William Demarest Overview:

Character actor, William Demarest, was born Carl William Demarest on Feb 27, 1892 in St. Paul, MN. Demarest appeared in over 165 film and TV roles. His best known films include Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Sullivan's Travels, The Lady Eve, Easy Living, That Darn Cat -- and of course Uncle Charley on TV's My Three Sons (1965-1972). Demarest died at the age of 91 on Dec 28, 1983 in Palm Springs, CA and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn (Glendale) Cemetery in Glendale, CA.

MINI BIO:

Craggy and grizzled, William Demarest was a veteran actor of well over 100 films who became, from the 1930's to the 1960's, one of Hollywood's best-known and best-loved familiar faces. He began in vaudeville as a song-and-dance act with his brother Rubin (1886-1962), but moved into films right at the beginning of sound and, after a hiatus from 1929 to 1933, established himself with dozens of Brooklynese character studies. Although often a soft-hearted and slightly dense policeman, he also excelled at brooding suspicion and tight-lipped sarcasm. Oscar nomination for "The Jolson Story".  

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Illustrated Dictionary of Film Character Actors).

HONORS and AWARDS:

.

Although Demarest was nominated for one Oscar, he never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1946Best Supporting ActorThe Jolson Story (1946)Steve MartinNominated
.

He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

BlogHub Articles:

No article for at this time. Submit yours here.

William Demarest Quotes:

Detective Gatling: [unable to answer the quiz show question, "Who invented the machine gun?"] I know that as well as I know my own name!


Sgt. Heppelfinger: I guess you never got to know your father very well, eh?
Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith: Well, not exactly... as he fell the day I was born.
Sgt. Heppelfinger: That's right. It's hard to realize. He was a fine looking fellow. He didn't look anything like you at all.


Charlie Chan: Case still wide open like swinging gate.
Sergeant Kelly: Watta yuh mean?
Charlie Chan: Gravelle not murderer.
Inspector Regan: Not Gravelle?
Charlie Chan: Excuse please, will demonstrate hypothesis.
Sergeant Kelly: What?
Charlie Chan: Word of Greek origin, hypo meaning...
Sergeant Kelly: [interrupting] Hypo! I get it! He's hittin' the pipe again!


read more quotes from William Demarest...



Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
Also a Pisces






See All Pisces >>
Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1946






See more Best Supporting Actor awards>>
William Demarest on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame



See All Walk of Fame Stars >>
William Demarest Facts
Played a character with the name Steve Martin in two movies The Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949).

Began his career in vaudeville.

Had a falling-out with actor/singer Al Jolsen

See All Related Facts >>