - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
* '' Lucky Jordan'' (1942) - Angelo Palacio
* ''
You Were Never Lovelier
''You Were Never Lovelier'' is a 1942 American musical romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The supporting cast also features Adolphe Menjou, Xavier Cugat and Adele Mara. The music was co ...
'' (1942) - Hotel Acuña Bellboy (uncredited)
* '' Ice-Capades Revue'' (1942) - Guide (uncredited)
* '' Over My Dead Body'' (1942) - Sailor
* '' The Hard Way'' (1943) - Tommy - Bellhop (uncredited)
* '' Dixie Dugan'' (1943) - Phil (uncredited)
* ''
He Hired the Boss
''He Hired the Boss'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Thomas Z. Loring and written by Irving Cummings Jr. and Ben Markson. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Evelyn Venable, Thurston Hall, Vivian Blaine, William T. Orr and Benny Bartlett. T ...
'' (1943) - Sailor (uncredited)
* ''
She Has What It Takes
''She Has What It Takes'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by Charles Barton, which stars Jinx Falkenburg, Tom Neal, and Constance Worth.
Cast list
* Jinx Falkenburg as Fay Morris
* Tom Neal as Roger Rutledge
* Constance Worth as June Les ...
'' (1943) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
* ''
Action in the North Atlantic
''Action in the North Atlantic'', also known as ''Heroes Without Uniforms'', is a 1943 American black-and-white war film from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Jerry Wald, directed by Lloyd Bacon, that stars Humphrey Bogart and Raymond Massey as ...
'' (1943) - Convoy Speaker (uncredited)
* '' Let's Face It'' (1943) - Barney Hilliard
* '' Princess O'Rourke'' (1943) - Delivery Boy (uncredited)
* '' The Gang's All Here'' (1943) - Sgt. Pat Casey
* ''
Four Jills in a Jeep
''Four Jills in a Jeep'' is a 1944 American comedy-drama musical film starring Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye, and Mitzi Mayfair as themselves, re-enacting their USO tour of Europe and North Africa during World War II.
Production
The ...
'' (1944) - Heckling Soldier (uncredited)
* '' Pin Up Girl'' (1944) - Dud Miller
* ''
Wing and a Prayer
''Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X'' (also known as ''Queen of the Flat Tops '' and ''Torpedo Squadron Eight'') is a black-and-white 1944 war film about the heroic crew of an American aircraft carrier in the desperate early days of Wor ...
Pride of the Marines
''Pride of the Marines'' is a 1945 American biographical war film starring John Garfield and Eleanor Parker. It tells the story of U.S. Marine Al Schmid in World War II, his heroic stand against a Japanese attack during the Battle of Guadalc ...
'' (1945) - Red (uncredited)
* ''
This Love of Ours
''This Love of Ours'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by William Dieterle and starring Merle Oberon, Claude Rains, Charles Korvin and Carl Esmond. The film's composer, Hans J. Salter, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original ...
The Fabulous Dorseys
''The Fabulous Dorseys'' is a 1947 musical biopic which tells the story of the brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, from their boyhood in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania through their rise, their breakup, and their personal reunion. The film was also rele ...
Belle of Old Mexico
''Belle of Old Mexico'' is a 1950 American Trucolor comedy film directed by Robert G. Springsteen starring Estelita Rodriguez, Robert Rockwell and Dorothy Patrick. The film was successful at the box office, impressing the bosses at Republic P ...
'' (1950) - Tommy Mayberry
* '' Louisa'' (1950) - Joe Collins - Cab Driver
* '' Call Me Mister'' (1951) - Chet in Skit (uncredited)
* ''
Let's Go Navy!
''Let's Go Navy!'' is a 1951 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on July 29, 1951 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-third film in the series.
Plot
A local charity has raised sixteen hundred dollars and entrusted the ...
'' (1951) - Algernon Hobenocker
* '' Darling, How Could You!'' (1951) - Usher (uncredited)
* ''
Roadblock
A roadblock is a temporary installation set up to control or block traffic along a road. The reasons for one could be:
*Roadworks
*Temporary road closure during special events
*Police chase
*Robbery
* Sobriety checkpoint
In peaceful circumstances ...
'' (1951) - Airport Clerk (uncredited)
* '' A Girl in Every Port'' (1952) - Seaman McGonegal (uncredited)
* ''
Love Is Better Than Ever
''Love Is Better Than Ever'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen from a screenplay by Ruth Brooks Flippen, starring Larry Parks and Elizabeth Taylor. The plot concerns a small-town girl who falls in love with a big-c ...
'' (1952) - Davey (uncredited)
* '' Just This Once'' (1952) - Caddie Ralph Roberts (uncredited)
* '' Rodeo'' (1952) - (uncredited)
* '' Jet Job'' (1952) - Ripple
* '' The Merry Widow'' (1952) - Marshovian Attache (uncredited)
* '' Just for You'' (1952) - Lunch Counter Man (uncredited)
* '' Battle Zone'' (1952) - Smitty
* '' Flat Top'' (1952) - Willie
* ''
Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation
''Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont. It is the sixth installment of Universal-International's '' Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride.
