William Bakewell (May 2, 1908 – April 15, 1993) was an American actor who achieved his greatest fame as one of the leading juvenile performers of the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Early years

Bakewell was a native of Los Angeles, where he attended the Harvard School for Boys and Page Military Academy.

Career

Bakewell began his film career as an extra in the silent movie ''Fighting Blood'' (1924) and appeared in some 170 films and television shows. He had supporting roles at the end of the silent era and reached the peak of his career around 1930. He is perhaps best remembered for playing German soldier Albert Kropp in '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1930) and Rodney Jordan,

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pic ...

's brother, in '' Dance, Fools, Dance'' (1931). He also co-starred in '' Gold Diggers of Broadway'' (1929). In 1933, Bakewell contributed to the founding of the

Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...

, and was the 44th of the original 50 members. He never achieved stardom after the Depression years, although he became familiar in dozens of films, including his short appearance as a mounted soldier in '' Gone with the Wind'' (1939) whom

Scarlett O'Hara Katie Scarlett O'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler is a fictional character and the protagonist in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel '' Gone with the Wind'' and in the 1939 film of the same name, where she is portrayed by Vivien Leigh. She also is t ...

asks when the Yankee soldiers are coming to Atlanta. During World War II, Bakewell served in the U.S. Army with the rank of second lieutenant. He was stationed at the 73rd Evacuation Hospital and at the Radio Section of the Special Service Division as the post intelligence officer. He also worked under the department that handled distribution of recorded programs to overseas station circuits. He starred in the

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the multi ...

serial ''

Hop Harrigan Hop Harrigan (also known as The Guardian Angel and Black Lamp) is a fictional character published by All-American Publications. He appeared in American comic books, radio serials and film serials. He was created by Jon Blummer, and was a popular h ...

'' (1946), where he played a top Air Corps pilot. He also portrayed Major Tobias Norton and a Keelboat Race Master of Ceremonies in the phenomenally popular Disney series ''

Davy Crockett David Crockett (August 17, 1786 – March 6, 1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of ...

'' (1954-1955). In the 1960s, he guest-starred in numerous sitcoms, including '' Guestward, Ho!'', '' The Tab Hunter Show'', '' Pete and Gladys'', '' Bringing Up Buddy'', ''

Mister Ed ''Mister Ed'' is an American television sitcom produced by Filmways that aired in syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966. The show's title character is a talking horse which origi ...

'', '' Leave It to Beaver'', ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televi ...

'', '' Petticoat Junction '', and ''

Hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999 ...

''. He also was cast in episodes of ''

Peter Gunn ''Peter Gunn'' is an American private eye television series, starring Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as his girlfriend, Edie Hart. The series aired on NBC from September 22, 1958, to 1960 and on ABC in 1960–1961. The ser ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'', '' The Roaring 20s'', '' The Virginian'', '' Arrest and Trial'', and '' 87th Precinct'' He played the

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...

statesman George Wythe in the episode "

George Mason George Mason (October 7, 1792) was an American planter, politician, Founding Father, and delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, one of the three delegates present who refused to sign the Constitution. His writings, including s ...

" in the 1965 NBC documentary series, '' Profiles in Courage''. He made his last film in 1975. When his acting career declined he also opened a successful real estate company.''The New York Times''
/ref> For four decades, Bakewell served on the board of Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Book

Bakewell's autobiography ''Hollywood Be Thy Name--Random Recollections of a Movie Veteran From Silents to Talkies to TV'' was published in 1991.

Death

In 1993, at age 84, Bakewell 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 Los Angeles.

Partial filmography

* ''Fighting Blood'' (1923) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' A Regular Fellow'' (1925) * ''

The Last Edition ''The Last Edition'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Emory Johnson based on the story by Emilie Johnson. The photoplay is set in San Francisco, California, and stars Ralph Lewis as a pressman at the ''San Francisco Chronicle'' ...

'' (1925) - 'Ink' Donovan * ''The Gilded Butterfly'' (1926) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' The Waning Sex'' (1926) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''Whispering Wires'' (1926) - (uncredited) * '' Old Ironsides'' (1926) - Young Philadelphian (uncredited) * ''Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl'' (1926) * '' The Heart Thief'' (1927) - Victor * ''

Mother ] A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of ge ...

