Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
January 23, 1878
Died
November 3, 1949 (age 71)
Place of Birth
Horseheads, New York, USA
Also Known As
William Mannion
The King of the Silent Serials
Bill Desmond
William Desmond
Biography
Starting out in dramatic parts, Desmond soon switched to westerns and action serials, and became a major western star. When the sound era began Desmond was almost 50 years old, and was soon relegated to supporting roles.
16 Silent Film Celebrities & the William Desmond Taylor Case
VideoKnown For
Film
Tall in the Saddle
Townsman (uncredited)
1944
Film
Whitewashed Walls
Larry Donovan
1919
Film
Phantom of the Opera
Stagehand (uncredited)
1943
Film
No Defense
John Harper
1929
Film
Naughty Marietta
Gendarme Chief (uncredited)
1935
Film
First Aid
Chief of Police
1931
Film
Phantom Lady
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1944
Film
Crack-Up
Police Chief
1934
Film
Hello, 'Frisco
William Desmond
1924
Film
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Gower Gulch Cowboy (uncredited)
1943
Film
The Criminal
Donald White
1916
Film
The Pretender
Bob Baldwin
1918
Film
The Vanishing Shadow
MacDonald
1934
Film
Flash Gordon
Hawkman Lookout Captain
1936
Film
Hell-Bent for Frisco
The Editor
1931
Film
The Naughty Nineties
Showboat Customer (uncredited)
1945
Film
The Mummy's Ghost
Museum Tourist (uncredited)
1944
Film
Trail Street
Townsman (uncredited)
1947
Film
No Children
Self
1929
Film
Straight Through
Good Deed O'Day
1925
Filmography
1956FilmSavage Furyas Allen1947FilmThunder Mountainas Townsman (uncredited)1947FilmThe Egg and Ias Spectator at Country Dance (Uncredited)1947FilmCode of the Westas Settler (uncredited)1947FilmTrail Streetas Townsman (uncredited)1946FilmDesert Commandas Capt. Boncour1945FilmStrange Confessionas Peanut Vendor (uncredited)1945FilmThe Naughty Ninetiesas Showboat Customer (uncredited)1945FilmThe Return of the Durango Kidas Street Ambusher (uncredited)1944FilmHi, Beautifulas Passenger (uncredited)1944FilmThe Climaxas Backstage Technician (Uncredited)1944FilmTall in the Saddleas Townsman (uncredited)1944FilmThe Mummy's Ghostas Museum Tourist (uncredited)1944FilmPhantom Ladyas Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)1943FilmThank Your Lucky Starsas Gower Gulch Cowboy (uncredited)1943FilmPhantom of the Operaas Stagehand (uncredited)1943FilmThe Lone Star Trailas Bartender Mike1943FilmCheyenne Roundupas Pete1942FilmOverland Mailas Williams - Banker1942FilmThe Silver Bulletas Townsman1942FilmDown Rio Grande Wayas Townsman1941FilmBury Me Not on the Lone Prairieas Bartender1941FilmWhere Did You Get That Girl?as Tourist1940FilmJunior G-Menas Irish Cop (uncredited)1940FilmThe Boys from Syracuseas Citizen1940FilmWinners of the Westas Bill Brine1937FilmTim Tyler's Luckas Dock Official1936FilmHeadin' for the Rio Grandeas Mr. Mack (cattle buyer)1936FilmSong of the Gringoas Bailiff1936FilmThe Vigilantes Are Comingas Anderson, Vigilante Member1936FilmHollywood Boulevardas Pago Pago Patron (uncredited)1936FilmTreachery Rides the Rangeas Bill1936FilmFlash Gordonas Hawkman Lookout Captain1936FilmSong of the Saddleas Tim1936FilmThe Adventures of Frank Merriwellas Captain of the 'Viking'1936FilmThe Broken Coin1936FilmCuster's Last Standas Wagon Master1935FilmFrisco Kidas Vigilante Hangman (uncredited)1935FilmTailspin Tommy in The Great Air Mysteryas Foreman Burke1935FilmPowdersmoke Rangeas Happy - Bartender1935FilmCourage of the Northas Gene Travis1935FilmThe Roaring Westas Jim Parker1935FilmSocial Erroras Policeman1935FilmThe Call of the Savageas Allen1935FilmThe Ghost Rideras Guard1935FilmCyclone of the Saddleas Wagon Master1935FilmThe Cowboy and the Banditas Sheriff Pete1935FilmBorn to Battleas John Brownell1935FilmNaughty Mariettaas Gendarme Chief (uncredited)1935FilmWild Watersas Sheriff Manning1935FilmTimber Terrorsas Royce Horter1935FilmRustlers of Red Dogas Ira Dale [Chs. 1-4, 6, 10-12]1934FilmWhen Lightning Strikesas Marshal Jack Stevens1934FilmFrontier