William McCall (May 19, 1870 – January 10, 1938), was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 190 films between 1918 and 1938. He was born in

Delavan, Illinois Delavan is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. Its population was 1,689 in the 2010 census. It is a part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Delavan was founded by a group of settlers from New England. T ...

, and died in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

. McCall acted on stage before he began working in film for

Vitagraph Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

. During his early film activity he was credited as Billy McCall, and he performed primarily in comic roles in farces, including ''Huns and Hyphens'' (1918) and ''Frauds and Frenzies'' (1918). Later, as William McCall, he acted in serials and Westerns. He continued in films through the introduction of sound, ending his career in 1937.

Selected filmography

* ''

Huns and Hyphens The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD. According to European tradition, they were first reported living east of the Volga River, in an area that was part ...

'' (1918) * ''

Bears and Bad Men ''Bears and Bad Men'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Stan Laurel. Cast * Larry Semon as Larry Cutshaw * Madge Kirby as The Slawson Daughter * Stan Laurel as Pete * William McCall as Stranded acto ...

'' (1918) * '' Frauds and Frenzies'' (1918) * '' Smashing Barriers'' (1919) * ''

Flower of the North ''Flower of the North'' is a surviving 1921 American silent northwoods drama film directed by David Smith and produced and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. It starred Henry B. Walthall and Pauline Starke and is based upon the no ...

'' (1921) * ''

Where Men Are Men ''Where Men Are Men'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by William Duncan and starring Duncan, Edith Johnson and George Stanley.Rainey, p. 46. Cast * William Duncan as Vic Foster * Edith Johnson as Eileen ''aka'' 'Princess' * ...

'' (1921) * '' The Flower of the North'' (1921) * '' The Little Minister'' (1922) * ''

Fortune's Mask ''Fortune's Mask'' is a 1922 American drama film starring Earle Williams and featuring Oliver Hardy. It is unknown whether any print of the film survives; it may be a lost film. Plot Cast * Earle Williams as Ramón Olivarra (aka Dicky Malone ...

'' (1922) *'' Across the Border'' (1922) * ''

The Counter Jumper ''The Counter Jumper'' is a 1922 American film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. It is a remake of the 1919 film ''The Grocery Clerk'', which was also directed by Semon. The film was screened at the Museum of Modern Art in 200 ...

'' (1922) * '' The Snowshoe Trail'' (1922) * ''

The Fighting Guide ''The Fighting Guide'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by William Duncan and starring Duncan, Edith Johnson and Harry Lonsdale.Connelly, p. 347. Cast * William Duncan as Ned Lightning * Edith Johnson as Ethel MacDonald * Ha ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Angel of Crooked Street ''The Angel of Crooked Street'' is a 1922 American silent crime drama film directed by David Smith and starring Alice Calhoun, Ralph McCullough and William McCall.Connelly p.13 Synopsis Jennie Marsh, a young woman working as a maid is unjustl ...

'' (1922) * ''

When Danger Smiles ''When Danger Smiles'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by William Duncan and starring Duncan, Edith Johnson and James Farley.Langman, p. 503 Cast * William Duncan as Ray Chapman * Edith Johnson as Frania Caravelle * James F ...

'' (1922) * '' The Phantom Horseman'' (1924) * ''

Wanted by the Law ''Wanted by the Law'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring J.B. Warner, Jay Morley and William McCall.Langman, p. 490 Cast * J.B. Warner as Jim Loraine * Jay Morley as Bill Baxter * William Mc ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Back Trail ''The Back Trail'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by George Marshall and Clifford Smith and starring Jack Hoxie, Eugenia Gilbert and Al Hoxie.Langman, p. 17 Cast * Jack Hoxie as Jeff Prouty * Al Hoxie as The Tramp * Eugeni ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Red Rider ''The Red Rider'' is a 1934 American Western film serial from Universal Pictures and starring Buck Jones. It has 15 chapters based on the short story "The Redhead from Sun Dog" by W. C. Tuttle, and is a remake of Buck Jones' earlier 1931 film '' ...

'' (1925) * ''

Ridin' Thunder ''Ridin' Thunder'' is a 1925 American silent Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, ...

'' (1925) * ''

Flirty Four-Flushers ''Flirty Four-Flushers'' is a 1926 comedy silent film produced by Mack Sennett and starred by Eddie Cline and Billy Bevan. Carl Harbaugh wrote the reelers of the film. It was distributed by Pathé. It was released on December 26, 1926. ''Pea ...

'' (1926) * ''

His First Flame ''His First Flame'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film starring Harry Langdon and directed by Harry Edwards. Additional cast members include Natalie Kingston, Ruth Hiatt, Vernon Dent, and others. Plot The story tells of Harry Howells ( ...

'' (1927) * ''

Trailing Trouble ''Trailing Trouble'' is a 1930 American Western film directed by Arthur Rosson, written by Harold Tarshis, and starring Hoot Gibson. It was released on March 23, 1930, by Universal Pictures. The title was also seen as ''Trailin' Trouble''. C ...

'' (1930) * '' Under Texas Skies'' (1930) * '' The Lonesome Trail'' (1930) * '' Hidden Valley'' (1932) * ''

Circle Canyon ''Circle Canyon'' is a 1933 American Western film directed by Victor Adamson and starring Buddy Roosevelt, June Mathews and Clarissa Woods.Pitts, p. 4. Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Chris Morell * June Mathews as Clara Moore * Clarissa ...

'' (1933) * '' Breed of the Border'' (1933) * ''

Big Calibre ''Big Calibre'' is a 1935 American Western film produced by Supreme Pictures and directed by Robert N. Bradbury. It premiered on March 8, 1935. The film features Bob Steele as Bob O'Neill, a stockgrower who, seeking vengeance for his murdered ...

'' (1935) * ''

The Last of the Clintons ''The Last of the Clintons'' is a 1935 American western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Harry Carey, Betty Mack and Victor Potel. It was the last film released by the Poverty Row studio Ajax Pictures before it closed down.Pitts p.1 ...

'' (1935) *''

Lightning Triggers ''Lightning Triggers'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby and starring Reb Russell, Yvonne Pelletier and Fred Kohler.Pitts p. 212-13 Plot Cast * Reb Russell as Reb Russell * Yvonne Pelletier as Marion * Fred Kohl ...

'' (1935) * '' The Speed Reporter'' (1936)

References

External links

* 1870 births 1938 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors People from Delavan, Illinois Male Western (genre) film actors {{US-film-actor-1870s-stub