William Fawcett
"Pete Wilkey"



 

 

Born : William Fawcett Thompson

Date of birth
8 September 1894
Place : High Forest, Minnesota, USA

Date of death
25 January 1974

Married : Helene Krag from August 18, 1925 until his death in 1974. They were married in Minnetonka, MN

Children : none

William Fawcett Thompson was named after his father William Thompson a Methodist minister. He aquired his middle name from Dr. Fawcett, the doctor that delivered him when he was born. 

Bill was licensed to preach by authorization of the Hamline Quarterly Conference, Minnesota Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, September  5, 1916.   His father William Eaton Lawrence Thompson was a Methodist minister in the Minnesota Annual Conference and had expected Bill to follow in his footsteps.  But when Bill returned from World War I, he went into acting instead, first in Canada and then in the US.

His acting career started at a young age, beginning with Church dramas. He would portray the parts he played so convincingly that his mother would cry over his scary characterizations. He went on to do repertory theater and stock companies during the 20's and 30's.

Bill's name change came when he went to Hollywood and found there were several actors already with the name William Thompson. This is when he changed his name, using the stage name of William Fawcett.

Fawcett was in World War I, and served in an ambulance corp. unit that was organized by Hamlin University, where he graduated from. Fawcett was one of only two Americans that was decorated by the French Government with the French Medaille d'Honneur for his care of the wounded.



 

While teaching college courses, Fawcett was working on advanced degrees, and eventually earned a doctrate in Elizabthan Drama from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1936. He then became a Professor at Michigan State.

Bill loved teaching Drama, but he preferred doing it.
So in 1942, he left his teaching position and went to Hollywood. One of the first parts he auditioned for was a college professor. Bill didn't get the part, as they told him that was not the type.

For anyone who loved westerns, Fawcett was a regular. I remember picking him out on all the movies I watched, and TV shows, because he appeared at least once or twice on every TV western there was back then.
Bills first chances in films were in Westerns. The studios needed someone who could ride a horse, and that was something that Bill did very well. He appeared with such greats as Jon Hall, Lash Larue, Eddie Dean, and Gene Autry.

He had a major part in the serial Batman and Robin in 1949 were he played a scientist and inventor named Professor Hammond.

Bill had parts on other TV shows also, including I Love Lucy, Leave It To Beaver, Dragnet, and again appearing with his old time Fury pal Peter Graves on Mission Impossible, just to mention a few.

Bills got his big break at age 61 when he won the role of Pete Wilkey on the 50's TV series Fury, which he played on for five seasons.

After Fury's run was over, Bill could still be seen in western movies and TV shows. One of his  last being Menace On The Mountain a Walt Disney TV movie in 1970.

Bill passed away on January 25, 1974 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
of circulation problems. He is buried at Roselawn Cemetary, in St. Paul MN. His wife Helene past away a few years ago on June 17, 1997.

 

 



 

 

Movies

The Manhunter (1972) (TV)....Lorimer

Menace on the Mountain (1970) (TV)

Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) Tax Man

Gnome-Mobile, The (1967)
.... Greg The Chauffeur

Hostile Guns (1967) .... Jensen

Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966) .... Jensen, the pharmacist

Missile Base at Taniak (1966) (TV) (uncredited) .... Murphy, old-timer

"Kilroy" Walt Disney's Wonderful World Of Color (1965) playing "Mr. Poke".

King Rat (1965) .... Steinmetz

Quick Gun, The (1964) .... Mike

Gypsy (1962) (uncredited) .... Mr. Willis

Music Man, The (1962) .... Lester Lonnergan

Saintly Sinners (1962) .... Horsefly

Comancheros, The (1961) poker player (note: Both Fawcett and Roger Mobley appeared in this movie).

Claudelle Inglish (1961)
...aka Young and Eager

No Time for Sergeants (1958) .... Pa Stockdale

Go, Johnny, Go! (1958)

Good Day for a Hanging (1958) .... Farmer

Return of Dracula, The (1958) (uncredited) .... Eddie, the Station Master
... aka Curse of Dracula, The (1958)
... aka Fantastic Disappearing Man, The (1958) (UK)

Storm Rider, The (1957) .... Capt. Cruikshank

Band of Angels (1957)

Gun Glory (1957) (uncredited) .... Martin

Tijuana Story, The (1957) .... Alberto Rodriguez

Canyon River (1956) .... Jergens
... aka Cattle King (1956) (USA)

Dakota Incident (1956) .... Matthew Barnes

First Traveling Saleslady, The (1956) .... Old-timer

Proud Ones, The (1956) (uncredited) .... Driver

Pirates of Tripoli (1955) .... Beggar

"Fury" (1955) TV Series .... Pete
... aka "Brave Stallion" (1955) (USA: syndication title)

