Skip to content
MovieCove
William Demarest

William Demarest

Actor · Died December 28, 1983, aged 91 · Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA

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).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 27, 1892
Died
December 28, 1983 (aged 91)
From
Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
72 on MovieCove · 161 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 26% in 30 days

What are William Demarest's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 36 · Serious 6 · Dark 5

A split, not a type: Grounded 26 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 4

A split, not a type: Gentle 25 · Charged 16 · Intense 6

Steady 30 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 1

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 25

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 29 · Relentless 4

Casual 38 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Resolved 47 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

22 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 6 of 22 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
6 of 22
Ally
6 of 22
Mentor
5 of 22
Trickster
4 of 22
Herald
1 of 22
Show the 22 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
26
Warm
18
Tense
13
Romantic
14
Absurd
12
Other
37

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy34
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic2

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 Demarest's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 26 of their 72 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Subscription and free streaming for William Demarest'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

161 credits, 72 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Television: The First Fifty Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Charlie O'Casey (archive footage)

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Oscar Pugh

  • Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Alexander 'Pop' Denny

  • The Wild McCullochs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Father Gurkin

  • Don't Be Afraid of the Dark(1973)

    as Mr. Harris

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Kenesaw · as Cyrus McFee

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • That Darn Cat!(1965)

    as Mr. MacDougall

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
  • Viva Las Vegas(1964)

    as Mr. Martin

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(1963)

    as Police Chief Aloysius

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie Who

  • The Greatest Show on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Keller

  • Son of Flubber(1962)

    as Mr. Hummel

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Going My Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Aimes

  • Twenty Plus Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Desmond Slocum

  • Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Pepe(1960)

    as Movie Studio Gateman

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • My Three Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 232 episodes · as Charley O'Casey

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ulysses Bowman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Britt

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Love and Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 26 episodes · as William Harris

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Angus Tweedy · as Enos Milford

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows
  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Hennessey

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows
  • Tales of Wells Fargo(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeb Gaine (credit only)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • The Rawhide Years(1956)

    as Brand Comfort

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The Mountain(1956)

    as Father Belacchi

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Hell on Frisco Bay(1955)

    as Dan Bianco

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • Sincerely Yours(1955)

    as Sam Dunne

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Lucy Gallant(1955)

    as Charles Madden

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Akins

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • The Far Horizons(1955)

    as Sgt. Gass

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Jupiter's Darling(1955)

    as Mago

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
  • The Yellow Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Jackpot Wray

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Hummel (archive footage)

  • Studio 57 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Escape from Fort Bravo(1953)

    as Campbell

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Here Come the Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Dennis Logan

  • Dangerous When Wet(1953)

    as Pa Higgins

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • The Lady Wants Mink(1953)

    as Harvey Jones

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • The Blazing Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Syd Jessup

  • What Price Glory(1952)

    as Corporal Kiper

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Senator Burnside

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Behave Yourself! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as O'Ryan

  • The Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Fluff

  • Excuse My Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Harvey Bullitt

  • The First Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Monsignor Michael Carey

  • He's a Cockeyed Wonder(1950)

    as Bob Sears

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • Never a Dull Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mears

  • Riding High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Happy

  • When Willie Comes Marching Home(1950)

    as Herman Kluggs

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Red, Hot and Blue(1949)

    as Charlie Baxter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • Jolson Sings Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Steve Martin

  • Sorrowful Jones(1949)

    as Regret

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • Whispering Smith(1948)

    as Bill Dansing

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Night Has a Thousand Eyes(1948)

    as Lt. Shawn

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • The Sainted Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Vern Tewilliger

  • On Our Merry Way(1948)

    as Floyd

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Variety Girl(1947)

    as Barker

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • The Perils of Pauline(1947)

    as George 'Mac' McGuire

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • The Jolson Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Steve Martin

  • Our Hearts Were Growing Up(1946)

    as Peanuts Schultz

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Pardon My Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Chuck Gibson

  • Hollywood Victory Caravan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Bill, the Security Guard

  • Duffy's Tavern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as William Demarest

  • Along Came Jones(1945)

    as George Fury

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Salty O'Rourke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Smitty

  • The Miracle of Morgan's Creek(1943)

    as Constable Edmund Kockenlocker

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Hail the Conquering Hero(1944)

    as Sgt. Heppelfinger

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • The Great Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Eben Frost

  • Once Upon a Time(1944)

    as Brandt

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Nine Girls(1944)

    as Walter Cummings

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
  • True to Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Uncle Jake

  • Dangerous Blondes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Detective Gatling

  • Stage Door Canteen(1943)

    as William Demarest

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Johnny Doughboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Harry Fabian

  • Life Begins at Eight-Thirty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Police Officer

  • Behind the Eight Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as McKenzie

  • The Palm Beach Story(1942)

    as First Member Ale and Quail Club

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Pardon My Sarong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Detective Kendall

  • My Favorite Spy(1942)

    as Flower Pot Policeman

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • True to the Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sgt. Butts

  • All Through the Night(1942)

    as Sunshine

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Glamour Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Papa Doran

  • Sullivan's Travels(1941)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Dressed to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Inspector Pierson

  • Country Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Stogie McPhee

  • Ride on Vaquero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Bartender Barney

  • Rookies on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mike Brady

  • The Devil and Miss Jones(1941)

    as First Detective

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • The Lady Eve(1941)

    as Muggsy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • Little Men(1940)

    as Constable Tom Thorpe

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Christmas in July(1940)

    as Mr. Bildocker

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Comin' Round the Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Gutsy Mann

  • The Golden Fleecing(1940)

    as Swallow

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • The Great McGinty(1940)

    as Skeeters - The Politician

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • The Farmer's Daughter(1940)

    as Victor Walsh

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Wolf of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Bill Ennis

  • Laugh It Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Barney 'Gimpy' Cole

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)

    as Bill Griffith

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Miracles for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Quinn

  • The Cowboy Quarterback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Rusty Walker

  • The Gracie Allen Murder Case(1939)

    as Police Sgt. Ernest Heath

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • King of the Turf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Arnold

  • The Great Man Votes(1939)

    as Charles Dole

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • While New York Sleeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Red Miller

  • Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Daro

  • Josette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joe, Diner Owner

  • One Wild Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Collins

  • Romance on the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Police Lt. Eckhardt

  • Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm(1938)

    as Henry Kipper

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Rosalie(1937)

    as Army Coach

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mr. Beecher

  • Wake Up and Live(1937)

    as Radio Center Tour Guide

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Blonde Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Paul Sears

  • Easy Living(1937)

    as Wallace Whistling

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • The Great Gambini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Sergeant Kirby

  • The Great Hospital Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mr. Beatty

  • The Hit Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Parole Officer

  • Oh, Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Marty Short

  • Don't Tell the Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Larry 'Horace' Tucker

  • Time Out for Romance(1937)

    as Willoughby Sproggs

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Mind Your Own Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Droopy

  • Charlie Chan at the Opera(1936)

    as Sergeant Kelly

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Love on the Run(1936)

    as Editor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Wedding Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as 'Smiles' Benson

  • The Great Ziegfeld(1936)

    as Gene Buck (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • White Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Roberts

  • Hands Across the Table(1935)

    as Regi's Date Natty (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
  • Diamond Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Harry Hill

  • Bright Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Detective

  • The Murder Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as 'Red' Maguire

  • The Casino Murder Case(1935)

    as Auctioneer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • After Office Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Police Detective (uncredited)

  • Fugitive Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Steve Rogers

  • Many Happy Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Brinker

  • Fog Over Frisco(1934)

    as Spike Smith

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
  • Seeing Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as The Heir

  • The Crash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Louie

  • The Butter and Egg Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jack McLure

  • Five and Ten Cent Annie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Briggs

  • Pay as You Enter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as 'Terrible Bill' McGovern

  • A Girl in Every Port(1928)

    as Man in Bombay (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Sharp Shooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as 'Hi Jack' Murdock

  • The Night Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Defense Counsel

  • A Reno Divorce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as James, the chauffeur

  • The Jazz Singer(1927)

    as Buster Billings (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • A Sailor's Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Detective

  • The Bush Leaguer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as John Gilroy

  • The First Auto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as The Village Cut-Up

  • What Happened To Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Detective Dibbin

  • The Black Diamond Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Train Engine Fireman

  • Simple Sis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • A Million Bid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as George Lamont

  • Matinee Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Man About Town

  • The Gay Old Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mr. Fixit

  • Don't Tell the Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Ray Valerian

  • Finger Prints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Cuffs Egan

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 161 titles from 1927 to 1999; peak year 1963.

Film career

19271999

Peak 1963 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting161 of 161: 161 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1920s20 · acting1930s40 · acting1940s47 · acting1950s33 · acting1960s14 · acting1970s6 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 29 roles
27424762

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do William Demarest's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 64; across their 47 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 72 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th29
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

37 of their 72 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser37
  • Broadly Agreed11
  • Mixed12

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 46 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 49. 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.

Is William Demarest's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles9–20 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 33

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does William Demarest work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Demarest's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Preston Sturges shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers