William Wellman Jr. (born January 20, 1937) is an American former actor. In a career spanning 65 years, he appeared in about 77 films and television series.

Life and career

Wellman was born in Los Angeles, California, and is the son of actress Dorothy Wellman (née Coonan) and director

William A. Wellman William Augustus Wellman (February 29, 1896 – December 9, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, actor and military pilot. He was known for his work in crime, adventure, and action genre films, often focusing on av ...

, about whose life and career he has talked in a number of interviews. His sister is actress Cissy Wellman. Wellman played the main character, David Michaels, in ''Image of the Best'' and ''The Prodigal Planet'', the last two movies in the Christian

end times Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that neg ...

film series ''A Thief in the Night''. He co-wrote ''The Prodigal Planet''. He also starred in ''Brother Enemy'', which was produced by Mark IV Pictures, the same company that produced the ''Thief'' movies. He played the beatnik biker, Child, in the first

Billy Jack ''Billy Jack'' is a 1971 American action drama independent film, the second of four films centering on a character of the same name which began with the movie '' The Born Losers'' (1967), played by Tom Laughlin, who directed and co-wrote the s ...

(

Tom Laughlin Thomas Robert Laughlin Jr. (August 10, 1931 – December 12, 2013) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist. Laughlin was best known for his series of ''Billy Jack'' films. He was married to actress D ...

) movie ''

The Born Losers ''The Born Losers'' is a 1967 American outlaw biker film.Gary A. Smith, ''The American International Pictures Video Guide'', McFarland 2009 p 32 The film introduced Tom Laughlin as the half- Indian Green Beret Vietnam veteran Billy Jack. Since 1 ...

'' and then other characters in follow-up Billy Jack movies, ''

The Trial of Billy Jack ''The Trial of Billy Jack'' is a 1974 Western action film starring Delores Taylor and Tom Laughlin. It is the sequel to the 1971 film ''Billy Jack'' and the third film overall in the series. Directed by Laughlin, the film has a running time of ...

'' and '' The Return of Billy Jack''. Wellman appeared in the

Fred Williamson Frederick Robert Williamson (born March 5, 1938), also known as The Hammer, is an American actor and former professional American football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League during the 1960s. Williamson is perhaps ...

blaxploitation film '' Black Caesar'' and its sequel '' Hell Up in Harlem'', as a character named Alfred Coleman. Both films were directed by

Larry Cohen Lawrence George Cohen (July 15, 1936 – March 23, 2019) was an American screenwriter, producer, and director of film and television, best known as an author of horror and science fiction films — often containing police procedural and ...

, who also cast him in '' It's Alive''. In 1959, he appeared in the TV Western ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' as “Roy” and again in 1962 as “Pvt. King”. Wellman appeared in a Chrysler sales training film in the 1970s. He also had a role in '' Star Trek: Of Gods and Men'' (2007 three-part, unofficial miniseries) as Charlie Evans (as William Wellman).

Partial filmography

* ''

Darby's Rangers ''Darby's Rangers'' (released in the UK as ''The Young Invaders'') is a 1958 war film directed by William Wellman and starring James Garner as William Orlando Darby, who organizes and leads the first units of United States Army Rangers during Wor ...

'' (1958) * ''

Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille (french: Escadrille de La Fayette) was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille A flight is a small military unit within the larger structur ...

'' (1958) * '' Macumba Love'' (1960) * ''

The Errand Boy ''The Errand Boy'' is a 1961 American comedy film directed by, co-written by and starring Jerry Lewis. Plot Paramutual Pictures decide that they need a spy to find out the inner workings of their studio. Morty S. Tashman, (the 'S' stands for 's ...

'' (1961) * '' A Swingin Summer'' (1965) * ''

Winter A-Go-Go ''Winter A-Go-Go'' is a 1965 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benedict and starring James Stacy, William Wellman Jr., Beverly Adams, John Anthony Hayes, Jill Donohue, Tom Nardini, Duke Hobbie, Julie Parrish, Buck Holland, Linda R ...

'' (1965) * ''

'' (1967) * '' Hook, Line & Sinker'' (1969) * ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'': ** Season 5 Episode 9, "The Surprise", as Officer Snyder (first aired 11-15-1972) ** Season 5 Episode 15, "Clear with a Civilian", as Officer Snyder (first aired 1-17-1973) * '' It's Alive'' (1974) * '' Image of the Beast'' (1980) * '' The Prodigal Planet'' (1983) * '' Star Trek: Of Gods and Men (2006)

References

External links

* * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Da0XOOwAqo American male film actors 1937 births Living people 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Los Angeles {{US-film-actor-1930s-stub