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William Newell

William Newell

Actor · Died February 21, 1967, aged 73 · Millville, New Jersey, USA

William Newell was born on 6 January 1894 in Millville, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for The Big Show (1936), Larceny on the Air (1937) and Rhythm in the Clouds (1937). He died on 21 February 1967 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 5, 1894
Died
February 21, 1967 (aged 73)
From
Millville, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
72 on Motif · 139 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 46% in 30 days

What are William Newell's films like?

Across their 10 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif 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
Bonds
32%
Self
27%
Morality
24%
Society
14%
Power
2%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 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
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 3 · Intense 0

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

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 5

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
5
Tense
5
Hopeful
4
Absurd
4
Romantic
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet1

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 Newell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 72 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Newell's titles on Motif; 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

139 credits, 72 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Bailiff

  • A Global Affair (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

  • The Fugitive (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Guard #1

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Peterson

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Sterling

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Pollyanna(1960)

    as Mr. Hooper (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Who Was That Lady?(1960)

    as Schultz (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus(1960)

    as Jailbird

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Last Train from Gun Hill(1959)

    as Hotel Desk Clerk

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Donna Reed Show(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Ross

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • The Sheepman(1958)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Missouri Traveler(1958)

    as Pos Neely

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Desk Clerk (uncredited)

  • Mister Cory (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Ned - Owner (uncredited)

  • Our Miss Brooks(1956)

    as Dr. Henley

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie · as Mr. Fescue · as Second Bank Teller

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Wichita(1955)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Phffft(1954)

    as Workman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Show 3 episodes · as Jailbird (uncredited) · as Mr. Hooper (uncredited)

  • Escape from Fort Bravo(1953)

    as Symore (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Let's Do It Again(1953)

    as Cab Driver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Arguing Husband

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Here Come the Marines (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1952)

    as Maj. Desmond

  • High Noon(1952)

    as Jimmy - Drunk with Eye Patch (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Young Man with Ideas(1952)

    as Party Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Lady Pays Off(1951)

    as Bartender (as Billy Newell)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bright Victory(1951)

    as Todd the Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • M (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Detective Questioning Blonde About License Plate (uncredited)

  • Louisa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Movie Usher (uncredited)

  • Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town(1950)

    as Horace "Hank" Hawkshaw (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Fuller Brush Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    as Police Announcer (uncredited)

  • Song of My Heart (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1948)

    as Doorman

  • Wedlock Deadlock (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Dick

  • Key Witness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Smiley

  • Philo Vance's Secret Mission (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Deputy (uncredited)

  • Second Chance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Pinky

  • Doctor Jim (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Editor (as Bill Newell)

  • Alias Mr. Twilight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Delivery Man (uncredited)

  • Lady in the Lake(1946)

    as Drunk (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dick Tracy vs. Cueball(1946)

    as Piano Player (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Best Years of Our Lives(1946)

    as Waiter at Bank Dinner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Magnificent Rogue(1946)

    as Stage Manager

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Bowery Bombshell(1946)

    as Detective Dugan

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Dared (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Police Sgt. Clay

  • Young Widow (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1946)

    as Charlie (Uncredited)

  • Girl on the Spot(1946)

    as Lightfoot Lewis (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Adventure(1945)

    as Barber #1 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Out of the Depths (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    as Charlie Anderson

  • The Lost Weekend(1945)

    as Liquor Store Proprietor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • On Stage Everybody (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    as Mason (uncredited)

  • Her Lucky Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    as Proprietor

  • The Great Morgan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    as Film Character (uncredited)

  • The Missing Juror (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Wally, Counterman (uncredited)

  • Sing a Jingle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Wiggins

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

    as Attendant (uncredited)

  • Top Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Secretary

  • Fired Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bartender

  • Nobody's Darling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bus Driver (uncredited)

  • Honeymoon Lodge (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bartender

  • All by Myself (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Price

  • Keeper of the Flame(1942)

    as Piggot

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Slightly Dangerous(1943)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • No Place for a Lady (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    as Toreador Club Waiter

  • The Outlaw(1943)

    as Drunken Cowboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • A Night to Remember(1942)

    as Police Photographer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

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

    as Clerk

  • Get Hep to Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Janitor

  • The Major and the Minor(1942)

    as Ticket Agent #2 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Two Yanks in Trinidad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

