William Tracy

{{Short description|American actor (1917–1967)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Use American English|date=August 2022}} {{other people}} {{Refimprove|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = William Tracy | image = William Tracy in Tanks a Million.jpg | caption = Tracy in ''Tanks a Million'' (1941) | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|12|01|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|07|18|1917|12|01|mf=yes}} | death_place = Hollywood, California, U.S. | resting_place = Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1925–1964 }}

'''William Tracy''' (December 1, 1917 – July 18, 1967) was an American character actor.

==Early life and career== Tracy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.{{Citation needed |date=September 2024}}

He is perhaps best known for the role of Pepi Katona, the delivery boy, in ''The Shop Around the Corner'' (1940). He starred in the John Ford film ''Tobacco Road'' (1941), and appeared in ''Brother Rat'' (1938) and Alfred Hitchcock's ''Mr. and Mrs. Smith'' (1941).

In 1940, Tracy began a recurring role as Sgt. Dorian "Dodo" Doubleday in eight films teamed with Joe Sawyer as Sgt. Ames, the first six for Hal Roach's Streamliners service comedies, beginning with ''Tanks a Million'' (1941). This B-movie comedy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical Score.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1942 | title=The 14th Academy Awards – 1942 | publisher=Oscars.org | accessdate=November 30, 2016}}</ref> In 1942, he starred alongside Randolph Scott, John Payne and Alan Hale Jr in ''To the Shores of Tripoli''. Then back again as Sgt Doubleday for two more at Hal Roach studios and the last two were for Lippert Pictures, concluding with ''Mr. Walkie Talkie'' (1952) being set during the Korean War.

In the 1950s, Tracy primarily did television work, where his most notable role was "Hotshot Charlie" in the 1953 series ''Terry and the Pirates''. He previously played the lead role of Terry Lee in the 1940 serial with the same title.

On the June 14, 1951 episode of the radio series ''Suspense,'' ''The Truth About Jerry Baxter'', the 33-year-old Tracy played the title character, a teenage marijuana addict. The episode claimed to be drawn from actual events, but is more like a radio version of ''Reefer Madness.''{{Citation needed |date=September 2024}}

He was married to actress Lois James from 1945-1954.

Tracy died in Hollywood, California, at the age of 49.<ref>{{Cite web|title=William Tracy|url=https://www.rusc.com/old-time-radio/William-Tracy.aspx?t=1406|access-date=2021-11-11|website=www.rusc.com}}</ref> He is interred in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.<ref>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.</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |rowspan=2 | 1938|| ''Brother Rat'' || Misto Bottome || |- | ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' || Jerry - as a Boy || |- |rowspan=3 | 1939|| ''The Jones Family in Hollywood'' || Danny Regan || |- | ''Million Dollar Legs'' || Egghead Jackson || |- | ''The Amazing Mr. Williams'' || Messenger Boy || uncredited |- |rowspan=4 | 1940|| ''The Shop Around the Corner'' || Pepi Katona || |- | ''Terry and the Pirates'' || Terry Lee || serial |- | ''Strike Up the Band'' || Phillip Turner || |- | ''Gallant Sons'' || 'Beefy' Monrose || |- |rowspan=7 | 1941|| ''Mr. and Mrs. Smith'' || Sammy || |- | ''Tobacco Road'' || Dude Lester || |- | ''Her First Beau'' || Mervyn Roberts || |- | ''She Knew All the Answers'' || Benny || |- | ''Tillie the Toiler'' || Mac || |- | ''Tanks a Million'' || 1st Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday || |- | ''Cadet Girl'' || The Runt, a Cadet || |- |rowspan=6 | 1942|| ''Hay Foot'' || rowspan="3"| Staff Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday || |- | ''About Face'' || |- | ''Fall In'' || |- | ''Young America'' || Earl Tucker, alias Ivan Leslie || |- | ''To the Shores of Tripoli'' || Johnny Dent || |- | ''George Washington Slept Here'' || Steve Eldridge || |- |1943|| ''Yanks Ahoy'' || Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday || |- |rowspan=2 | 1948|| ''Here Comes Trouble'' || Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday || |- | ''The Walls of Jericho'' || Cully Caxton || |- |1949|| ''Henry, the Rainmaker'' || Charlie Richards || |- |1950|| ''One Too Many'' || Billy Leighton || |- |rowspan=2 | 1951|| ''Sunny Side of the Street'' || Al Little || |- | ''As You Were'' || Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday || |- |1952|| ''Mr. Walkie Talkie'' || Sgt. Doubleday || |- |1957|| ''The Wings of Eagles'' || Air Officer || uncredited |- |1959|| ''-30-'' || Unnamed Writer || |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0870454}} * {{IBDB name}} * {{Find a Grave|7981463}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tracy, William}} Category:1917 births Category:1967 deaths Category:American male stage actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Male actors from Pittsburgh Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players