Willis Bouchey


Willis Ben Bouchey was an American character actor.
Bouchey may be best known for his movie appearances in The Horse Soldiers, The Long Gray Line, Sergeant Rutledge, Two Rode Together, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Big Heat, Pickup on South Street, No Name on the Bullet, and Suddenly. He also made uncredited appearances in From Here to Eternity, How the West Was Won, Them!, Executive Suite, and A Star Is Born, and appears briefly in Frank Capra's comedy Pocketful of Miracles.

Radio

On old-time radio, Bouchey played the title role in Captain Midnight, Charles Williams in Kitty Keene, Inc., Stanley Bartlett in Midstream, and Pa Barton in The Story of Bud Barton. He was also a member of the ensemble cast of Your Parlor Playhouse.

Television

Bouchey was a member of Jack Webb's Dragnet stock company, appeared in five episodes and was billed variously as "Willis Bouchey", "William Bouchey", "Willis Buchet," or "Bill Bouchey." He appeared as a sheep trader in the title 1958 episode "Cash Robertson" of the NBC children's western series, Buckskin. In 1960 to 1961, he was cast twice in the ABC sitcom, Harrigan and Son, and four times in the role of Springer in the CBS sitcom, Pete and Gladys.
He guest starred on CBS's Dennis the Menace and played a judge in 23 episodes of that same network's Perry Mason, "one of the more frequent judges on the bench" in that program. He played Judge Neilson in "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" S1 E4 "I Saw the Whole Thing" which aired 10/10/1962. Also on CBS, on Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, Willis Bouchey appeared as Dr. Samuel Thorne in the episode "The Masks," which premiered March 20, 1964.
Also in 1964, he appeared on Petticoat Junction. He was Dr. John Rhone in the episode "Kate Flat on Her Back".
He also worked again with Perry Mason title star Raymond Burr in an episode of NBC's Ironside. He made guest appearances on The Sheriff of Cochise, The Great Gildersleeve, Have Gun Will Travel, Wanted: Dead or Alive, 77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Wagon Train, The Virginian, Crossroads; Richard Diamond, Private Detective; Daniel Boone, Laramie, Father Knows Best, The Danny Thomas Show, Gomer Pyle: USMC, F Troop, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Johnny Ringo, Bat Masterson, The Doris Day Show, The Untouchables, Stoney Burke, Going My Way, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,''The Beverly Hillbillies, Dr. Kildare, The Dakotas, Hazel, The Mod Squad, Green Acres, The Munsters, McHale's Navy, The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.
On ABC's Colt.45 television series, Bouchey played Lew Wallace, the governor of New Mexico Territory, in the episode "Amnesty". Wallace offered a pardon to the bandit Billy the Kid, played on Colt.45 by Robert Conrad.
Throughout his career, Bouchey worked in twelve productions for director John Ford and was one of the more frequently-used members of Ford's stock company. In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'', he delivered the final line, "Nothing's too good for the man who shot Liberty Valance."

Selected filmography

Elopement – Dr. Lucius Brenner Return of the Texan – Isham Gilder Deadline - U.S.A. – Henry Anything Can Happen – Judge Gordon Carbine Williams – Joseph Mitchell Belles on Their Toes – Kendall Williams Red Planet Mars – PresidentWashington Story – Senator Don't Bother to Knock – Joe the BartenderAssignment – Paris! – Biddle, an EditorJust for You – Hank RossMillion Dollar Mermaid – DirectorThe I Don't Care Girl – Keith Theatre Manager Destination Gobi – Capt. Gates The President's Lady – Judge McNairy Pickup on South Street – ZaraDangerous Crossing – Captain PetersGun Belt – EndicottFrom Here to Eternity – Army Lieutenant Colonel The Affairs of Dobie Gillis – Dr. Askit – Quiz Master The Big Heat – Lt. Ted WilksExecutive Suite – Detective The Battle of Rogue River – Major Wallach Fireman Save My Child – MayorThem! – Official at D.C. Meeting Suddenly – Dan CarneyA Star Is Born – McBride Drum Beat – Gen. GilliamThe Bridges at Toko-Ri – Capt. EvansThe Violent Men – Sheriff Martin KennerThe Long Gray Line – Maj. ThomasBattle Cry – Mr. ForresterBig House, U.S.A. – Robertson LambertThe Eternal Sea – Review Panel Chairman I Cover the Underworld – Warden Lewis J. JohnsonThe McConnell Story – Newton BassThe Spoilers – Jonathan StruveHell on Frisco Bay – Police Lt. Paul NevilleForever, Darling – Mr. Oliver ClintonMagnificent Roughnecks – Ernie BiggersJohnny Concho – Sheriff HendersonPillars of the Sky – Col. Edson StedlowThe Wings of Eagles – BartonThe Night Runner – Loren MayesLast of the Badmen – Marshall ParkerMister Cory – Mr. VollardThe Garment Jungle – Dave BronsonBeau James – Arthur JulianThe Last Stagecoach West – George BrycesonZero Hour! – British Army DoctorDarby's Rangers – Brig. Gen. TruscottThe Sheepman – Frank PaytonThe Last Hurrah – Roger SugrueNo Name on the Bullet – Buck HastingsThe Horse Soldiers – Col. Phil SecordIt Started with a Kiss – Officer at Airport Sergeant Rutledge – Col. Otis FosgateFive Guns to Tombstone – George LandonTwo Rode Together – Mr. Harry J. WringleYou Have to Run Fast – Col. MaitlandPocketful of Miracles – Newspaper EditorSaintly Sinners – Police Chief HarrihanThe Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Jason Tully – ConductorIncident in an Alley – Police Capt. Tom BradyPanic in Year Zero! – Dr. Powell StrongHow the West Was Won – Surgeon The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Judge NeilsonThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Mr. NortonCheyenne Autumn – Colonel at Victory Cave Where Love Has Gone – Judge MurphyThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour – Dr. BaileyMcHale's Navy Joins the Air Force – Adm. DoyleFollow Me, Boys! – Judge Return of the Gunfighter – Judge EllisSupport Your Local Sheriff! – Thomas DeveryThe Love God? – Judge Jeremiah ClaypoolYoung Billy Young – Doc CushmanDirty Dingus Magee – Ira TeasdaleSupport Your Local Gunfighter – McLaglenShoot Out – Stationmaster