  • The Lady Is Willing(1942)

    as Counterman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Tragedy at Midnight (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Swanson

  • Inflation (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jerry the Man Wanting to Buy Car (uncredited)

  • Miss Polly(1941)

    as Hubert - New Postman

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Devil Pays Off (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Second Steward

  • Three Girls About Town(1941)

    as Laundry Man

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Ice-Capades (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Harry Stimson

  • Manpower (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Lineman at Cafe Counter (uncredited)

  • Here Comes Mr. Jordan(1941)

    as Murdock Handler (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Blondie Goes Latin (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Steward Ringing Chime and Crying (uncredited)

  • The Strawberry Blonde(1941)

    as Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Penny To the Rescue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Man

  • Caught in the Act (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1941)

    as Sgt. Riley

  • Mysterious Doctor Satan (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Speed Martin

  • Wedding Bills (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Groom-to-be (uncredited)

  • City for Conquest(1940)

    as Max's Lyricist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Public Deb No. 1(1940)

    as Reporter

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • He Stayed for Breakfast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Waiter

  • The Great Profile (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Reporter

  • Social Sea Lions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as George T. Formaldehyde

  • Andy Hardy Meets Debutante(1940)

    as Insurance Investigator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Hold That Woman!(1940)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Bubbling Troubles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alfalfa's Dad (uncredited)

  • The Doctor Takes a Wife(1940)

    as Soda Jerk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • All About Hash (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alfalfa's Father

  • The Domineering Male (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    as Marriage Proposer (uncredited)

  • The Ghost Comes Home(1940)

    as Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible Man Returns(1940)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Swanee River (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Bill, Stagehand

  • Nick Carter, Master Detective (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Taxi Driver

  • The Invisible Killer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Det. Sgt. Pat Dugan

  • Let's Talk Turkey (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Abner J. Poodlebeam

  • The Housekeeper's Daughter(1939)

    as Reporter

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Day the Bookies Wept(1939)

    as Maxie T. Bookmaker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Culinary Carving (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Knife Customer

  • Second Fiddle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Make-Up Artist

  • Naughty But Nice(1939)

    as Arranger (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Good Girls Go to Paris(1939)

    as Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Invitation to Happiness(1939)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Rose of Washington Square(1939)

    as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Everybody's Baby (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

  • Honolulu(1939)

    as Second Interne

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Alfalfa's Aunt (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    as John Switzer

  • Slander House(1938)

    as Terry Kent

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Rhythm in the Clouds(1937)

    as Clyde Lyons

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Holiday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Solitaire

  • Make Way for Tomorrow(1937)

    as Ticket Seller (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Bill Cracks Down(1937)

    as Eddie 'Porky' Plunkett

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Larceny on the Air (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    as Andrews

  • A Man Betrayed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gabby

  • The Mandarin Mystery(1936)

    as Detective Guffy

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Beware of Ladies(1936)

    as Sniff

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Happy-Go-Lucky(1936)

    as Charlie Davis

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island(1936)

    as Hank McGlaurie

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Libeled Lady(1936)

    as Divorce Detective

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Bulldog Edition (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Charlie Hunter

  • Sitting on the Moon(1936)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Fury(1936)

    as Service Station Owner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Navy Born (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lt. Bill Lyons

  • Absolute Quiet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Bill Dahle (Uncredited)

  • Wife vs. Secretary(1936)

    as Tom Wilson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Voice of Bugle Ann (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mr. Tanner

  • Riffraff (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pete

  • The Big Show(1936)

    as Lee Wilson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Rendezvous(1935)

    as Carter's Receptionist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Here Comes the Band(1935)

    as Greasy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Honeymoon Limited(1935)

    as Cop (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bombshell(1933)

    as Lola's Chauffeur (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 79th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 139 titles from 1933 to 1964.

Highest rated

Our Miss Brooks (1956)

Midcredits 60th

Most popular right now

Slander House (1938)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting139 of 139: 139 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62nd

By decade

1930s40 · acting1940s67 · acting1950s23 · acting1960s9 · acting

Billing

usually 15th · 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 Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do William Newell's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 66; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 31st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

31stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

15thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 72 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th25
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 72 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Public Deb No. 1 (1940)

75th percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 53/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles; fans 64, detractors 33. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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 Newell work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Newell's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Murray Seldeen shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers