William Tracy

William Tracy (December 1, 1917 – July 18, 1967) was an American character actor.

Early life and career Tracy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He is perhaps best known for the role of Pepi Katona, the delivery boy, in The Shop Around the Corner (1940). He starred in the John Ford film Tobacco Road (1941), and appeared in Brother Rat (1938) and Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941).

In 1940, Tracy began a recurring role as Sgt. Dorian "Dodo" Doubleday in eight films teamed with Joe Sawyer as Sgt. Ames, the first six for Hal Roach's Streamliners service comedies, beginning with Tanks a Million (1941). This B-movie comedy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical Score. In 1942, he starred alongside Randolph Scott, John Payne and Alan Hale Jr in To the Shores of Tripoli. Then back again as Sgt Doubleday for two more at Hal Roach studios and the last two were for Lippert Pictures, concluding with Mr. Walkie Talkie (1952) being set during the Korean War.

In the 1950s, Tracy primarily did television work, where his most notable role was "Hotshot Charlie" in the 1953 series Terry and the Pirates. He previously played the lead role of Terry Lee in the 1940 serial with the same title.

On the June 14, 1951, episode of the radio series Suspense, The Truth About Jerry Baxter, the 33-year-old Tracy played the title character, a teenage marijuana addict. The episode claimed to be drawn from actual events, but is more like a radio version of Reefer Madness.

He was married to actress Lois James from 1945 to 1954.

Tracy died in Hollywood, California, at the age of 49. He is interred in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1938 Brother Rat Misto Bottome Angels with Dirty Faces Jerry - as a Boy 1939 The Jones Family in Hollywood Danny Regan Million Dollar Legs Egghead Jackson The Amazing Mr. Williams Messenger Boy uncredited 1940 The Shop Around the Corner Pepi Katona Terry and the Pirates Terry Lee serial Strike Up the Band Phillip Turner Gallant Sons 'Beefy' Monrose 1941 Mr. and Mrs. Smith Sammy Tobacco Road Dude Lester Her First Beau Mervyn Roberts She Knew All the Answers Benny Tillie the Toiler Mac Tanks a Million 1st Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday Cadet Girl The Runt, a Cadet 1942 Hay Foot Staff Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday About Face Fall In Young America Earl Tucker, alias Ivan Leslie To the Shores of Tripoli Johnny Dent George Washington Slept Here Steve Eldridge 1943 Yanks Ahoy Sergeant 'Dodo' Doubleday 1948 Here Comes Trouble Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday The Walls of Jericho Cully Caxton 1949 Henry, the Rainmaker Charlie Richards 1950 One Too Many Billy Leighton 1951 Sunny Side of the Street Al Little As You Were Sgt. Dorian 'Dodo' Doubleday 1952 Mr. Walkie Talkie Sgt. Doubleday 1957 The Wings of Eagles Air Officer uncredited1959 -30- Unnamed Writer