William Tyler McVey (February 14, 1912 – July 4, 2003) was an American

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to ...

of film and television.

Early years

McVey was born

Bay City, Michigan Bay City is a city and county seat of Bay County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and it is the principal city of the Bay City Metrop ...

, to William David McVey and his wife, the former Jessie Arvilla Tyler. His mother died of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in w ...

when he was one year old and his father allowed his maternal grandparents to raise him. He gained early acting experience in amateur productions in his hometown.DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 179. He began acting when he was a student at Bay City High School.

Career

His first screen role, uncredited, came in 1951, where he portrayed Brady in ''

The Day the Earth Stood Still ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (a.k.a. ''Farewell to the Master'' and ''Journey to the World'') is a 1951 American science fiction film from 20th Century Fox, produced by Julian Blaustein and directed by Robert Wise. It stars Michael Renn ...

''. He was uncredited in two 1953 military films, ''

From Here to Eternity ''From Here to Eternity'' is a 1953 American drama romance war film directed by Fred Zinnemann, and written by Daniel Taradash, based on the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones. The picture deals with the tribulations of three U.S. ...

'' as Major Stern and in ''Mission over Korea'' as Colonel Colton. He made one of his first television appearances in a 1953 episode of ''

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedie ...

''. During the 1950s, McVey guest starred in episodes of many series, including ''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is an ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Dragnet'', ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'', ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

'', ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to a ...

'', '' Colt .45'', ''

Hallmark Hall of Fame ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'', originally called ''Hallmark Television Playhouse'', is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark Cards, a Kansas City-based greeting card company. The longest-running prime-time series in ...

'', '' My Friend Flicka'', ''

Highway Patrol A highway patrol, or state patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is prima ...

'', '' It's a Great Life'' and ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

''. From 1953 to 1956, he guest starred on the CBS educational series '' You Are There'', narrated by

Walter Cronkite Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the ''CBS Evening News'' for 19 years (1962–1981). During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the mo ...

. From 1959 to 1960, McVey portrayed Major General Norgath in the CBS series '' Men into Space''. In 1964, McVey was cast as General Hardesty in the political thriller film ''

Seven Days in May ''Seven Days in May'' is a 1964 American political thriller film about a military-political cabal's planned takeover of the United States government in reaction to the president's negotiation of a disarmament treaty with the Soviet Union. Th ...

''. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, McVey continued guest starring in episodic television, including roles on ''

The Tom Ewell Show ''The Tom Ewell Show'', also known as ''The Trouble With Tom'', is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS during the 1960-61 television season. It depicts the challenges a husband and father faces as he resides in a household otherwise co ...

'', ''

Kentucky Jones ''Kentucky Jones'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Dennis Weaver which centers around a widowed Southern California veterinarian and rancher raising an adopted Chinese boy. Original episodes aired from September 19, 1964, u ...

'', '' National Velvet'', ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chroni ...

'', '' The Rebel'', ''

The Everglades The Everglades is a natural region of tropical climate, tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large drainage basin within the Neotropical realm. The system begins near Orland ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'', ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the progra ...

'' (as

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ...

baron John Chisum in the 1956 episode, "Pat Garrett's Side of It"), ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'', '' Ripcord'', '' The Wild, Wild West'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', ''

'', '' Ironside'' and ''

Eight Is Enough ''Eight Is Enough'' is an American television comedy-drama series that ran on ABC from March 15, 1977, until May 23, 1981. The show was modeled on the life of syndicated newspaper columnist Tom Braden, a real-life parent with eight children, w ...

''. His last roles were in 1985 and 1986 as different ministers in two episodes of ''

Highway to Heaven ''Highway to Heaven'' is an American fantasy drama television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 1984, to August 4, 1989. The series starred Michael Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent to Earth in order to help people in need. Victor ...

''. McVey also acted on

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transm ...

programs, including ''

Gene Autry's Melody Ranch ''Gene Autry's Melody Ranch'' is a Western variety radio show in the United States. A 15-minute pilot show aired on December 31, 1939. The program ran from January 7, 1940 to August 1, 1943, and from September 23, 1945 to May 16, 1956.French, Jac ...

'', '' Glamour Manor'', and ''

One Man's Family ''One Man's Family'' is an American radio soap opera, heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. Television versions ...

''.

Other professional activities

In the 1960s, McVey was president of the

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

, local of the

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) was a performers' union that represented a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording a ...

, later served as national President. He was a founding member of the AFTRA/SAG Credit Union.

Personal life and death

McVey was married three times; first to Lorraine Budge in 1937. After their divorce, he married Rita Ann Stickelmaier in 1950 before they divorced in 1970. In 1971, McVey married Esther Geddes. He died of

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

in Rancho Mirage, California. He is interred in

Elm Lawn Cemetery Elm Lawn Cemetery is a cemetery located at 300 Ridge Road in Bay City, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. History By the late 1880s, the cemeteries already established in Bay City were becoming filled. In ...