Daysas Sheriff Barnes1934FilmThe Way of the Westas 'Cash' Horton (as Wm. Desmond)1934FilmThe Red Rideras Sheriff Campbell1934FilmI Can't Escapeas Parole Officer Donovan1934FilmCrack-Upas Police Chief1934FilmThe Vanishing Shadowas MacDonald1934FilmThe Rawhide Terroras Tom Blake1934FilmBorder Gunsas Dr. Jim Wilson1934FilmPirate Treasureas Capt. Jim Carson1933FilmFargo Expressas Sheriff Joe Thompson1933FilmPerils of Paulineas Prof. Thompson1933FilmStrawberry Roanas Colonel Brownlee1933FilmMr. Broadwayas 1st Suitor (archive footage)1933FilmGordon of Ghost Cityas John Mulford1933FilmLaughing at Lifeas Military Cabinet Officer1933FilmThe Phantom of the Airas Thomas Edmonds1933FilmThe Three Musketeersas Capt. Boncour1933FilmThe Rustler's Roundupas San Dimas Sheriff Holden1933FilmClancy of the Mountedas Dave Moran1932FilmA Scarlet Week-End1932FilmJungle Mysteryas John Morgan1932FilmThe Last Frontieras General Custer1932FilmHeroes of the Westas John Blaine1931FilmBattling with Buffalo Billas John Mills1931FilmThe Lightning Warrioras Townsman (uncredited)1931FilmOklahoma Jimas Lacy1931FilmHell-Bent for Friscoas The Editor1931FilmFirst Aidas Chief of Police1931FilmThe Vanishing Legionas Milesburg Sheriff1930FilmThe Phantom of the Westas Martin Blair1929FilmNo Defenseas John Harper1929FilmNo Childrenas Self1928FilmThe Mystery Rideras Winthrop Lane / The Mystery Rider1928FilmThe Devil's Trademarkas Morgan Gray1928FilmThe Vanishing Rideras Jim Davis / The Vanishing Rider1927FilmThe Return of the Riddle Rideras Randolph Parker / The Riddle Rider1926FilmThe Strings of Steelas Ned Brown1925FilmThe Ace of Spadesas Dan Harvey1925FilmThe Meddleras Richard Gilmore1925FilmThe Burning Trailas Smiling Bill Flannigan1925FilmRed Clayas Chief John Nisheto1925FilmDupedas John Morgan1925FilmStraight Throughas Good Deed O'Day1925FilmBarriers of the Lawas Rex Brandon1925FilmRidin' Prettyas Sky Parker1925FilmOutwittedas Jack Blaisdel1924FilmThe Riddle Rideras Randolph Parker / The Riddle Rider1924FilmThe Sunset Trailas Happy Hobo1924FilmThe Measure of a Manas John Fairmeadow1924FilmHello, 'Friscoas William Desmond1924FilmBig Timberas Walter Sandry1924FilmThe Breathless Momentas Billy Carson1923FilmThe Extra Girlas Himself1923FilmBeasts of Paradiseas Phil Grant1923FilmShadows of the Northas Ben 'Wolf' Darby1923FilmMcGuire of the Mountedas Bob McGuire1923FilmThe Phantom Fortuneas Larry Barclay1923FilmAround the World in 18 Daysas Phineas Fogg III1922FilmNight Life in Hollywoodas Self1922FilmPerils of the Yukonas Jack Merrill Sr. / Jack Merrill Jr.1921FilmFightin' Madas Bud McGraw1921FilmThe Policeman and the Babyas The Policeman1921FilmThe Child Thou Gavest Meas Tom Marshall1921FilmThe Parish Priestas Reverend John Whalen1921FilmWomen Men Loveas David Hunter1920FilmTwin Bedsas Harry Hawkins1919FilmThe Prince and Bettyas John Maude1919FilmThe Blue Bandannaas Jerry Jerome1919FilmA Sage Brush Hamletas Larry Lang1919FilmBare-Fisted Gallagheras 'Bare-Fisted' Gallagher1919FilmThe Mints of Hellas Dan Burke1919FilmWhitewashed Wallsas Larry Donovan1919FilmHer Code of Honoras Eugene La Salle1919FilmLife's a Funny Propositionas Jimmie Pendleton1918FilmThe Pretenderas Bob Baldwin1918FilmAn Honest Manas Benny Boggs1918FilmSociety for Saleas Honorable Billy1918FilmThe Marriage Bubbleas The Actor1918FilmCaptain of His Soulas Horace1917FilmThe Sudden Gentlemanas Garry Garrity1917FilmMarried in Name Only1917FilmFlying Colorsas Brent Brewster1917FilmMaster of His Homeas Carson Stewart1917FilmPaws of the Bearas Ray Bourke1917FilmPaddy O'Haraas Paddy O'Hara1917FilmThe Last of the Ingramsas Jules Ingram1917FilmThe Iced Bulletas The Author / Horace Lee1916FilmA Gamble in Souls1916FilmThe Criminalas Donald White1916FilmThe Dawn Makeras Bruce Smithson1916FilmBullets and Brown Eyesas Prince Carl1916FilmPeggyas Rev. Donald Bruce1915FilmPeer Gyntas The Parson1915FilmThe Majesty of the Lawas Jackson Morgan Kent1915FilmKilmenyas Bob Meredith1904FilmThe Sign of the Cross