William Janney (born Russell Dixon Janney, February 15, 1908 – December 22, 1992) was an American actor who appeared in 39 films between 1929 and 1937. He was the son of author and theatrical producer

Russell Janney Russell Janney (April 14, 1884 – July 14, 1963) was a theatrical producer and author. He is best known for his 1946 best-selling book and first novel, ''The Miracle of the Bells'', which was made into a film of the same name in 1948. He also p ...

,(28 December 1940)
William Janney Marries
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''(2 March 1930)
Actors' Children Emulate Parents
''

Pittsburgh Press ''The Pittsburgh Press'' (formerly ''The Pittsburg Press'' and originally ''The Evening Penny Press'') was a major afternoon daily newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1884 to 1992. At one time, the ''Press'' was the second larg ...

'' and he attended the School for Professional Children. Janney debuted on Broadway in ''Merton of the Movies'' (1922). His other Broadway credits include ''Great Music'' (1924) ''Four O'Clock'' (1933), ''Take My Tip'' (1932), ''Tommy'' (1927), and ''Bridge of Distances'' (1925). His biggest regret was not taking the role in ''Tol'able David'' (1930) after Columbia boss Harry Cohn offered it to him. His mother urged him to let

Richard Cromwell Richard Cromwell (4 October 162612 July 1712) was an English statesman who was the second and last Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland and son of the first Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. On his father's death ...

have it. "She told me there was this old woman friend of hers whose son had always wanted to play the part. She said I didn't want to play it anyway. To this day, I don't understand her... This really spoiled the whole thing for me, because I might have been offered a contract with Columbia. As it turned out, I never did get a contract, and Harry Cohn never offered me anything else."Ankerich, Michael G. The Sound of Silence: Conversations with 16 Film and Stage Personalities. McFarland and Company Inc., Publishers: Jefferson, NC, 1998. p. 129.

Complete filmography

*''

Coquette A coquette is a flirtatious woman. It may refer to: * ''The Coquette'' (film), a 1917 German silent comedy film * ''Coquette'' (film), an Academy Award-winning 1929 film starring Mary Pickford * ''Coqueta '' (1949 film), a Mexican musical film * ' ...

'' (1929) - Jimmy Besant *''

Salute A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Boy Sco ...

'' (1929) - Midshipman Paul Randall *'' Mexicali Rose'' (1929) - Bob Manning *'' The Girl Said No'' (1930) - Jimmie Ward *''

Those Who Dance ''Those Who Dance'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code crime film produced and distributed by Warner Bros., directed by William Beaudine, and starring Monte Blue, Lila Lee, William "Stage" Boyd and Betty Compson. It is a remake of the 1924 silent fil ...

'' (1930) - Tim Brady *'' Young Desire'' (1930) - Bobby Spencer *'' The Dawn Patrol'' (1930) - Gordon Scott *'' Shooting Straight'' (1930) - Tommy Powell *'' The Pay-Off'' (1930) - Tommy Brown *'' Cimarron'' (1931) - Man Phoning Ambulance (uncredited) *'' The Right of Way'' (1931) - Billy Wantage *''

Girls Demand Excitement ''Girls Demand Excitement'' is a 1931 film starring Virginia Cherrill, John Wayne, and Marguerite Churchill. Wayne and Churchill had starred in the widescreen Western epic ''The Big Trail'' the previous year. The movie was written by Harlan Th ...

'' (1931) - Freddie *''Parents Wanted'' (1931, Short) * '' Meet the Wife'' (1931) - Gregory Brown *'' The Man Who Played God'' (1932) - First Boy *''

The Mouthpiece ''The Mouthpiece'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film starring Warren William and directed by James Flood and Elliott Nugent. It was produced and distributed by Warner Bros.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' ...

'' (1932) - John 'Johnny' Morris *''

Two Seconds ''Two Seconds'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Vivienne Osborne and Preston Foster. It was based on a successful Broadway play of the same name by Elliott Lester. The title ...

'' (1932) - College Boy at Execution *''

Crooner Crooner is a term used to describe primarily male singers who performed using a smooth style made possible by better microphones which picked up quieter sounds and a wider range of frequencies, allowing the singer to access a more dynamic range ...

