Guinn Williams (actor)
Encyclopedia
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (April 26, 1899 – June 6, 1962) was an American
actor who appeared in memorable western
s such as Dodge City
(1939), Santa Fe Trail
(1940), and The Comancheros
(1961). He was nicknamed "Big Boy" as he was 6' 2" and muscular from years of working on ranches and playing semi-pro and pro baseball.
Williams made his screen debut in the 1919 comedy, Almost A Husband, opposite Will Rogers
and Cullen Landis
and was featured in a large supporting role ten years later in Frank Borzage
's Lucky Star with Janet Gaynor
and Charles Farrell
. Throughout the 1920s Williams would have a string of successful films, mostly westerns.
He then starred in The Great Meadow alongside Johnny Mack Brown
, which was Brown's breakout film. Throughout the 1930s, Williams acted in several supporting roles, mostly in westerns, sports, or outdoor dramas. Although not the lead actor in any of them, he was always employed, and was successful as a supporting actor. He often played alongside Hoot Gibson
and Harry Carey
during that period. In 1941, he became one of many actors cast by Universal Pictures
in their large film series, Riders of Death Valley
.
His father, Guinn Williams Sr
, represented the 13th Texas Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives
from 1922 to 1932. Williams was frequently teamed with Alan Hale, Sr.
as sidekicks to Errol Flynn
in several of his pictures. In 1960, he was cast in the epic film The Alamo
and in Home from the Hill
with Robert Mitchum
. His last role was opposite his close friend John Wayne
and Stuart Whitman
in The Comancheros
.
He was married to three actresses, the first being silent film actress Kathleen Collins. For a time, he was married to B-movie
actress Barbara Weeks
. His last wife was Dorothy Peterson, whom he first met in the 1940s.
Williams died unexpectedly of uremic poisoning on June 6, 1962, aged 63.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who appeared in memorable western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
s such as Dodge City
Dodge City (1939 film)
Dodge City is a 1939 American Western film starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland and Bruce Cabot. Directed by Hungarian-turned-Hollywood filmmaker Michael Curtiz and based on a story by Robert Buckner, it was filmed in early Technicolor...
(1939), Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail (film)
Santa Fe Trail is a 1940 western film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The film was one of the top-grossing films of the year, being the seventh Flynn-de Havilland collaboration. The film also has nothing to do with its namesake, the famed Santa Fe Trail...
(1940), and The Comancheros
The Comancheros
The Comancheros is a 1961 western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz and John Wayne based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. When health troubles prevented Curtiz from finishing the film, Wayne directed the remainder of the movie, though...
(1961). He was nicknamed "Big Boy" as he was 6' 2" and muscular from years of working on ranches and playing semi-pro and pro baseball.
Williams made his screen debut in the 1919 comedy, Almost A Husband, opposite Will Rogers
Will Rogers
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer, film actor, and one of the world's best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s....
and Cullen Landis
Cullen Landis
Cullen Landis was an American motion picture actor and director whose career began in the early years of the silent film era.-Biography:...
and was featured in a large supporting role ten years later in Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage was an American film director and actor.-Biography:Frank Borzage's father, Luigi Borzaga, was born in Ronzone, in 1859. As a stonemason, he sometimes worked in Switzerland; he met his future wife, Maria Ruegg , where she worked in a silk factory...
's Lucky Star with Janet Gaynor
Janet Gaynor
Janet Gaynor was an American actress and painter.One of the most popular actresses of the silent film era, in 1928 Gaynor became the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in three films: Seventh Heaven , Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans and Street Angel...
and Charles Farrell
Charles Farrell
Charles Farrell was an American film actor of the 1920s silent era and into the 1930s, and later a television actor...
. Throughout the 1920s Williams would have a string of successful films, mostly westerns.
He then starred in The Great Meadow alongside Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
, which was Brown's breakout film. Throughout the 1930s, Williams acted in several supporting roles, mostly in westerns, sports, or outdoor dramas. Although not the lead actor in any of them, he was always employed, and was successful as a supporting actor. He often played alongside Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
and Harry Carey
Harry Carey
Harry Carey was an American actor and one of silent film's earliest superstars. He was the father of Harry Carey Jr., who was also a prominent actor.-Early life and career:...
during that period. In 1941, he became one of many actors cast by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
in their large film series, Riders of Death Valley
Riders of Death Valley
Riders of Death Valley is a Universal movie serial. It was a high budget serial with an all-star cast led by Dick Foran and Buck Jones...
.
His father, Guinn Williams Sr
Guinn Williams (Texas politician)
Guinn Williams was a U.S. Representative from Texas.Born near Beuela, Mississippi, Williams moved with his parents to Texas and settled in Decatur, Wise County, in 1876.He attended the public schools....
, represented the 13th Texas Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1922 to 1932. Williams was frequently teamed with Alan Hale, Sr.
Alan Hale, Sr.
Alan Hale, Sr. was an American movie actor and director, most widely remembered for his many supporting character roles, in particular as frequent sidekick of Errol Flynn. His wife of over thirty years was Gretchen Hartman , a child actress and silent film player and mother of their three children...
as sidekicks to Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
in several of his pictures. In 1960, he was cast in the epic film The Alamo
The Alamo (1960 film)
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic released by United Artists. The film was directed by John Wayne, who also starred as Davy Crockett. The cast also includes Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B...
and in Home from the Hill
Home from the Hill (film)
Home from the Hill is a 1960 film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Robert Mitchum, Eleanor Parker, George Peppard, George Hamilton, Everett Sloane, and Luana Patten....
with Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
. His last role was opposite his close friend John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and Stuart Whitman
Stuart Whitman
Stuart Maxwell Whitman is an American actor.Stuart Whitman is arguably best-known for playing Marshal Jim Crown in the western television series Cimarron Strip in 1967...
in The Comancheros
The Comancheros
The Comancheros is a 1961 western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz and John Wayne based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. When health troubles prevented Curtiz from finishing the film, Wayne directed the remainder of the movie, though...
.
He was married to three actresses, the first being silent film actress Kathleen Collins. For a time, he was married to B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
actress Barbara Weeks
Barbara Weeks
Barbara Weeks was an actress of the 1930s. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, Weeks entered into acting through her participation in the Ziegfeld Follies...
. His last wife was Dorothy Peterson, whom he first met in the 1940s.
Williams died unexpectedly of uremic poisoning on June 6, 1962, aged 63.