Will Wright

William Henry Wright (March 26, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an American actor. He was frequently cast in Westerns and as a curmudgeonly and argumentative old man. Over the course of his career, Wright appeared in more than 200 film and television roles.

Career Born in San Francisco, Wright worked as a newspaperman before beginning a career in show business. He started his acting career in vaudeville and later moved to the stage. Wright also worked in radio, appearing in more than 5,000 radio programs. His radio performances have included Zeb on Al Pearce and His Gang, George Honeywell in My Little Margie, Mahoney on Glamour Manor and the title character, Ephraim Tutt in The Amazing Mr. Tutt. He also guest starred on radio shows, such as The Man Called X, The Charlotte Greenwood Show and The Jack Benny Program (he later appeared on the television version of the program).

Wright made his west coast film debut in 1940 in Blondie Plays Cupid. In 1942, he provided the voice of Friend Owl in Walt Disney's animated film Bambi. Wright also had roles in Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) with William Powell and Myrna Loy, The Major and the Minor (1943) with Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland, So Proudly We Hail! (1943) with Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Veronica Lake, Road to Utopia (1946) with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, Mother Wore Tights (1947) with Betty Grable, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy, with Elizabeth Taylor, Walk Softly, Stranger (1950) with Joseph Cotten, Sunset in the West (1950) with Roy Rogers, People Will Talk (1951) with Cary Grant, The Happy Time (1952) with Charles Boyer, River of No Return (1954) with Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe, The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak, with Kim Novak, and Gunman's Walk (1958) with Van Heflin.

He portrayed Dolph Pillsbury in the Academy Award-winning picture, All the King's Men with Broderick Crawford.

During the 1950s, he guest-starred on several television series, including I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, William Frawley and Vivian Vance, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Where's Raymond?, The Bob Cummings Show, Our Miss Brooks, Mr. Adams and Eve, Father Knows Best with Robert Young and Jane Wyatt, The Millionaire, Circus Boy with Noah Beery Jr., Fury with Peter Graves, “Jeff’s Collie” (Lassie) in the episode “The Trial”, The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan, The Donna Reed Show, The Restless Gun with John Payne, Lawman with John Russell, Tales of Wells Fargo with Dale Robertson, and The Rough Riders with Kent Taylor and Jan Merlin. He even took a shift as Pete the fireman at the auxiliary fire station on Leave It to Beaver before Burt Mustin's Gus permanently replaced him.

Wright was cast in the 1958 episode "The Cave-In" episode of the syndicated series Rescue 8, starring Jim Davis and Canadian-born Lang Jeffries. He played an elderly man who attempts with shovel and bucket to build a backyard swimming pool for his grandchildren with disastrous results because of the lack of proper shoring.

In 1959, he was cast as J.C. Sickel in the episode, "Payment in Full" of the NBC western series, Riverboat, starring Darren McGavin. Also appearing in this episode were Aldo Ray as Hunk Farber, John Larch as Touhy, and Barbara Bel Geddes as Missy. In the story line, Farber betrays his friend and employer to collect reward money, which he uses to court his girlfriend, Missy.

From 1959 to 1961, Wright had recurring roles on NBC's Bat Masterson and CBS's Dennis the Menace. He also made multiple appearances on I Love Lucy, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Lone Ranger, Sugarfoot, December Bride, and Maverick.

Wright made three guest appearances on Perry Mason between 1959 and 1961. He first appeared as Chuck Clark in "The Case of the Petulant Partner", then as Adam Thompson in "The Case of the Nimble Nephew", and finally as James Vardon in "The Case of the Brazen Bequest".

In 1960, Wright appeared as Mr. Johnson on CBS's The Danny Thomas Show in the episode titled "Danny Meets Andy Griffith", the spin-off for The Andy Griffith Show. On The Andy Griffith Show, Wright portrayed department store owner and landlord Ben Weaver in three episodes from 1960 to 1962. After his death, he was replaced as Ben Weaver, first by Tol Avery, and then by Jason Johnson. Wright made his last onscreen appearances in a 1962 episode of NBC's Bonanza.

