William O'Connell (actor)
William O'Connell was an American film and television actor.
Biography
O'Connell was born in Los Angeles on May 12, 1929. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War with the 45th Infantry Division.
O'Connell worked often with Clint Eastwood, with whom he first appeared in the 1969 musical Paint Your Wagon. In 1972, O'Connell was cast as a nervous barber in Eastwood's second directorial effort, High Plains Drifter, released the following year. In 1976, O'Connell appeared as ferryman Sim Carstairs in The Outlaw Josey Wales, also directed by Eastwood. O'Connell's other roles include portrayals in Every Which Way but Loose and its sequel Any Which Way You Can, where he played a member of a comically inept biker gang constantly being outmatched by Eastwood.
In addition to his film career, O'Connell was very active on TV throughout the 1960s and '70s, appearing in about 50 different roles on such series such as Star Trek, Rawhide, Petticoat Junction, Dennis the Menace and ''Quincy, M.E.''
Death
O'Connell died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on January 15, 2024, at the age of 94.
Selected filmography
20,000 Eyes – Appraiser Womanhunt The Wheeler Dealers – Paid Weeper Dennis the Menace - Senate secretary The Outer Limits - Art SummersThe War Lord – Volunteer rejected by Chrysagon Do Not Disturb – Cecil Graves Way... Way Out – PonsonbyIt's a Bikini World – McSniggThe Big Mouth – Psychiatrist Games – Party Guest #1Star Trek, in "Journey to Babel" – ThelevPetticoat Junction, in "All Sales Final" – Mr. AgnewThe Sweet Ride – Beach Resident Ice Station Zebra – SurvivorHook, Line & Sinker – Hotel Clerk Paint Your Wagon – Horace TaborThe Happy Ending – MinisterGreen Acres, in "A Tale of a Tail" – Hotel ClerkWhich Way to the Front? – Mr. Prescott Scandalous John – Men's Store ClerkThe Culpepper Cattle Co. – Bartender in PiercetownHigh Plains Drifter – the BarberBlack Eye – MinisterBig Bad Mama – Crusade PreacherThe Outlaw Josey Wales – Sim CarstairsEvery Which Way but Loose – Elmo Any Which Way You Can – Elmo Stewardess School – Attorney