Nook NotesPick a film
W

Actor

William J. O'Brien

Born January 31, 1884 in Massachusetts, USADied February 14, 195371 films

Start here

The best way into William J. O'Brien's work
Gun Crazy posterFirst watchGun Crazy19507.4as Customer at Sharpshooting Act (uncredited)Bart Tare, an ex-Army man who has a lifelong fixation with guns, meets a kindred spirit in sharpshooter Annie Starr and goes to work at a carnival alongside her.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
The Set-Up poster7.4The Set-Up1949The Blue Dahlia poster6.7The Blue Dahlia1946Woman on the Run poster6.8Woman on the Run1950The Bank Dick poster6.5The Bank Dick1940Holiday Affair poster6.9Holiday Affair1949This Land Is Mine poster7.1This Land Is Mine1943I Wake Up Screaming poster6.9I Wake Up Screaming1941Dance, Girl, Dance poster6.4Dance, Girl, Dance1940

Filmography

71 films as actor
  1. 1952Everything I Have Is YoursPasserby on Street (Uncredited)
  2. 1952Horizons WestBarfly (uncredited)
  3. 1952O. Henry's Full HouseHotel Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call") (uncredited)
  4. 1952Something to Live ForBar Customer (uncredited)
  5. 1951I'll See You in My DreamsWaiter (uncredited)
  6. 1951The RacketCounterman / Short Order Cook (uncredited)
  7. 1951You Never Can TellAndrew Lindsay (uncredited)
  8. 1951RoadblockWaiter (uncredited)
  9. 1951Hard, Fast and Beautiful!Bartender (uncredited)
  10. 1951Follow the Sun
  11. 1950Gambling HouseStage Manager (uncredited)
  12. 1950FrenchieTownsman (uncredited)
  13. 1950Woman on the RunWaiter at Sullivan's Grotto (uncredited)
  14. 1950OutrageMan Drawing Shade in Window (uncredited)
  15. 1950Born to Be BadBartender at Charity Ball (uncredited)
  16. 1950The Underworld StoryTownsman on Street / In Coffee Shop (uncredited)
  17. 1950The Secret FuryWedding Guest (uncredited)
  18. 1950Gun CrazyCustomer at Sharpshooting Act (uncredited)
  19. 1950Woman in HidingBus Passenger (uncredited)
  20. 1949Holiday AffairPeanut Vendor (uncredited)
  21. 1949A Dangerous Profession
  22. 1949Dancing in the DarkWaiter at Party
  23. 1949The ThreatStage Doorman (uncredited)
  24. 1949Easy LivingVendor Eating Hot Dog (uncredited)
  25. 1949It's a Great FeelingSaloon Waiter (uncredited)
  26. 1949The Set-UpPitchman (uncredited)
  27. 1949The AccusedPolice Detective (uncredited)
  28. 1948Joe Palooka in Winner Take AllFight Spetator
  29. 1948The Noose Hangs HighPasserby (uncredited)
  30. 1947They Won't Believe MeJuror / Man at Piano Concert (uncredited)
  31. 1947IvyBailiff (uncredited)
  32. 1947Trail StreetBarfly (uncredited)
  33. 1946The LocketWaiter at Bonner's Party (uncredited)
  34. 1946Badman's TerritoryMan in Barber Chair (uncredited)
  35. 1946The Blue DahliaMan at Cavendish Apartments (uncredited)
  36. 1946Deadline at DawnMan (uncredited)
  37. 1945Johnny AngelBartender (uncredited)
  38. 1945The Falcon in San FranciscoTrain Passenger (uncredited)
  39. 1945What, No CigarettesCigarette Customer
  40. 1945Flame of Barbary CoastWaiter
  41. 1944The Invisible Man's RevengeBettor in Pub (uncredited)
  42. 1943Happy LandChris (uncredited)
  43. 1943Crazy HouseBald Man
  44. 1943Gildersleeve's Bad DayJuror (uncredited)
  45. 1943This Land Is MineNight Switchman
  46. 1941I Wake Up ScreamingMan hosing sidewalk (uncredited)
  47. 1941Tom, Dick and HarryBartender (uncredited)
  48. 1940The Bank DickTownsman Onlooker (uncredited)
  49. 1940Phantom of ChinatownExtra in Audience at Benton's Lecture
  50. 1940Triple JusticeTim - Proprietor
  51. 1940Dance, Girl, DanceBurlesk House Spectator (uncredited)
  52. 1940Stage to ChinoTownsman in Saloon (uncredited)
  53. 1940Mexican SpitfireParty Waiter
  54. 1939Lucky NightCasino Gambler (uncredited)
  55. 1939ZenobiaBarker
  56. 1939Silver on the SageCard Player
  57. 1938Tarnished AngelExtra Sitting Next to Cramer at Two Meetings
  58. 1938Fugitives for a NightBald Gambler
  59. 1938Night SpotCounterman at Diner
  60. 1937Portia on TrialJuror
  61. 1937The Great O'MalleyMan Whistling in Hospital Zone (uncredited)
  62. 1936Great GuyMeat Clerk (Uncredited)
  63. 1936Hopalong Cassidy ReturnsSandy the Bartender
  64. 1936Mister SmartySecond Floor Polisher
  65. 1936The Bridge of SighsJuror (uncredited)
  66. 1933Lilly TurnerMan at Carnival (uncredited)
  67. 1932Mr. BrideMusician
  68. 1932The SoilersBald Juror (uncredited)
  69. 1931War MamasHeinrich, General's Aide (uncredited)
  70. 1931Hell BoundBilmey
  71. 1929The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu