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William Tannen

William Tannen

Birthday: 1911-11-17 | Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA

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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1960
Noose for a Gunman

as    Willetts

1954
Sitting Bull

as    O'Connor

1954
The Golden Idol

as    Sergeant Reed

1952
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land

as    'Doc' Edwards

1952
Road Agent

as    Toll Gate Guard

1951
Insurance Investigator

as    1st Hood

1951
Roaring City

as    Ed Gannon

1951
A Yank in Korea

as    Lt. Lewis

1950
Pygmy Island

as    Kruger

1950
Riders of the Range

as    Trump Dixon

1944
Dark Shadows

as    McKay's Assistant (uncredited)

1942
Nazi Agent

as    Ludwig

1941
The Big Store

as    Fred Sutton

1940
Flight Command

as    Lieut. Freddy Townsend

1934
My Grandfather's Clock

as    Ronny Belvedere