William Tannen profile
Actor profile

William Tannen

17th November 1911 New York City, New York, USA Acting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Tannen (November 17, 1911 – December 2, 1976) was an American actor originally from New York City, who was best known for his role of Deputy Hal Norton in fifty-six episodes from 1956 to 1958 of the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian as Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp. Tannen was also cast as Gyp Clements in the 1955 episode "The Buntline Special" of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Beginning on September 11, 1956, in the second season of the series, with the setting moved from Wichita to Dodge City, Kansas, Tannen filled the Hal Norton role. His earliest episodes were "Fight or Run", "The Double Life of Dora Hand" and "Clay Allison", the latter two based on historical figures, the saloon singer and actor Dora Hand and the gunfighter Clay Allison. Some of his appearances were uncredited. His last credited role was "Doc Holliday Rewrites History" (May 6, 1958), with Myron Healey as the frontier gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday. His last uncredited roles aired thereafter in May and June 1958, "Dig a Grave for Ben Thompson", based on the historical figure Ben Thompson played by Denver Pyle, "Frame-up", and "My Husband". He was cast as Ike Clanton, not on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, but in the 1964 episode "After the OK Corral" of the syndicated western anthology series, Death Valley Days. Jim Davis portrayed Wyatt Earp in this particular episode. Tannen appeared twice, one role uncredited in Davis' earlier syndicated western series, Stories of the Century, including the role of Dutch Charlie in "Milt Sharp", the story of the stagecoach robber Milt Sharp.

135 Movies 24 TV Shows 161 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Batman poster
Batman 30th July 1966 as American Delegate (uncredited)
Touch of Evil poster
Touch of Evil 30th March 1958 as Marcia Linnekar's Attorney (uncredited)
Top Gun poster
Top Gun 1st December 1955 as Torchy (uncredited)
Flat Top poster
Flat Top 26th October 1952 as Commander (uncredited)
Convicted poster
Convicted 1st August 1950 as Prison Guard (uncredited)
Abandoned poster
Abandoned 26th October 1949 as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Cynthia poster
Cynthia 29th August 1947 as Dingle Clerk (Uncredited)
Our Old Car poster
Our Old Car 11th June 1946 as Officer Donahue (uncredited)
The Great Morgan poster
The Great Morgan 1st January 1945 as Officer Donohue (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dark Shadows poster
Dark Shadows 16th December 1944 as McKay's Assistant (uncredited)
Main Street Today poster
Main Street Today 25th March 1944 as Department of Transportation Representative (uncredited)
Cairo poster
Cairo 17th August 1942 as Mechanic at the pyramid (uncredited)
Two-Faced Woman poster
Two-Faced Woman 31st December 1941 as Missing Couple-Skier Searcher (uncredited)
Love Crazy poster
Love Crazy 23rd May 1941 as Sanitarium Attendant (uncredited)
Gallant Sons poster
Gallant Sons 15th November 1940 as Spath, a Gangster (uncredited)
Wyoming poster
Wyoming 13th September 1940 as Sgt. Reynolds
Boom Town poster
Boom Town 30th August 1940 as Hotel Desk Clerk #1 (uncredited)
Fury poster
Fury 5th June 1936 as Governor's Aide (uncredited)
Speed poster
Speed 8th May 1936 as Intern Attending Terry
Gunsmoke poster
Gunsmoke 10th September 1955 as John Hirschbeck