William Steele (actor)


William Anton Gittinger, best known as William Steele, was an American actor of small roles in Westerns, particularly those of John Ford.

Biography

Although his screen credits and many records indicate a wide variety of names and spellings, Steele's own signatures on his military documents indicate that he was born William Anton Gittinger on March 28, 1888 in San Antonio, Texas. Little is known of his life prior to his arrival in Los Angeles around 1910. As the film industry in Hollywood was just blossoming, and as he apparently had great experience with horses, Steele easily obtained work in quickie Westerns. He fought in Europe in World War I, then returned to Hollywood. While he was extremely inconsistent in the names he used, he worked consistently in Westerns throughout the silent era and up until the 1950s. His final appearance was as the wounded posse member Nesby in Ford's The Searchers in 1956, his tenth film for Ford. He died ten years later, not quite 78 years old. He was survived by his wife Josephine, an actress. He is buried under his birth name at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Stage names

  • Billy Gettinger
  • Bill Gettinger
  • William Gettinger
  • William Gittenger
  • Bill Steele
  • Robert Steele
  • W.A. Steele
  • William A. Steele
  • William Steuer
  • William Steele

Partial filmography

The Ring of Destiny - The Cattle RustlerA Knight of the Range - BurkBlood Money - Dan BeckhamThe Bad Man of Cheyenne - The SheriffHer Own People -Polsa KarThe Outlaw and the Lady - The SheriffGoin' Straight - Sheriff Dan BekhamThe Fighting Gringo - JimHair-Trigger Burke - The SheriffA 44-Calibre Mystery - Deputy Sheriff HortonThe Mysterious Outlaw - Henry MartinThe Golden Bullet - Crazy Creek SheriffThe Wrong Man - Larry MaloneSix-Shooter Justice - Mike HernandezThe Soul Herder - Bill YoungCheyenne's Pal - CowboyThe Texas Sphinx - Dick LonaganThe Secret Man - The ForemanA Marked Man - SheriffBucking Broadway - Buck HooverThe Phantom Riders - Dave BlandThe Misfit Wife - Duff SimpsonThe Stranger - Dr. TykeThe Avenging Arrow - Don Carlos MartinezThe Wallop - Christopher FoyRiding with Death - Chick DillonPardon My Nerve! - Nebraska JonesThe Fast Mail - Pierre La FitteBells of San Juan - Kid RickardSingle Handed - Windy SmithDead Game - Sam AntoneDon Quickshot of the Rio Grande - Bill BartonShootin' for Love - Dan HobsonHit and Run - The GopherThe Sunset Trail - Brand WilliamsThe Last Man on Earth - Hattie's FatherThe Ridin' Kid from Powder River - 'Lightnin' Bill SmithThe Hurricane Kid - Lafe BaxterThe Saddle Hawk - Steve KernLet 'er Buck - Kent CrosbyDon Dare Devil - Benito MenocalThe Sagebrush Lady - Sheriff MartinAce of Spades - Jim HeathTwo-Fisted Jones - Hank GageUnder Western Skies - FlemingA Six Shootin' Romance - Currier KingThe Flaming Frontier - PenfieldThe Fighting Peacemaker - Clell DanertThe Wild Horse Stampede - Charlie ChampionThe Ridin' Rascal The Runaway Express - Blackie McPhersonRough and Ready - Morris ManningLoco Luck - Frank LambertThe Valley of Hell - James BradyWhispering Sage - Tom KildareRange Courage - Tex LucasHoof Marks - Sam TrappThe Fearless Rider - Dr. Lucifer BladeThe Call of the Heart - Dave CrenshawThunder Riders - Lem DawsonThe Black Ace The Lone Star Ranger - First DeputyDoughboys - Lieutenant RandolphFlaming Guns - Rustler The California Trail - PedroKing of the Arena - Gordon of Ghost City - Bob Laughing Boy - Guide The Vanishing Shadow - Henchman The Red Rider - Townsman Rocky Rhodes - Cowhand When a Man Sees Red - Henchman SpeckFor the Service - Henchman Marie Antoinette - Footman The Westerner - Tex Cole The Outlaw - Deputy San Antonio - Roper Two Guys from Texas - Townsman She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Officer Colt.45 - Henchman The Showdown - TerryCopper Canyon - Roper The Searchers - Nesby