Death On June 19, 1962, aged 68, Wright died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1934 Pure Feud Lem Short, Uncredited, first role 1940 Blondie Plays Cupid Tucker 1941 Maisie Was a Lady Judge Thatcher Uncredited Blossoms in the Dust Texas Senator Cracked Nuts Sylvanus Boogle Richest Man in Town Frederick Johnson Honky Tonk Townsman at Meeting House Uncredited Mob Town Pawnbroker Nothing but the Truth Mr. Bart Prichard Shadow of the Thin Man Maguire - Nervous Ticket Seller The Tell-Tale Heart Second Deputy Sheriff Short, Uncredited 1942 Shut My Big Mouth Long Saboteur J.C. Lormans - Company Official Uncredited The Postman Didn't Ring Mr. Slade Tales of Manhattan Old Concertgoer (Laughton sequence), Uncredited Bambi Friend Owl Voice, Uncredited Wildcat John 'Paw' Smithers The Major and the Minor Ticket Agent #1 Uncredited USS VD: Ship of Shame Commandant Tennessee Johnson Alderman A Man's World Dan O'Driscoll 1943 The Meanest Man in the World Pawn Shop Owner Uncredited Submarine Alert Local Sheriff Cowboy in Manhattan Higgins The Good Fellows Brother from Danville Sleepy Lagoon Cyrus Coates So Proudly We Hail! Col. Clark Uncredited Minesweeper Naval Captain Here Comes Elmer Horace Parrot In Old Oklahoma Doctor Uncredited 1944 The Navy Way Baldy - Triangle A Ranch Hand You Can't Ration Love Judge Cary, Justice of the Peace Take It Big Rodeo Judge Wilson Hughes Campaign Orator in Maine The Town Went Wild Judge Harry Schrank Dangerous Passage Postal Clerk Practically Yours Sen. Cowling 1945 Grissly's Millions John Frey High Powered Jeff Hines Uncredited Salome Where She Danced Sheriff Rhapsody in Blue Rachmaninoff Bewitched Mr. Herkheimer You Came Along Col. Dale V. Armstrong Uncredited The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry Mr. Nelson State Fair Hog Judge The Loose Nut Bull Dozer Voice, Uncredited Scarlet Street Globe Loan Office Manager Uncredited 1946 The Madonna's Secret The RivermanRoad to UtopiaMr. LatimerUncredited The Hoodlum Saint Allan Smith - Times Editor Johnny Comes Flying Home Foreman Apple Andy The Devil Voice, Uncredited The Blue Dahlia 'Dad' Newell They Made Me a Killer Henry, the Blacksmith Uncredited Without Reservations Pullman Conductor One Exciting Week Otis PiperWho's Cookin' Who?Wolfie WolfVoice, Uncredited Hot Cargo Tim Chapman Rendezvous with Annie Elmer Snodgrass The Inner Circle Henry Boggs Down Missouri Way Prof. MorrisThe Reckless DriverWally WalrusVoice, Uncredited Lust for Gold Parsons Uncredited Brimstone Martin Tredwell Miss Grant Takes Richmond Roscoe Johnson Uncredited All the King's Men Dolph Pillsbury Adam's Rib Judge Marcasson Mrs. Mike Dr. McIntosh 1950 House by the River Inspector Sarten A Ticket to Tomahawk Marshal Kit Dodge The Savage Horde Judge Thomas Cole No Way Out Dr. Cheney Uncredited Sunset in the West Sheriff Tad Osborne Walk Softly, Stranger Jake, Poker Player Uncredited Dallas Judge Harper 1951 Vengeance Valley Mr. Willoughby My Forbidden Past Luther Toplady Alternative title: Carriage Entrance Excuse My Dust Race judge Never Trust a Gambler Cap Douglas Uncredited The Tall Target Thomas I. Ogden - Train Passenger People Will Talk Uncle John Higgins 1952 The Las Vegas Story Mike Fogarty Young Man with Ideas Party Guest Uncredited Paula Raymond Bascom Lydia Bailey Consul Uncredited