William Demarest

  1. Frank Faylen, It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946.
  2. Oscar Levant, O Henry’s Full House, 1952.    Nunnally Johnson and Charles Lederer adapted the short story, Ransom of Red Chief, to suit Demarest and Clifton Webb after the collapse of the original duo, Levant and Fred Allen, fell apart.  The tale was cut from the sprightly collection of five O Henry short stories. (It was put back for the TV screenings in the 60s). Given the film had just four stories, New York Times critic Bosley Crowther argued that the title should have been… O Henry’s Four of a Kind.
  3. Walter Brennan, Rio Bravo, 1958. .
  4. Edmond O’Brien, The Wild Bunch, 1968.

 Birth year: 1892Death year: 1983Other name: Casting Calls:  4