'' (1932) - Pat - Band Member *''

A Successful Calamity ''A Successful Calamity'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring George Arliss, supported by Mary Astor and Evelyn Knapp. Based on the 1917 play ''A Successful Calamity'' by Clare Kummer, the film is ab ...

'' (1932) - Eddie Wilton *''

Under-Cover Man ''Under Cover Man'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by James Flood and starring George Raft and Nancy Carroll.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013, page 34. Plot Criminal Nick Darrow goes under ...

'' (1932) - Jimmy Madigan *'' The Iron Master'' (1933) - David Stillman *'' The Crime of the Century'' (1933) - Jim Brandt *''

Terror Aboard ''Terror Aboard'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Paul Sloane, written by Robert Presnell Sr., Manuel Seff and Harvey F. Thew, and starring John Halliday, Charlie Ruggles, Shirley Grey, Neil Hamilton, Jack La Rue, Verree Te ...

'' (1933) - Edward Wilson *''

Secret of the Blue Room ''The Secret of the Blue Room'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Lionel Atwill, Gloria Stuart, Paul Lukas and Edward Arnold. The film's plot concerns a group of wealthy people who stay at a Europe ...

'' (1933) - Thomas Brandt *'' King of the Wild Horses'' (1933) - Two Feathers *''

The World Changes ''The World Changes'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Paul Muni as an ambitious farm boy who becomes rich, but does not handle success well. Aline MacMahon and Mary Astor play his mother and wife r ...

'' (1933) - Orin Nordholm III *'' Should Ladies Behave'' (1933) - Geoffrey Cole *'' As the Earth Turns'' (1934) - Ollie *''

A Modern Hero ''A Modern Hero'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romance drama film starring Richard Barthelmess and directed by G. W. Pabst. It is based on the novel with the same title by Louis Bromfield. It was Pabst's only American talking film and the next ...

'' (1934) - Young Pierre Croy *''

A Successful Failure ''A Successful Failure'' is a 1934 American film directed by Arthur Lubin. It was Lubin's first film as director. There is no connection between the fictional radio personality "Uncle Dudley" in this film, and the 1935 comedy film ''Your Uncle ...

'' (1934) - Robert Cushing *'' Sweepstake Annie'' (1935) - Arthur Foster *''

The Great Hotel Murder ''The Great Hotel Murder'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Edmund Lowe, Victor McLaglen, Rosemary Ames and Mary Carlisle. It is based on ''Recipe for Murder'' a 1934 story by Vincent Starrett. The film stars ...

'' (1935) - Harry Prentice *'' Without Children'' (1935) - David Sonny Cole Jr. *''

Born to Gamble ''Born to Gamble'' (1935) is an American film directed by Phil Rosen and released by Republic Pictures. Plot Four brothers feel cursed by their family's gambling bug. All four try to overcome the addiction: only one, the youngest, is successful ...

'' (1935) - Fred Mathews *''

Bonnie Scotland ''Bonnie Scotland'' is a 1935 American film directed by James W. Horne and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was produced by Hal Roach for Hal Roach Studios. Although the film begins in Scotland, a large part of the action is set in British India. ...

'' (1935) - Allan Douglas *''

Sutter's Gold ''Sutter's Gold'' is a 1936 American Western film. It is a fictionalized version of the aftermath of the discovery of gold on Sutter's property, spurring the California Gold Rush of 1849. Edward Arnold plays John Sutter. The supporting cast inc ...

'' (1936) - John Sutter Jr. *''

Sitting on the Moon ''Sitting on the Moon'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ralph Staub and released by Republic Pictures. Plot Songwriter Danny West wakes up with an unknown woman in a taxi outside the film studio Regent Pictures Inc. where he wor ...

'' (1936) - Young Husband *''

Hopalong Cassidy Returns ''Hopalong Cassidy Returns'' (1936) is a Western film sequel starring William Boyd, the seventh of the "Hopalong Cassidy" westerns. This was the first of 13 Hopalong Cassidy movies in which Morris Ankrum starred with William Boyd. He also wa ...

'' (1936) - Buddy Cassidy *'' Clipped Wings'' (1937) - Mickey Lofton (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Janney, William 1908 births 1992 deaths American male film actors Male actors from New York City 20th-century American male actors