Lure of the Wilderness Sheriff Brink Holiday for Sinners The Man with a Cigar O. Henry's Full House Manager (segment "The Clarion Call"), Uncredited The Happy Time Family Doctor 1953 Niagara Boatman The Last Posse Todd Mitchell The Wild One Art Kleiner 1954 River of No Return Trader Uncredited Johnny Guitar Ned - Bank Teller The Raid Josiah Anderson Willy Episode: "Operation Stocks" 1955 Lux Video Theatre Commodore Episode: "The Amazing Mrs. Halliday" The Lone Ranger Uncle Ed Andrews Episode: "Uncle Ed" Not as a Stranger Mr. Roberts Uncredited The Kentuckian John Decker - Shopkeeper The Tall Men Gus - Bartender The Man with the Golden Arm Harry Lane The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell Admiral William S. Sims The Bob Cummings Show Burt Mason Episode "Bob Becomes a Genius" 1955,1958 Fury Windy Episode" Ghost Town"Episode: "The Meanest Man" 1955,1960 The Danny Thomas Show Will FinchMr. Johnson Episode: "A Trip To WisconsinEpisode: "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" 1956 The Lone Ranger Marshal Griff Allison Episode: "No Handicap" Lassie Caleb Brown Episode: "The Trial" These Wilder Years Old Cab Driver 1957 Mr. Adams and Eve Calhern Episode: "They're Off and Running" The Iron Sheriff Judge The Wayward Bus Van Brunt Johnny Tremain Ephraim Lapham Jeanne Eagels Marshal Uncredited Casey Jones Ed Corley Episode: "Night Run" Maverick Jabe Hallock Episode: "Rope of Cards" 1958 The Restless Gun Jim Blackwell Episode: "Woman from Sacramento" The Restless Gun Hiram Grover Episode: "Hiram Grover's Strike" Trackdown Luke Wilson Episode: "The Toll Road" The Missouri Traveler Sheriff Peavy Leave It to Beaver Pete at Firehouse #7 Episode: "Child Care" Quantrill's Raiders Judge Gunman's Walk Judge Rock-A-Bye Baby Fire Chief Uncredited 1959 Rawhide Grandpa S2:E2, "Incident of Roman Candles" Alias Jesse James Titus Queasley The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock Pentagon General Perry Mason Chuck Clark Episode: "The Petulant Partner" 1959–1961 Dennis the Menace Mister Merrivale 1960 Mr. Lucky The Leadville Kid Episode: "The Leadville Kid Gang" The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Mr. Stewart Episode: "A Piano for the Fraternity" Inherit the Wind Bible Salesman Uncredited The Deputy Delaney Episode: "The Chain of Action" Perry Mason Adam Thompson Episode: "The Case of the Nimble Nephew" 1960–1962 Bonanza Micah BaileyWill ReaganSeth Coombs Episode: "Desert Justice"Episode: "The Fugitive"Episode: "The Mountain Girl", (final appearance) 1960–1962 The Andy Griffith Show Ben Weaver Episode: "Christmas Story"Episode: "Andy Forecloses"Episode: "The Merchant of Mayberry"1961 Rawhide Grandfather S4:E7, "The Black Sheep" Perry Mason James Vardon Episode: "The Case of the Brazen Bequest " The Donna Reed Show Oliver Episode: "Aunt Belle's Earrings" Mr. Ed Mister Thompson Episode: "Pine Lake Lodge" 77 Sunset Strip Luther Hanks Episode: "Mr. Goldilocks" The Tall Man Mayor Hackett Episode: "Death or Taxes" The Deadly Companions Doctor Acton Twenty Plus Two Newspaper Morgue Attendant Uncredited The Dick Van Dyke Show Mr. Petrie Sr, Rob's Father Episode "Empress Carlotta" (S1E12) Bat Masterson Billy Willow, an old timer cowboy Episode: "Bullwhacker’s Bounty" (S3E19) 1962 Cape Fear Dr. Pearsall Final Film Role