Lay That Rifle Down (1955) .... Wurpie

Seminole Uprising (1955) .... Cubby Crouch

Alaska Seas (1954) .... The Silversmith

Dawn at Socorro (1954) (uncredited)

Gang Busters (1954) .... Old Pickup Driver

Law vs. Billy the Kid, The (1954) .... Parsons

Riding with Buffalo Bill (1954) .... Rocky Ford

Yellow Mountain, The (1954) .... Old Prospector

Neanderthal Man, The (1953) .... Dr. Fairchild

Homesteaders, The (1953) .... Hector

"Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe" (1953) TV Series .... [Ep.4]
... aka "Commando Cody" (1953) (USA: short title)

Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders (1953) .... Murphy, old timer [Ch.1]

Run for the Hills (1953) .... Orin Hadley

Star of Texas (1953) .... Soapy

Montana Incident (1952)
... aka Gunsmoke Range (1952)

Barbed-Wire (1952) .... Uncle John Copeland

Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952) .... Dr. Rolph
... aka Blackhawk (1952) (USA: short title)

Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952) .... Caretaker

Jungle Jim In the Forbidden Land (1952) .... Old One

King of the Congo (1952) .... High Priest
... aka Mighty Thunda, The (1952)
... aka Thunda (1952)

Lion and the Horse, The (1952)

Oklahoma Annie (1952) .... Painter

Springfield Rifle (1952) (uncredited) .... Corporal Ramsey

Longhorn, The (1951)

Big Carnival, The (1951) (uncredited) .... Sad-Faced Man
... aka Ace in the Hole (1951)

Canyon Raiders (1951) .... Old-Timer Outside Saloon and Jail

Mating Season, The (1951) .... Mr. Tuttle

Captain Video (1951) .... Alpha

Cattle Queen (1951) .... Alkall
... aka Queen of the West (1951) (USA: alternative title)

Comin' Round the Mountain (1951) .... Old Mountain Man

Hills of Utah, The (1951) .... Washoe

Honeychile (1951) .... Ben Todd

Magic Carpet, The (1951) .... Ahkmid

Mysterious Island (1951) .... Mr. Jackson

Roar of the Iron Horse (1951) .... Rocky

Valley of Fire (1951)

Wanted: Dead or Alive (1951) (uncredited) .... Bartender Steve

Chain Gang (1950) .... Zeke

Cody of the Pony Express
(1950) .... Ezra

Pirates of the High Seas (1950) .... Wharton

State Penitentiary (1950) .... Bill Costello

Tyrant of the Sea (1950) .... Shawn O'Donnell, sailor

Barbary Pirate (1949) .... Ezra Fielding

Adventures of Sir Galahad, The (1949) .... Merlin

Batman and Robin (1949) .... Prof. Hammil
... aka Adventures of Batman and Robin, The (1949)
... aka Evening with Batman and Robin, An (1966/II) (USA: reissue title)
... aka New Adventures of Batman and Robin, The (1949)

Ride, Ryder, Ride! (1949) .... Judge

Roll, Thunder, Roll! (1949) .... Josh Culvert

Check Your Guns (1948) .... Judge Hammond

Superman (1948) .... Phoney News-hawker

Tioga Kid, The (1948) .... Tennessee

Green Dolphin Street (1947) .... Nat

Ghost Town Renegades (1947) .... Jonas Watson

Wild Country (1947)...as Joe a lawyer

High Wall (1947) (uncredited) .... Patient

Michigan Kid (1947)

Pioneer Justice (1947) .... Uncle Bob

Sea Hound, The (1947) .... Andre, the beachcomber

Driftin' River (1946) .... Tennessee

Stars Over Texas (1946) ...
Menace on the Mountain (1970) (TV)

Stars Over Texas (1946) ....... Judge Smith

 

TV Guest Appearances

 

"Virginian, The" (1962) playing "Hostler" in episode: "Last of the Comancheros" (episode # 9.12) 12/9/1970

"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Liveryman" in episode: "Judas Gun, The" (episode # 15.17) 1/19/1970

"Bonanza" (1959) "Check Rein" (episode # 9.12) 12/31/1967

"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Whiskey Smith" in episode: "Night Virginia City Died, The" (episode # 12.1) 1970

"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Old Prospector" in episode: "Man Called "Smith", A" (episode # 15.6) 10/27/1969

"Big Valley, The" (1965) playing "Coon" in episode: "Deathtown" (episode # 4.5) 10/28/1968

"I Dream of Jeannie" (1965) playing "Gas Station Attendant" in episode: "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?" (episode # 3.16) 1/16/1968