.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.

Selected filmography

*''

'' (aka ''Farwell to the Master'') (1951) - Brody (uncredited) *'' Washington Story'' (1952) - Reporter in Senate Chamber (uncredited) *''

Diplomatic Courier A diplomatic courier is an official who transports diplomatic bags as sanctioned under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Couriers are granted diplomatic immunity and are thereby protected by the receiving state from arrest and ...

'' (1952) - Watch Officer *'' Confidence Girl'' (1952) - 2nd Detective *'' Horizons West'' (1952) - Poker Player (uncredited) *''

Back at the Front ''Back at the Front'' (titled ''Willie and Joe in Tokyo'' in the UK) is a 1952 American comedy film directed by George Sherman and starring Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck and Mari Blanchard, very loosely based on the characters ''Willie and Joe'' by B ...

'' (1952) - Colonel Daley (uncredited) *'' My Man and I'' (1952) - Defense Attorney (uncredited) *'' O. Henry's Full House'' (1952) - O. Henry - Prologue (uncredited) *''

One Minute to Zero ''One Minute to Zero'' is a 1952 American romantic war film starring Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth, set during the opening phases of the Korean War, and produced by Howard Hughes as his last film as producer. Victor Young's score for the film ...

'' (1952) - Joint Operation's Officer (uncredited) *'' All the Brothers Were Valiant'' (1953) - John Shore (uncredited) *''

From Here To Eternity ''From Here to Eternity'' is a 1953 American drama romance war film directed by Fred Zinnemann, and written by Daniel Taradash, based on the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones. The picture deals with the tribulations of three U.S. ...

'' (1953) - Major Stern (uncredited) *''

Mission Over Korea ''Mission Over Korea'' is a 1953 American war film released by Columbia Pictures, directed by Fred F. Sears, from a story by former war correspondent Richard Tregaskis, author of '' Guadalcanal Diary''. The film stars John Hodiak, John Derek, A ...

'' (1953) - Colonel Colton (uncredited) *''

A Blueprint for Murder ''A Blueprint for Murder'' is a 1953 American film noir thriller film directed and written by Andrew L. Stone and starring Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters and Gary Merrill. Plot Whitney "Cam" Cameron (Joseph Cotten) arrives at a hospital to be with ...

'' (1953) - Police Lab Technician *''

Column South ''Column South'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Frederick de Cordova and starring Audie Murphy and Joan Evans.''C ...

'' (1953) - Miller - a Southerner (uncredited) *'' Code Two'' (1953) - Chief of Police (uncredited) *'' Small Town Girl'' (1953) - Minister *'' Day of Triumph'' (1954) - Peter *''Dynamite, the Story of Alfred Nobel'' (1954, TV Movie) *'' Francis Joins the WACS'' (1954) - Referee (uncredited) *'' The Caine Mutiny'' (1954) - Court-martial Board Member (uncredited) *''Indian American'' (1955, TV Movie) - Judge *''

Women's Prison This article discusses the incarceration of women in correctional facilities. As of 2013 across the world, 625,000 women and children were being held in penal institutions, and the female prison population was increasing in all continents.< ...

'' (1955) - Guard *'' New York Confidential'' (1955) - Crash Car Witness (uncredited) *''The Man Who Tore Down the Wall'' (1955, TV Movie) - Dr. Stokes *'' Santa Fe Passage'' (1955) - Wagonmaster Lawton (uncredited) *'' City of Shadows'' (1955) - District Attorney's Aide (uncredited) *''Edgar Allan Poe at West Point'' (1955, TV Movie) - Supply Sergeant *'' Creature with the Atom Brain'' (1955) - Police Officer (uncredited) *'' Chicago Syndicate'' (1955) - Henderson (uncredited) *''

The Come On ''The Come On'' is a 1956 American film noir directed by Russell Birdwell and starring Anne Baxter, Sterling Hayden and John Hoyt.. It was distributed by Allied Artists Pictures. Plot While fishing on a Mexican beach Dave Arnold (Sterling Hay ...

'' (1956) - Detective Hogan *'' Somebody Up There Likes Me'' (1956) - Reporter (uncredited) *''

Walk the Proud Land ''Walk the Proud Land'' is a 1956 CinemaScope Technicolor Western film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Audie Murphy and future Academy Award winner Anne Bancroft. Filmed at Old Tucson Studios, it recounts the first successful introduction ...

'' (1956) - Lang (uncredited) *'' Friendly Persuasion'' (1956) - Farmer (uncredited) *''

Mister Cory ''Mister Cory'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope film noir directed by Blake Edwards and starring Tony Curtis, Martha Hyer, Charles Bickford and Kathryn Crosby, Kathryn Grant. Plot Cory, a poor Chicago kid with a penchant for gambling, gets a job ...

'' (1957) - Card Player (uncredited) *'' Teenage Thunder'' (1957) - Frank Simpson *''

Night of the Blood Beast ''Night of the Blood Beast'' is a 1958 American science-fiction horror film about a team of scientists who are stalked by an alien creature, which implants its embryos in an astronaut's body during a space flight. Produced by exploitation filmmak ...

