William Hudson (actor)
William Woodson Hudson Jr. (January 24, 1919 - April 5, 1974) was an American actor best remembered for the role of Ranger Clark in Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and the role of Special Agent Mike Andrews in the Emmy Award nominated spy drama I Led Three Lives.[1]
William Hudson | |
---|---|
Born | William Woodson Hudson Jr. January 24, 1919 Gilroy, California, United States |
Died | April 5, 1974 55) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States | (aged
Other names | Bill Hudson |
Years active | 1943-1971 |
History
After appearing uncredited in over a dozen movies Hudson got his break in 1951's Hard, Fast and Beautiful. He appeared in a few other movies and TV shows before being cast as Special Agent Mike Andrews in I Led Three Lives. In 1954, while also still doing I Led Three Lives, Hudson was cast in the television serial Rocky Jones, Space Ranger as Ranger Clark. After his stint as Clark on Rocky Jones Hudsons parts started to be more in the genres of Science fiction, Fantasy, and Monster movies, especially the latter with starring roles in such films as The She Creature, The Amazing Colossal Man and, perhaps most famously, as the husband in 1958's cult classic Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. In 1964 he was cast as the doomed first Captain of the Seaview, John Phillips, in the pilot episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. In 1965 he was back on Voyage as a different character in an episode infamous among fans of the series due to its heavy use of archive footage from the pilot episode (specifically a scene with Hudson and Richard Basehart leaving the Nelson Institute, being chased and attacked by a helicopter and which ended with the death of Hudson's character and the car going off a cliff aflame)[2] giving him the dubious honour of being the only person "killed" on that show twice. In 1966 he was cast as a reporter in the second part of the first Television appearance of Mr. Freeze in a first-season episode of Batman titled "Rats Like Cheese".[3] From then on he had several small parts in various movies and TV shows, his last part being Mr. Dunn in 1971's How's Your Love Life?.
He died at age 55 on April 5, 1974 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California from cirrhosis. He was survived by his twin brother, actor John Hudson.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1943 | The Cross of Lorraine | French Soldier | Film role, Uncredited |
1943 | Destination Tokyo | 'Copperfin' Intercom Man | Film role, Uncredited |
1944 | The Impostor | Pilot | Film role, Uncredited |
1944 | Weird Woman | Second Gossiping Male Student | Film role, Uncredited |
1945 | Objective, Burma! | Fred Hollis | Film role, Uncredited |
1945 | Over 21 | Officer Candidate | Film role, Uncredited |
1945 | Pride of the Marines | Joe - Soldier in Hospital | Film role, Uncredited |
1946 | Lover Come Back | Worker at Styles Inc. | Film role, Uncredited |
1949 | The Lady Gambles | Horse Player | Film role, Uncredited |
1949 | The Red Menace | Passerby at Protest | Film role, Uncredited |
1949 | Task Force | Lt. Leenhouts | Film role, Uncredited |
1949 | Sands of Iwo Jima | Marine | Film role, Uncredited |
1950 | Father Makes Good | Thompson | Film role, Uncredited |
1951 | Hard, Fast and Beautiful | Intern | Film role |
1951 | Let's Go Navy! | Aide #1 | Film role, Uncredited |
1951 | Starlift | Joe - Crew Chief | Film role, Uncredited |
1952 | The Steel Trap | Raglin, Bank Teller #2 | Film role |
1954 | Trader Tom of the China Seas | James Dean | Film role, Uncredited |
1954 | The High and the Mighty | Reporter | Film role, Uncredited |
1954 | Rocky Jones, Space Ranger | Ranger Clark | TV Series, Guest role |
1954 | The Silver Chalice | Soldierin Chase | Film role, Uncredited |
1955 | Strategic Air Command | Forecaster | Film role, Uncredited |
1955 | The Eternal Sea | Communication Officer | Film role, Uncredited |
1955 | Air Strike | Lt. John Smith | Film role |
1955 | Mister Roberts | Olson | Film role |
1955 | The McConnell Story | Soldier in Office | Film role, Uncredited |
1956 | The Killer Is Loose | Detective on Stakeout | Film role, Uncredited |
1956 | The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit | Paratrooper | Film role, Uncredited |
1956 | The She-Creature | Bob, the ex-fiancé | Film role |
1956 | The Wrong Man | Police Lieutenant from 110th Precinct | Film role, Uncredited |
1957 | Battle Hymn | Navy Lieutenant | Film role |
1957 | The Man Who Turned to Stone | Dr. Jess Rogers | Film role |
1957 | Band of Angels | Officer | Film role, Uncredited |
1957 | Man of a Thousand Faces | David Anderson, Reporter | Film role, Uncredited |
1957 | The Amazing Colossal Man | Dr. Paul Linstrom | Film role |
1957 | My Man Godfrey | Howard | Film role |
1953-1957 | I Led Three Lives | Special Agent Mike Andrews | TV Series, Recurring role on series |
1958 | Darby's Rangers | Operator | Film role, Uncredited |
1958 | Attack of the 50 Foot Woman | Harry Archer | Film role |
1958 | The Naked and the Dead | Major | Film role, Uncredited |
1958 | The Saga of Hemp Brown | Young Lieutenant | Film role, Uncredited |
1958 | The Last Hurrah | Votes Tallyman | Film role, Uncredited |
1954-1958 | Death Valley Days | Lester Allen Pelton / Elias Jackson Baldwin / Steve McIntyre | TV Series, 3 episodes |
1960 | Bells Are Ringing | Party Guest | Film role, Uncredited |
1960 | The Great Impostor | FBI Man | Film role, Uncredited |
1962 | Moon Pilot | Space Flight Technician | Film role, Uncredited |
1963 | My Six Loves | Reporter | Film role, Uncredited |
1965 | Bus Riley's Back in Town | Country Club Bartender | Film role, Uncredited |
1964-1965 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Different guest roles | TV Series, 2 episodes |
1966 | Moment to Moment | Officer | Film role, Uncredited |
1966 | The Oscar | Film role, Uncredited | |
1967 | The Reluctant Astronaut | Fireman | Film role, Uncredited |
1970 | Airport | Mr. Donovan - Passenger | Film role, Uncredited |
1971 | How's Your Love Life? | Mr. Dunn | Film role |
References
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045397/awards Awards list for I Led Three Lives at IMDb.com
- http://www.iann.net/voyage/voy2.htm EPISODE GUIDE, section EPISODE 43 - "The X-factor" (December 5, 1965)
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0519498/ Rats Like Cheese at IMDb.com