"Wild, Wild West, The" (1965) playing "Man" in episode: "Night of the Murderous Spring, The" (episode # 1.27) 4/15/1966

"Munsters, The" (1964) playing "Ralph" in episode: "Herman's Sorority Caper" (episode # 2.30) 4/14/1966

"Big Valley, The" (1965) playing "Jeb" in episode: "Earthquake!" (episode # 1.9) 11/10/1965

"Fugitive, The" (1963) playing "Mr. Burgess" in episode: "See Hollywood and Die" (episode # 1.8) 11/5/1965

"Petticoat Junction" (1963) playing "Pip Winslow" in episode: "Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Jinx?" (episode # 2.30) 5/4/1965

"Daniel Boone" (1964) in episode: "Short Walk to Salem, A" (episode # 1.8) 11/19/1964

"Virginian, The" (1962) in episode: "Return a Stranger" (episode # 3.10) 11/18/1964

"Rogues, The" (1964) in episode: "Project Man, The" (episode # 1.7) 11/1/1964

Shannon (1959)

"Lawman" (1958) as barber in episode "Mountain Man" episode #4.143) 3/25/62

"Lawman" (1958) as Billy Bright, in episode: "Warpath" (episode #1.19)2/8/59

 


"Wagon Train" (1957) in episode: "Whipping, The" (episode # 7.27) 3/23/1964

"Destry" (1964) in episode: "Solid Gold Girl, The" (episode # 1.1) 2/14/1964

"Temple Houston" (1963) playing "Billy Rogers" in episode: "Sam's Boy" (episode # 1.18) 1/23/1964

"Perry Mason" (1957) playing "Pawn Broker" in episode: "Case of the Wednesday Woman, The" (episode # 7.13) 1/2/1964

"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Turner" in episode: "Carter Caper" (episode # 9.8) 11/16/1963

"Dakotas, The" (1963) in episode: "Incident at Rapid City" (episode # 1.9) 3/4/1963

"Virginian, The" (1962) in episode: "Small Parade, The" (episode # 1.21) 2/20/1963

"Lawman" (1958) as John in episode: "The Catalog Lady" (episode #4.123) 11/5/1961

"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Hawkins" in episode: "Ash" (episode # 8.23) 2/16/1963
"Perry Mason" (1957) playing "Mr. Morescu" in episode: "Case of the Bluffing Blast, The" (episode # 6.14) 1/10/1963

"Wagon Train" (1957) in episode: "Abel Weatherly Story, The" (episode # 6.16) 1/2/1963

"Wagon Train" (1957) in episode: "John Bernard Story, The" (episode # 6.10) 11/21/1962

"Wagon Train" (1957) in episode: "Frank Carter Story, The" (episode # 5.34) 5/23/1962

"Maverick" (1957) in episode: "Poker Face" (episode # 5.6) 1/7/1962

"Investigators, The" (1961) in episode: "Dead End Man, The" 12/28/1961

"Cheyenne" (1955) in episode: "Winchester Quarantine" (episode # 6.1) 9/25/1961

"Cheyenne" (1955) in episode: "Frightened Town, The" (episode # 5.10) 3/20/1961

"Laramie" (1959) in episode: "License to Kill" (episode # 2.9) 11/22/1960

"Laramie" (1959) in episode: "Death Wind" (episode # 1.19) 2/2/1960

"Mr. Lucky" (1959) playing "Fisherman" in episode: "Two Million Dollar Window, The" (episode # 1.13) 1/16/1960

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958) in episode: "Monsters, The" (episode # 2.19) 1/16/1960

"Gunsmoke" (1955) playing "Packy Roundtree" in episode: "Box O' Rocks" (episode # 5.13) 12/5/1959

"Rawhide" (1959) in episode: "Incident of the Day of the Dead" (episode # 2.1) 9/18/1959

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958) in episode: "Littlest Giant" (episode # 1.34) 4/24/1959

"Maverick" (1957) in episode: "Gun-Shy" (episode # 2.16) 1/11/1959

"26 Men" (1957) in episode: "Wayward Gun" (episode # 1.36) 6/24/1958

"Restless Gun, The" (1957) in episode: "New Sheriff, The" (episode # 1.9) 11/18/1957

"Have Gun Will Travel" (1957) in episode: "Great Mojave Chase, The" (episode # 1.3) 9/28/1957

"Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The" (1954) playing "Marshall Higgins" in episode: "Courtship of Marshall Higgins, The" (episode # 4.2) 9/27/1957

"Circus Boy" (1956) in episode: "Man from Cimarron" (episode # 1.21) 3/3/1957

"Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The" (1954) playing "George Higgins" in episode: "Higgins' Last Stand" (episode # 3.17) 1/4/1957

