Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 27, 1983) was an American character actor, known for playing Uncle Charley in My Three Sons. A veteran of World War I, Demarest became a prolific film and television actor, appearing in over 140 films, beginning in 1926 and ending in the 1970s. He frequently played crusty but good-hearted roles. Demarest started in show business working in vaudeville, appearing with his wife Estelle Collette (real name Esther Zychlin) as "Demarest and Colette", then moved on to Broadway. Demarest worked regularly with director Preston Sturges, becoming part of a "stock" troupe of actors that Sturges repeatedly cast in his films. He appeared in ten films written by Sturges, eight of which were under his direction, including The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek. Demarest was such a familiar figure at the Paramount studio that just his name was used in the movie Sunset Boulevard as a potential star for William Holden's unsold baseball screenplay. Demarest appeared with veteran western film star Roscoe Ates in the 1958 episode "And the Desert Shall Blossom" of CBS's Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In the story line, Ates and Demarest appear as old timers living in the Nevada desert. The local sheriff, played by Ben Johnson, appears with an eviction notice, but he agrees to let the pair stay on their property if they can make a dead rosebush bloom within the next month. In 1959 Demarest was named the lead actor of the 18-week sitcom Love and Marriage on NBC in the 1959–1960 season. Demarest played William Harris, the owner of a failing music company who refuses to handle popular rock and roll music, which presumably might save the firm from bankruptcy. Joining Demarest on the series were Jeanne Bal, Murray Hamilton and Stubby Kaye. Demarest appeared as Police Chief Aloysius of the Santa Rosita Police Department in the film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), as well as on a memorable episode ("What's in the Box") of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone as a hen-pecked husband driven to the murder of his wife. His most famous television role was in the ABC and then CBS sitcom My Three Sons from 1965 to 1972, playing Uncle Charley O'Casey. He replaced William Frawley, whose failing health had made procuring insurance impossible. Demarest had worked with Fred MacMurray previously in the films Hands Across the Table (1935), Pardon My Past (1945), On Our Merry Way (1948), and The Far Horizons (1955) and was a personal friend of MacMurray. Also, he worked with Irene Dunne in Never a Dull Moment (1950).
Acted in 156
1970s
- 1978
The Millionaire
Oscar Pugh
- 1976
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Studio Gatekeeper
- 1975
The Wild McCullochs
Father Gurkin
- 1973
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Mr. Harris
- 1971
1960s
- 1965
- 1964
- 1963
Son of Flubber
Mr. Hummel
- 1962
- 1961
Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon
Jeb
Twenty Plus Two
Desmond Slocum
King of the Roaring 20's – The Story of Arnold Rothstein
Henry Hecht
- 1960
Pepe
Movie Studio Gateman
1950s
- 1959
- 1957
- 1956
The Rawhide Years
Brand Comfort
The Mountain
Father Belacchi
- 1955
Hell on Frisco Bay
Dan Bianco
Lucy Gallant
Charles Madden
The Private War of Major Benson
John
The Far Horizons
Sgt. Gass
- 1954
The Yellow Mountain
Jackpot Wray
- 1953
Here Come the Girls
Dennis Logan
Dangerous When Wet
Pa Higgins
The Lady Wants Mink
Harvey Jones
- 1952
The Blazing Forest
Syd Jessup
- 1951
Behave Yourself!
O'Ryan
The Strip
Fluff
Excuse My Dust
Harvey Bullitt
The First Legion
Monsignor Michael Carey
- 1950
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
Bob Sears
Never a Dull Moment
Mears
Riding High
Happy
When Willie Comes Marching Home
Herman Kluggs
1940s
- 1949
Red, Hot and Blue
Charlie Baxter
Jolson Sings Again
Steve Martin
Sorrowful Jones
Regret
- 1948
Whispering Smith
Bill Dansing
The Sainted Sisters
Vern Tewilliger
- 1947
Variety Girl
Barker
- 1946
Our Hearts Were Growing Up
Peanuts Schultz
- 1945
Pardon My Past
Chuck Gibson
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Bill, the Security Guard
Duffy's Tavern
William Demarest
Salty O'Rourke
Smitty
- 1944
Hail the Conquering Hero
Sgt. Heppelfinger
The Great Moment
Eben Frost
Once Upon a Time
Brandt
- 1943
True to Life
Uncle Jake
Dangerous Blondes
Detective Gatling
- 1942
Johnny Doughboy
Harry Fabian
Life Begins at Eight-Thirty
Police Officer
Behind the Eight Ball
McKenzie
True to the Army
Sgt. Butts
- 1941
Glamour Boy
Papa Doran
Sullivan's Travels
Mr. Jones
Dressed to Kill
Inspector Pierson
Ride on Vaquero
Bartender Barney
Rookies on Parade
Mike Brady
The Devil and Miss Jones
First Detective
- 1940
Little Men
Constable Tom Thorpe
Christmas in July
Mr. Bildocker
The Golden Fleecing
Swallow
Comin' Round the Mountain
Gutsy Mann
The Great McGinty
Skeeters - The Politician
The Farmer's Daughter
Victor Walsh
1930s
- 1939
Miracles for Sale
Quinn
The Cowboy Quarterback
Rusty Walker
The Gracie Allen Murder Case
Police Sgt. Ernest Heath
King of the Turf
Arnold
The Great Man Votes
Charles Dole
- 1938
While New York Sleeps
Red Miller
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Daro
Josette
Joe, Diner Owner
One Wild Night
Collins
Romance on the Run
Police Lt. Eckhardt
- 1937
Rosalie
Army Coach
Big City
Mr. Beecher
Wake Up and Live
Radio Center Tour Guide
Blonde Trouble
Paul Sears
The Great Gambini
Sergeant Kirby
The Great Hospital Mystery
Mr. Beatty
The Hit Parade
Parole Officer
Oh, Doctor
Marty Short
Don't Tell the Wife
Larry 'Horace' Tucker
Time Out for Romance
Willoughby Sproggs
- 1936
Mind Your Own Business
Droopy
Charlie Chan at the Opera
Sergeant Kelly
Love on the Run
Editor
Wedding Present
'Smiles' Benson
- 1935
White Lies
Roberts
Hands Across the Table
Regi's Date Natty (uncredited)
Diamond Jim
Harry Hill
Bright Lights
Detective
The Murder Man
'Red' Maguire
The Casino Murder Case
Auctioneer (uncredited)
After Office Hours
Police Detective (uncredited)
- 1934
Many Happy Returns
Brinker
Fog Over Frisco
Spike Smith
1920s
- 1928
The Crash
Louie
The Butter and Egg Man
Jack McLure
Five and Ten Cent Annie
Briggs
Pay as You Enter
'Terrible Bill' McGovern
A Girl in Every Port
Man in Bombay (uncredited)
- 1927
The Night Court
Defense Counsel
A Reno Divorce
James, the chauffeur
A Sailor's Sweetheart
Detective
The Bush Leaguer
John Gilroy
The First Auto
The Village Cut-Up
What Happened To Father
Detective Dibbin
The Black Diamond Express
Train Engine Fireman
Simple Sis
Movie
A Million Bid
George Lamont
Matinee Ladies
Man About Town
The Gay Old Bird
Mr. Fixit
Don't Tell the Wife
Ray Valerian
Finger Prints
Cuffs Egan
Appearances5
1960s
- 1963
The Jerry Lewis Show
Self · 1 episode
- 1962
- 1961
1950s
- 1954
Jamboree
Self