'' (1927) - Jerry Ellis * ''

The Magic Flame ''The Magic Flame'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Henry King, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and based on the 1900 play ''Konig Harlekin'' by Rudolph Lothar. George Barnes was nominated at the 1st Academy Awards for Best Cinem ...

'' (1927) * '' The Shield of Honor'' (1927) - Jerry MacDowell * ''

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

'' (1927) - 'Tex' McNeil * '' The Latest from Paris'' (1928) - Bud Dolan * ''The Devil's Trademark'' (1928) - Tom Benton * ''Harold Teen'' (1928) - Percival * '' The Battle of the Sexes'' (1928) - Billy Judson * ''

Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...

'' (1928) - Skippy * '' Lady of the Pavements'' (1929) - A Pianist * '' The Iron Mask'' (1929) - Louis XIV / Twin Brother * '' Hot Stuff'' (1929) - Mack Moran * '' On with the Show'' (1929) - Jimmy/Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number * '' Gold Diggers of Broadway'' (1929) - Wally * '' Lummox'' (1930) - Paul Charvet * '' Playing Around'' (1930) - Jack * '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1930) - Albert Kropp * '' The Bat Whispers'' (1930) - Brook * '' Paid'' (1930) - Carney * '' Reducing'' (1931) - Tommy Haverly * '' The Great Meadow'' (1931) - Jack Jarvis (uncredited) * '' Dance, Fools, Dance'' (1931) - Rodney Jordan * '' Daybreak'' (1931) - Otto * '' A Woman of Experience'' (1931) - Count Karl Runyi * ''

Politics Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that stud ...

'' (1931) - Benny Emerson * '' Guilty Hands'' (1931) - Tommy Osgood * '' The Spirit of Notre Dame'' (1931) - Jim Stewart * ''

Cheaters at Play ''Cheaters at Play'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan. The film stars Thomas Meighan, Charlotte Greenwood, William Bakewell, Ralph Morgan, Barbara Weeks and Linda ...

'' (1932) - Maurice Perry * ''

While Paris Sleeps ''While Paris Sleeps'', aka ''The Glory of Love'', is a 1923 American silent drama film based on the novel ''The Glory of Love'' by Leslie Beresford (a.k.a. "Pan"), directed by Maurice Tourneur, and starring Lon Chaney and John Gilbert. Whoeve ...

'' (1932) - Paul Renoir * '' Back Street'' (1932) - Richard Saxel - Walter's Son * ''

The Secret of Madame Blanche ''The Secret of Madame Blanche'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Charles Brabin and written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. The film stars Irene Dunne, Lionel Atwill, Phillips Holmes, Una Merkel and Douglas Wa ...

'' (1933) - Minor Role (scenes deleted) * '' Lucky Devils'' (1933) - Slugger Jones * '' Three-Cornered Moon'' (1933) - Douglas Rimplegar * ''

A Man of Sentiment ''A Man of Sentiment'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Marian Marsh, Owen Moore and Christian Rub.Pitts p.94 Cast * Marian Marsh as Julia Wilkens * Owen Moore as Stanley Colton * Christian Rub as H ...

'' (1933) - John Russell * '' Straightaway'' (1933) - Billy Dawson * ''

You Can't Buy Everything ''You Can't Buy Everything'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Charles Reisner and Sandy Roth and starring May Robson, Jean Parker and Lewis Stone. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Working titles of the fi ...

'' (1934) - Donny 'Don' Bell as a man * ''

The Quitter ''The Quitter'' is a 1916 American silent Western film directed by Charles Horan and starring Lionel Barrymore. It was produced by Rolfe Photoplays and distributed by Metro Pictures. A copy is reportedly held at Nederlands Filmmuseum, now ca ...

'' (1934) - Russell Tilford * ''

Speed Wings ''Speed Wings'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code action film directed by Otto Brower Otto Brower (December 2, 1890 – January 25, 1946) was an American film director. He directed more than 40 films between 1928 and 1946. He was born in Gran ...