"Annie Oakley" (1954) in episode: "Robin Hood Kid, The" (episode # 3.5) 7/1/1956

"You Are There" (1953) in episode: "Rescue of the American Prisoners from Santo Tomas (February 3, 1945), The" (episode # 4.4) 10/9/1955

"Buffalo Bill Jr" (1955) in episode: "Fight for Texas, The" (episode # 1.22) 7/27/1955

"Buffalo Bill Jr" (1955) in episode: "Legacy of Jesse James" (episode # 1.20) 6/23/1955

"Buffalo Bill Jr" (1955) in episode: "Lucky Horseshoe" (episode # 1.17) 5/27/1955

"Annie Oakley" (1954) in episode: "Diablo Doctor" (episode # 2.10) 3/13/1955

"Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The" (1954) in episode: "Rin Tin Tin and the Ancient Mariner" (episode # 1.10) 12/17/1954

"Annie Oakley" (1954) playing "Tom Jennings" in episode: "Tomboy, The" (episode # 2.2) 7/17/1954

"Annie Oakley" (1954) in episode: "Bull's Eye" (episode # 1.21) 5/29/1954

"Annie Oakley" (1954) in episode: "Hardrock Trail, The" (episode # 1.13) 4/3/1954

"Annie Oakley" (1954) in episode: "Ambush Canyon" (episode # 1.5) 2/6/1954

The Gene Autry Show (1951) .... Crazy Charley
"Ghost Town Raiders" Episode: #2.1 - 6 October 1951

The Gene Autry Show (1951) .... Sheriff Bailey
"Silver Dollars" Episode: #2.3 - 20 October 1951

The Gene Autry Show (1951) .... Frank Graham
"The Kid Comes West" Episode: #2.10 - 8 December 1951

The Gene Autry Show (1952) .... Jim Ford
"Rock River Feud" Episode: #2.16 - 18 January 1952

The Gene Autry Show (1953) .... Old John Turner
"Thunder Out West" Episode: #3.1 - 14 July 1953

The Gene Autry Show (1953) .... The Mayor
"Bandidos" Episode: #3.8 - 1 September 1953

The Gene Autry Show (1953) .... The Game Warden
"Cold Decked" Episode: #3.10 - 15 September 1953

The Gene Autry Show (1954).... Steve Harper, driver
"Johnny Jackeroo" Episode: #4.2 - 13 July 1954

The Gene Autry Show (1954) .... Pop Wallace
"Holdup" Episode: #4.3 - 20 July 1954

The Gene Autry Show (1954).... Grandpa Jim Decker 
"Talking Guns"  Episode #4.6 - 10 August 1954

The Gene Autry Show (1954) .... Hank, the stagecoach driver
"Hoodoo Canyon" Episode  #4.7 - 17 August 1954

The Gene Autry Show (1954) .... Slim, a carnival worker
"The Carnival Comes West" Episode: #4.8 - 24 August 1954

Hopalong Cassidy  (1952) .... Mr. Todd
"The Promised Land" Episode: #1.11 - 10 December 1952

Hopalong Cassidy  (1954) .... Tom McLean
"The Renegade Press" Episode: #2.13 - 1 January 1954

The Loretta Young Show (1953) in episode: "Reasonable Doubt" 12/13/54

"Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1951) in episode: "Hands Across the Border" (episode # 4.10) 11/15/1953

"Cowboy G-Men" (1952) in episode: "Mysterious Decoy" (episode # 1.16) 1/3/1953

"Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (1951) in episode: "Photographer Story" (episode # 3.8) 3/17/1952

"Adventures of Kit Carson, The" (1951) playing "Tom Phillips" in episode: "Fury at Red Gulch" (episode # 1.12) 10/27/1951

"Range Rider, The" (1951) in episode: "Last of the Pony Express" (episode # 1.20) 1951

"Range Rider, The" (1951) in episode: "Diablo Posse" (episode # 1.19) 1951

 

No part of this page may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means --electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise.  These pictures may not be posted on any websites, newsgroups, or bulletin boards, electronic or otherwise. Biography ©2002MarleneSmith

 

 

Copyright©1997-1998-1999-2000-2001-2002-2003 Broken Wheel  Ranch
All Rights Reserved
Jete' Web Designs

Any copyrighted images, words, sounds, logos, video, or company names that appear on this site are the property of their respective owners and are being used for entertainment and educational purposes only. Duplication of any photos or information from this website is strictly prohibited.

 

Show Information

Cast
Episode Guide

Collectibles

Memorabilia
Page 2
Page 3

Biographys

Fury
Bobby Diamond
Peter Graves
Jimmy Baird
Roger Mobley
Ann Robinson

Home

Listed Since 2000 - Fansites.com Link Directory