Plot
In May 1953, Ma ...
'' (1953) - Franklin (uncredited)
* ''
Remains to Be Seen
''Remains to Be Seen'' is a 1953 crime musical comedy film directed by Don Weis and starring June Allyson, Van Johnson and Louis Calhern. It is based on the 1951 Broadway play ''Remains to Be Seen'' by Russel Crouse and Howard Lindsay.
Plot
A g ...
Revenge of the Creature
''Revenge of the Creature'' ( ''Return of the Creature'' and ''Return of the Creature from the Black Lagoon'') is the first of two Universal-International sequels to '' Creature from the Black Lagoon''. It was the only 3D film released in 1955 ...
'' (1955) - Lou Gibson
* ''
The Delicate Delinquent
''The Delicate Delinquent'' is an American VistaVision comedy film starring Jerry Lewis, released on June 6, 1957 by Paramount Pictures. It was the first film to star Lewis without his longtime partner Dean Martin and marked Lewis' debut as a pro ...
'' (1957) - Police Cadet William C. Goerner (uncredited)
* '' The Buster Keaton Story'' (1957) - Joe Keaton
* ''
Queen of Outer Space
''Queen of Outer Space'' is a 1958 American science fiction feature film shot in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope. Produced by Ben Schwalb and directed by Edward Bernds, it stars Zsa Zsa Gabor, Eric Fleming, and Laurie Mitchell. The screenplay by C ...
'' (1958) - Lt. Mike Cruze
* '' The Geisha Boy'' (1958) - GI in Korea (uncredited)
* ''
Ten Seconds to Hell
''Ten Seconds To Hell'' (released in the UK as ''The Phoenix'') is a 1959 British and West German film directed by Robert Aldrich, based on Lawrence P. Bachmann's novel ''The Phoenix''. The Hammer Films/UFA joint production stars Jack Palance, ...
'' (1959) - Peter Tillig
* ''
The Ladies Man
''The Ladies Man'' is a 1961 American comedy film directed by and starring Jerry Lewis. It was released on June 28, 1961 by Paramount Pictures.
Plot
Herbert H. Heebert is a young man who loses his girlfriend, swears off romance, and then takes ...
The List of Adrian Messenger
''The List of Adrian Messenger'' is a 1963 American mystery film directed by John Huston starring Kirk Douglas, George C. Scott, Dana Wynter, Clive Brook, Gladys Cooper and Herbert Marshall. It is based on a 1959 novel of the same name written by ...
'' (1963) - Gypsy (uncredited)
* '' The Nutty Professor'' (1963) - Purple Pit Customer (uncredited)
* '' Wives and Lovers'' (1963) - Dr. Leon Partridge DDS
* '' 4 for Texas'' (1963) - Alfred
* '' The Patsy'' (1964) - Alec (uncredited)
* ''
Send Me No Flowers
''Send Me No Flowers'' is a 1964 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Jewison from a screenplay by Julius Epstein, based on the play of the same name by Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore, which had a brief run on Broadway in 1960. ...
The Disorderly Orderly
''The Disorderly Orderly'' is a 1964 American comedy film released by Paramount Pictures, and starring Jerry Lewis. The film was produced by Paul Jones with a screenplay by director Frank Tashlin, based on a story by Norm Liebermann and Ed Haas ...
'' (1964) - Policeman (uncredited)
* '' Green Acres'' (1965–1970, TV Series) - Ticket Agent / Mr. Gordon / Otis Cowan / Mr. McGurney / Tom Blackwell / Larry Lawlor /George Bennington
* '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1966) - Pete (uncredited)
* '' The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' (1967) - Shipping Agent (uncredited)
* ''
The Legend of Lylah Clare
''The Legend of Lylah Clare'' is a 1968 American drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Robert Aldrich. The film stars Peter Finch, Kim Novak (in multiple roles), Ernest Borgnine, Michael Murphy, and Valentina Cortese. The fi ...
The Grissom Gang
''The Grissom Gang'' is a 1971 American crime neo noir directed and produced by Robert Aldrich from a screenplay by Leon Griffiths. The film is the second adaptation of the 1939 novel '' No Orchids for Miss Blandish'' by James Hadley Chase; ...
'' (1971) - Rocky
* ''
Now You See Him, Now You Don't
''Now You See Him, Now You Don't'' is a 1972 American science fiction comedy film starring Kurt Russell as a chemistry student who accidentally discovers the secret to invisibility. It is the sequel to the 1969 film '' The Computer Wore Tennis S ...
'' (1972) - Mr. Burns
* '' Emperor of the North'' (1973) - Groundhog
* '' Hustle'' (1975) - Liquor Store Clerk
* ''
Lou Grant
Lou Grant is a fictional character played by Ed Asner in two television series produced by MTM Enterprises for CBS. The first was ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), a half-hour light-hearted situation comedy in which the character ...