Skip to content
MovieCove
William Bishop

William Bishop

Actor · Died October 3, 1959, aged 41 · Oak Park, Illinois, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. William Paxton Bishop (July 16 1918 - October 3 1959) was an American television and movie actor from Oak Park, Illinois. He was best known for his role as Steve Connors on the 1950's NBC comedy series It's a Great Life[1] and for his roles in films including Harriet Craig, The Killer That Stalked New York and in numerous B-Movies and westerns such as The Tougher They Come, Gun Belt, The Basketball Fix, Cripple Creek and Wyoming Renegades. Description above from the Wikipedia article William Bishop (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 16, 1918
Died
October 3, 1959 (aged 41)
From
Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 50 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 18% in 30 days

What are William Bishop's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
65%
Power
11%
Bonds
10%
Survival
10%
Self
3%
Society
2%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 5 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 8
Hero
2 of 8
Ally
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Thrilling
6
Dread
3
Melancholic
4
Hopeful
1

How their films linger

Rousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Bishop's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Bishop's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

50 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Oregon Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Captain George Wayne

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Dave Stafford

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Short Cut to Hell(1957)

    as Sgt. Stan Lowery

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom Stagecoach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Glen Hayden

  • The Star Wagon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Charles Duffy

  • The White Squaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bob Garth

  • The Boss(1956)

    as Bob Herrick

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Gale Storm Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as David

  • Top Gun(1955)

    as Canby Judd

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Matt Hornbeck

  • Science Fiction Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Overland Pacific(1954)

    as Del Stewart

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • It's a Great Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 78 episodes · as Steve Connors

  • Wyoming Renegades(1955)

    as Sundance Kid

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Brad Delmar

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Gun Belt(1953)

    as Ike Clinton

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Redhead from Wyoming(1953)

    as Jim Averell

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Studebaker Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Henry Studebaker

  • The Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Marshal Bill Henderson

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Bruce Stevens · as Matt Brownley

  • Breakdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Terry Williams

  • Cripple Creek(1952)

    as Silver Kirby

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 3 episodes · as Charlie Sewell

  • The Basketball Fix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mike Taft

  • The Texas Rangers(1951)

    as Sam Bass

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Lorna Doone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Carver Doone

  • The Frogmen(1951)

    as Ferrino

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Tougher They Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Gus Williams

  • Harriet Craig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Wes Miller

  • The Killer That Stalked New York(1950)

    as Dr. Ben Wood

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Anna Lucasta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Rudolf Strobel

  • The Walking Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Dave "Shep" Wilson

  • Slightly French (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as J.B. (voice) (uncredited)

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Untamed Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Larch Keegan

  • Black Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Jason Bond

  • Thunderhoof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as The Kid

  • Coroner Creek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Leach Conover

  • Port Said (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Leslie Sears

  • Adventures in Silverado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Bill Foss

  • Devil Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Sanderson

  • Song of the Thin Man(1947)

    as Al Amboy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Romance of Rosy Ridge(1947)

    as Ad Buchanan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Guy Named Joe(1943)

    as Ray - Transport Pilot (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Lost Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

  • Cry 'Havoc'(1943)

    as Soldier

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Swing Fever(1943)

    as Soldier with Autograph Book (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Swing Shift Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Young Pilot (Uncredited)

  • Young Ideas(1943)

    as French Lieutenant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Seeing Hands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Man Pulling Lamp Cord (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 78th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 50 titles from 1943 to 1959.

Highest rated

Top Gun (1955)

Midcredits 56th

Most popular right now

The Redhead from Wyoming (1953)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting50 of 50: 50 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score48th

By decade

1940s20 · acting1950s30 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do William Bishop's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed9

Most loved · actor

The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947)

Midcredits 79th · 70% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does William Bishop work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Bishop's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edward Small shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers