Dave Willock


David Willock was an American character actor. He appeared in 181 films and television series from 1939 to 1979.

Biography

Born in 1909, Willock began his professional career in vaudeville in 1931, teaming with his boyhood friend Jack Carson in a comedy song and dance routine. For a time in the mid-1930s, he was a reporter and editor for a Milwaukee newspaper. He first appeared on screen in Good Girls Go to Paris, in an uncredited bit part.
He teamed with Carson again when Carson invited him to write for his radio show; Willock wrote and played the part of Carson's nephew Tugwell on The Jack Carson Show from 1943 to 1949. Willock and Cliff Arquette had their own radio and television shows in the early 1950s. Both versions were called Dave and Charley; the radio version was heard circa 1950, but the television version of it was on the air for only three months in early 1952.He appeared on television in S2 E15 of "Wanted:Dead or Alive" as Jethro Dane in "Chain Gang" which aired 12/10/1959.
In the 1961–1962 season, he played Harvey Clayton, father of the 1920s teenager Margie Clayton, portrayed by Cynthia Pepper in ABC's Margie. He appeared on an episode of Dragnet as an ex-vaudevillean who is cheated out of $9,000 that he found on a sidewalk. In 1966, he had an uncredited role as the bartender in the Elvis Presley vehicle Frankie and Johnny. Willock is probably most familiar to modern audiences from his performance as Baby Jane Hudson's father in the opening scenes of the cult classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. He appeared in two episodes of The Cara Williams Show with Cara Williams in 1964 and 1965 and played seven different characters on CBS's Green Acres with Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, mostly portraying clerks or elevator operators.
Willock did voice acting for animated series, such as the offscreen narrator on Wacky Races and as father Augustus "Gus" Holiday on The Roman Holidays. Willock appeared in a classic 1970 television commercial for "The Great American Soups", directed by American satirist Stan Freberg, alongside tap-dancing star Ann Miller.

Death

Willock died of complications due to a stroke on November 12, 1990, at the age of 81. He is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery. For his contribution to the television industry, Willock has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6358 Hollywood Boulevard.

Selected filmography

Three Texas Steers – Hotel Desk Clerk S.O.S. Tidal Wave – Page Good Girls Go to Paris – Student Blondie Takes a Vacation – Hotel Desk Clerk Golden Boy – Arena Call Boy Three Sons – Stock Boy Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – Senate Guard Little Accident – Attendant Legion of Lost Flyers – Blinky, the RadiomanThe Amazing Mr. Williams – Bellboy Brother Rat and a Baby – Talking Cadet in Trouble Granny Get Your Gun – The Timid Driver Honeymoon Deferred – Steward Framed – News Photographer Black Friday – Student Too Many Husbands – Elevator Operator Argentine Nights – Steward Honeymoon for Three – Hotel Porter The Monster and the Girl – Charlie, Photographer Mr. District Attorney – Hypo A Shot in the Dark – Elevator Operator The People vs. Dr. Kildare – Father She Knew All the Answers – Messenger BoyCaught in the Draft – Colonel's Orderly Cracked Nuts – Radio Technician Never Give a Sucker an Even Break – Assistant Director Johnson Great Guns – Recruit at Target Practice Niagara Falls – Bellboy The Chocolate Soldier – Messenger Boy with Flowers Louisiana Purchase – Bellhop Hellzapoppin' – Orchestra Trombone Player Playmates – Tommy The Fleet's In – Sailor Frisco Lil – Jamison, Law Student The Mad Doctor of Market Street – Band Leader The Male Animal – Student in Bookstore To the Shores of Tripoli – Sailor in Car Two Yanks in Trinidad – Messenger This Time for Keeps – Soda Jerk Take a Letter, Darling – Proprietor's Son Sunday Punch – Milkman Yankee Doodle Dandy – Stage Manager, 'Peck's Bad Boy' The Affairs of Martha – Milkman Wings for the Eagle – Slim Priorities on Parade – Push GasperFlying Tigers – Jim's Aide For Me and My Gal – Elevator Operator Lucky Jordan – Angelo PalacioYou Were Never Lovelier – Hotel Acuña Bellboy Ice-Capades Revue – Guide Over My Dead Body – SailorThe Hard Way – Tommy, Bellhop Dixie Dugan – Phil He Hired the Boss – Sailor She Has What It Takes – Cab Driver Action in the North Atlantic – Convoy Speaker Let's Face It – Barney HilliardPrincess O'Rourke – Delivery Boy The Gang's All Here – Sergeant Pat CaseyFour Jills in a Jeep – Heckling Soldier Pin Up Girl – Dud MillerWing and a Prayer – Ensign Hans JacobsonShe's a Sweetheart – WesBring on the Girls – Sailor It's a Pleasure – Elevator Man It's in the Bag! – Stratosphere Balcony Usher Pride of the Marines – Red This Love of Ours – Dr. DaileySpellbound – Bellboy Joe Palooka, Champ – Mr. RodneyThe Runaround – Hubert 'Billy' WillisThe Searching Wind – Harry, Male NurseThe Fabulous Dorseys – FoggyStork Bites Man – LesterState of the Union – Pilot So This Is New York – Willis GilbeySealed Verdict – Stockade Desk SergeantChicago Deadline – PigNo Man of Her Own – Jimmy Baker Belle of Old Mexico – Tommy MayberryLouisa – Joe Collins, Cab DriverCall Me Mister – Chet in Skit Let's Go Navy! – Algernon HobenockerDarling, How Could You! – Usher Roadblock – Airport Clerk A Girl in Every Port – Seaman McGonegal Love Is Better Than Ever – Davey Just This Once – Caddie Ralph Roberts Rodeo – Jet Job – RippleThe Merry Widow – Marshovian Attache Just for You – Lunch Counter Man Battle Zone – SmittyFlat Top – WillieMa and Pa Kettle on Vacation – Franklin Remains to Be Seen – Driver It Came from Outer Space – Pete Davis Roar of the Crowd – Buster SandsHalf a Hero – Taxi Driver Revenge of the Creature – Lou GibsonThe Delicate Delinquent – Police Cadet William C. Goerner The Buster Keaton Story – Joe KeatonQueen of Outer Space – Lieutenant Mike CruzeThe Geisha Boy – GI in Korea Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Frank Voss Ten Seconds to Hell – Peter TilligWanted Dead or Alive (TV series)