'' (1934) - Jerry * '' Green Eyes'' (1934) - Cliff Miller * ''

Straight Is the Way ''Straight Is the Way'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Paul Sloane, written by Bernard Schubert, and starring Franchot Tone, May Robson, Karen Morley, Gladys George, Nat Pendleton and Jack La Rue. It is based upon the stage play by Da ...

'' (1934) - Dr. Wilkes * '' The Party's Over'' (1934) - Clay * '' The Curtain Falls'' (1934) - Barry Graham * '' Crimson Romance'' (1934) - Adolph * '' Sons of Steel'' (1934) - Roland Chadburne * '' Laddie'' (1935) - Robert Pryor * '' On Probation'' (1935) - Bill Coleman * ''

Strangers All ''Strangers All'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Charles Vidor from a screenplay by Milton Krims. The film stars May Robson and Preston Foster Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor ...

'' (1935) - Dick Carter * '' Manhattan Butterfly'' (1935) - Stevens aka Stephen Collier * '' Together We Live'' (1935) - Billy * '' Happiness C.O.D.'' (1935) - Ken Sherridan * ''

Lady Luck Lady Luck, a personification of luck, may refer to: Fiction and mythology * Fortuna, in Roman mythology, goddess of fortune * Tyche, in Greek mythology, goddess of fortune * Lady Luck (comics), a character created by Will Eisner Film * ''La ...

'' (1936) - Dave Haines * '' Sea Spoilers'' (1936) - Lieut. Commander Mays * '' Quality Street'' (1937) - Lt. Spicer (uncredited) * '' Mile-a-Minute-Love'' (1937) - Bob Jackson * '' Dangerous Holiday'' (1937) - Tom Wilson * '' Jungle Menace'' (1937) - Tom Banning * '' Trapped by G-Men'' (1937) - Dick Withers * '' Exiled to Shanghai'' (1937) - Andrew * '' The Higgins Family'' (1938) - Eddie Davis * ''

The Duke of West Point ''The Duke of West Point'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Louis Hayward, Joan Fontaine and Tom Brown. It was described as "'' A Yank at Oxford'' in reverse". Plot An American diplomat's son, Steven Early ...

'' (1938) - Committee Captain * '' King of the Turf'' (1939) - Intern * '' Hotel Imperial'' (1939) - Cadet (uncredited) * '' Zenobia'' (1939) - Townsman at Zeke's Recitation (uncredited) * ''

Those High Grey Walls ''Those High Grey Walls'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Walter Connolly and Onslow Stevens. It is also known as ''The Gates of Alcatraz''. Plot Dr. MacAuley, a kindly beloved country doctor, is sent to Fil ...

'' (1939) - Kibitzer (uncredited) * '' Gone with the Wind'' (1939) - Mounted Officer * '' Beyond Tomorrow'' (1940) - David Chadwick * '' The Saint Takes Over'' (1940) - Shipboard Card Player (uncredited) * '' Seven Sinners'' (1940) - Ensign * '' Cheers for Miss Bishop'' (1941) - Jim Forbes (uncredited) * ''

Dr. Kildare's Victory ''Dr. Kildare's Victory'' is a 1942 film directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It stars Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore. It is the ninth and last of the MGM Dr. Kildare movie series. Plot summary Dr. Kildare (Lew Ayres) is involved in a dispute between t ...

'' (1942) - Mr. Hubbell * '' The Dawn Express'' (1942) - Tom Fielding * '' I Live on Danger'' (1942) - Mac * '' The Postman Didn't Ring'' (1942) - Robert Harwood Jr. * '' The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe'' (1942) - Hugh Pleasant * '' King of the Mounties'' (1942) - Cpl. Hall Ross * '' Submarine Alert'' (1943) - Agent Pomeroy - Fleming's Aide (uncredited) * ''

Yanks Ahoy ''Yanks Ahoy'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and written by Earle Snell and Clarence Marks. The film stars William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Marjorie Woodworth, Minor Watson and Frank Faylen. The film was released on June 29, ...

'' (1943) - Ens. Crosby (uncredited) * ''Hop Harrigan America's Ace of the Airways'' (1946) -

* '' The Fabulous Dorseys'' (1947) - Eddie * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1947) - Windor * '' The Trespasser'' (1947) - Bruce Coleman, the Literary Editor * '' The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'' (1947) - Winters * '' Messenger of Peace'' (1947) - Pastor Willie von Adel * ''

King of the Bandits ''King of the Bandits'' is a 1947 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Gilbert Roland, Angela Greene, and Chris-Pin Martin, and was released on November 8, 1947. Cast list * Gilbert Roland as the Cisco Kid, aka Chic ...

'' (1947) - Captain Frank Mason * ''

Arthur Takes Over ''Arthur Takes Over'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair and written by Mauri Grashin. The film stars Lois Collier, Richard Crane, Skip Homeier, Ann E. Todd and Jerome Cowan. The film was released on April 7, 1948, by 2 ...

'' (1948) - Lawrence White * '' So This Is New York'' (1948) * '' Romance on the High Seas'' (1948) - Dudley * ''Night Wind'' (1948) - Capt. Kingston (uncredited) * '' Miraculous Journey'' (1948) - (uncredited) * '' You Gotta Stay Happy'' (1948) - Dick Hebert * '' The Capture'' (1950) - Tolin * ''

Oh! Susanna "Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all ti ...

'' (1951) - Lieutenant (uncredited) * '' Wells Fargo Gunmaster'' (1951) - Charlie Lannon * ''

When the Redskins Rode ''When the Redskins Rode'' is a 1951 American historical Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Jon Hall, Mary Castle and James Seay. The film is loosely based on the events leading up to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. I ...

'' (1951) - Appleby * ''

Come Fill the Cup ''Come Fill the Cup'' is a 1951 film starring James Cagney and Gig Young, directed by Gordon Douglas. Young's performance was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Cagney plays an alcoholic newspaperman. He has a memorable li ...

'' (1951) - Hal Ortman * '' Radar Men from the Moon'' (1952) - Ted Richards * '' Room for One More'' (1952) - Milkman (scenes deleted) * ''

So This Is Love So This Is Love may refer to: * "So This Is Love?" (song), by Van Halen * "So This Is Love" (song), by The Future Sound of London (recording as Mental Cube) * "So This Is Love", a song by Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers * "So This Is Love", a song ...

'' (1953) - Charles, Waiter (uncredited) * '' Lucky Me'' (1954) - Jaguar Owner (uncredited) * '' Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier'' (1955) - Maj. Tobias Norton (archive footage) * ''

Official Detective ''Official Detective'' is an American anthology television series which aired in syndication from 1957 to March 19, 1958. The series was hosted by veteran film actor Everett Sloane.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: ...

'' (1958, TV Series) - Sam Graves * ''

Hell's Five Hours ''Hell's Five Hours'' is a 1958 American thriller film written, produced and directed by Jack L. Copeland. The film stars Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Vic Morrow, Maurice Manson, Robert Foulk and Dan Sheridan. The film was released on April 13, ...

'' (1958) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Johnny Rocco ''Johnny Rocco'' is a 1958 crime film noir directed by Paul Landres starring Richard Eyer, Stephen McNally, and Coleen Gray. Plot Young Johnny Rocco (Richard Eyer) is disturbed after seeing his gangster father Tony (Stephen McNally) involved in ...

'' (1958) - Joe, Police Scientist (uncredited) * ''

'' - Episode ''Monte Cristo'' (1958) * '' The Big Fisherman'' (1959) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Not with My Wife, You Don't! ''Not with My Wife, You Don't!'' (stylized as ''Not with MY Wife, You Don't!'') is a 1966 American comedy film starred by Tony Curtis, Virna Lisi and George C. Scott. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Music ...

'' (1966) - Brig. Gen. Swift (uncredited) * ''

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 ...

'' (1967-1968, TV Series) - Henshaw / Slatter (2 episodes) * '' The Strongest Man in the World'' (1975) - Professor

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bakewell, William 1908 births 1993 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors American male television actors Deaths from leukemia Deaths from cancer in California 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Los Angeles