'' (1958) - Dr. Alex Wyman *''

Hot Car Girl ''Hot Car Girl'' is a 1958 American film directed by Bernard L. Kowalski. Seeing ''Hot Car Girl'' in a four-walled playoff in 1958 gave the audience the sense that they were witnessing something clandestine and taboo. It was an early credit for ...

'' (1958) - Mr. James Wheeler *'' Terror in a Texas Town'' (1958) - Sheriff Stoner (uncredited) *''

As Young as We Are ''As Young as We Are'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Bernard Girard and written by Meyer Dolinsky. The film stars Robert Harland, Pippa Scott, Majel Barrett, Ty Hardin, Barry Atwater and Carla Hoffman. The film was released in Sept ...

'' (1958) - Captain Barnhill (uncredited) *'' Lone Texan'' (1959) - Henry Biggs *''

The Louisiana Hussy ''Louisiana Hussy'' is a 1959 American film directed by Lee Sholem. The film is also known as ''Louisiana Hussey'' (American alternative spelling). Plot summary Living in a small Louisiana Bayou community known as "The Pit", Cajun newlyweds ...

'' (1959) - Dr. J. B. Opie *''

A Private's Affair ''A Private's Affair'' is a 1959 American musical comedy film directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Sal Mineo and Christine Carère. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1960. Plot Two men from New York—Luigi, a hip wanna-be beatnik, and ...

'' (1959) - General (uncredited) *''

Attack of the Giant Leeches ''Attack of the Giant Leeches'' (originally to be called ''The Giant Leeches'') is an independently made, 1959 black-and-white science fiction-horror film, produced by Gene Corman and directed by Bernard L. Kowalski. It stars Ken Clark, Yvette ...

'' (1959) - Doc Greyson *'' The Music Box Kid'' (1960) - District Attorney Henley (uncredited) *''

The Gallant Hours ''The Gallant Hours'' is an American docudrama from 1960 about William F. Halsey, Jr. and his efforts in fighting against Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II. This film was directed ...

'' (1960) - Adm. Ernest J. King (uncredited) *'' Young Jesse James'' (1960) - Banker *''

Sea Hunt ''Sea Hunt'' is an American action adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges a ...

'' (1960, Season 3, Episode 29) - Sy Baker *''

'' (1961, Season 4, Episode 9) - Dr. Widmer *''A Public Affair'' (1962) - Sen. Howard Hopkins *''

That Touch of Mink ''That Touch of Mink'' is a 1962 American romantic comedy film directed by Delbert Mann and starring Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, and Audrey Meadows. Plot Cathy Timberlake, an unemployed New York City career woman, goes to the unemplo ...

'' (1962) - Doorman (uncredited) *''

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ''It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'' is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer with a story and screenplay by William Rose and Tania Rose. The film, starring Spencer Tracy with an all-star cast of comedians, is ...

'' (1963) - Police Radio Voice (voice, uncredited) *'' Captain Newman, M.D.'' (1963) - Officer at Medical Evaluation Hearing (uncredited) *''

Man's Favorite Sport? ''Man's Favorite Sport?'' is a 1964 American comedy film starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss and directed and produced by Howard Hawks. Hawks intended the film to be an homage to his own 1938 screwball classic ''Bringing Up Baby'' with Katha ...

'' (1964) - Customer Bush *''

'' (1964) - Gen. Hardesty (uncredited) *'' The Best Man'' (1964) - Chairman *''

The Killers The Killers are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001 by Brandon Flowers (lead vocals, keyboards, bass) and Dave Keuning (lead guitar, backing vocals). After going through a number of short-term bass players and drum ...

'' (1964) - Steward *'' Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.'' (1966) - Captain *''

Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round ''Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' is a 1966 crime film written and directed by Bernard Girard, and starring James Coburn, Camilla Sparv, Aldo Ray, Nina Wayne, Todd Armstrong, Robert Webber, Rose Marie and Harrison Ford in his film debut. Plot ...

'' (1966) - Lyman Mann *'' Banning'' (1967) - Marco (uncredited) *'' Never a Dull Moment'' (1968) - Chief of Police Greyson (uncredited) *'' Hello, Dolly!'' (1969) - Laborer (uncredited) *'' The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler'' (1971) - George *'' Sidekicks'' (1974, TV Movie) - Jones *''

The Strongest Man in the World ''The Strongest Man in the World'' is a 1975 American science fiction comedy film directed by Vincent McEveety, produced by Walt Disney Productions and starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, and Eve Arden. It is the second sequel to the 1969 film '' ...

'' (1975) - Regent (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McVey, Tyler 1912 births 2003 deaths Male actors from Michigan American male film actors American male radio actors American male stage actors American male television actors Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from leukemia People from Bay City, Michigan People from Los Angeles Presidents of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists 20th-century American male actors