Austin Willis
Encyclopedia
Austin Willis, CM
(1917 - April 4, 2004) was a Canadian
actor
and television host.
He was born in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. In 2002, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. He is best known internationally for his appearance as Simmons, the man whom Auric Goldfinger
beats at cards in the opening scenes of the James Bond
film, Goldfinger
. Originally he was to have played Felix Leiter
but at the last minute, Cec Linder
switched roles with him.
In Canada, he had a varied film and TV career, ranging from the early science-fiction series Space Command
, to hosting Cross-Canada Hit Parade for several years in the 1950s. In the 1970s he found new fans as the host of the humorous game show This Is the Law
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1917 - April 4, 2004) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and television host.
He was born in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. In 2002, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He is best known internationally for his appearance as Simmons, the man whom Auric Goldfinger
Auric Goldfinger
Auric Goldfinger is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the James Bond film and novel Goldfinger. His first name, Auric, is an adjective meaning of gold...
beats at cards in the opening scenes of the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film, Goldfinger
Goldfinger (film)
Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
. Originally he was to have played Felix Leiter
Felix Leiter
Felix Leiter is a fictional CIA agent created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond series of novels and films. In both, Leiter works for the CIA and assists Bond in his various adventures as well as being his best friend. In further novels Leiter joins the Pinkerton Detective Agency and in the film...
but at the last minute, Cec Linder
Cec Linder
Cec Linder was a Polish-born Canadian film and television actor. In the 1950s and 1960s he worked extensively in the United Kingdom, often playing American characters in various films and television programmes.In film, he is probably best remembered for his role as James Bond's CIA counterpart...
switched roles with him.
In Canada, he had a varied film and TV career, ranging from the early science-fiction series Space Command
Space Command (TV series)
Space Command was a Canadian children's science fiction television adventure series, broadcast on CBC Television in 1953 and 1954, the first time the network aired its own dramatic series....
, to hosting Cross-Canada Hit Parade for several years in the 1950s. In the 1970s he found new fans as the host of the humorous game show This Is the Law
This is the Law
This is the Law was a Canadian panel game show which aired on CBC Television from 1971 to 1976.It presented short, humorous vignettes which ran with musical accompaniment rather than a soundtrack, and challenged panellists to guess which law was being broken by the "Lawbreaker" character , who...
.
Filmography
- Guests of Honour (1945)
- Bush Pilot (1947) - Red North
- Sins of the Fathers (1948) - Dr. Ben Edwards
- Space CommandSpace Command (TV series)Space Command was a Canadian children's science fiction television adventure series, broadcast on CBC Television in 1953 and 1954, the first time the network aired its own dramatic series....
(1953) - Dr. Fleming - Cross-Canada Hit Parade (1955) - Host (1955–1958)
- The Cage (1956)
- Wolf DogWolf DogWolf Dog is a Western movie, directed and produced by Sam Newfield and released by Regal Films. In August 1957, Newfield and a camera crew filmed the movie in and around Markdale, Ontario, near Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. The movie co-starred Hollywood actors Jim Davis, Allison Hayes and John...
(1958) - Clem Krivak - The Mouse That RoaredThe Mouse That RoaredThe Mouse That Roared is a 1955 Cold War satirical novel by Irish-American writer Leonard Wibberley, which launched a series of satirical books about an imaginary country in Europe called the Duchy of Grand Fenwick...
(1959) - United States Secretary of DefenseUnited States Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries... - Upstairs and DownstairsUpstairs and DownstairsUpstairs and Downstairs is a 1959 British comedy drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Michael Craig, Anne Heywood, Mylène Demongeot, Claudia Cardinale, James Robertson Justice, Joan Sims, Joan Hickson and Sid James...
(1959) - McGuffey - A Dangerous Age (1959) - Police officer
- Q.E.D. (1960) - Host
- Crack in the MirrorCrack in the MirrorCrack in the Mirror is a 1960 drama film. The three principal actors, Orson Welles, Juliette Gréco, and Bradford Dillman, play dual roles in two interconnected stories as the participants in two love triangles.-Cast:*Orson Welles as Hagolin / Lamerciere...
(1960) - Hurtelaut - I Aim at the StarsI Aim at the StarsI Aim at the Stars is a 1960 biographical film which tells the story of the life of Wernher von Braun. The film covers his life from his early days in Germany, through Peenemünde, up until his work with the U.S...
(1960) - John B. Medaris - The BarbariansRevak the RebelRevak the Rebel is a 1960 film set in Iberia in the days leading up to the outbreak of the Second Punic War...
(1960) - Too Young to LoveToo Young to Love"Too Young to Love" is the debut single by The Big Pink. "Too Young to Love" was released with the double A-side track "Crystal Visions" on 7" vinyl on October 7, 2008, and both tracks were later re-recorded and included on their debut album A Brief History of Love in September 2009...
(1960) - Mr. Collins - Arch Oboler's 1+1: Exploring the Kinsey Reports (1961) - Sam Tooray, 'The Divorcee'
- GoldfingerGoldfinger (film)Goldfinger is the third spy film in the James Bond series and the third to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1964, it is based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. The film also stars Honor Blackman as Bond girl Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe as the title...
(1964) - Simmons - Seaway (1964) - Admiral Henry Fox
- Don't Forget to Wipe the Blood Off (1966)
- One Hundred Years Young (1967) (TV) - Host
- Eight on the LamEight on the LamEight on the Lam is a 1967 film directed by George Marshall. It stars Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller.-Cast:*Bob Hope as Henry Dimsdale*Phyllis Diller as Golda*Jonathan Winters as Police Sgt. Jasper Lynch / Mother Lynch*Shirley Eaton as Ellie Barton...
(1967) - Mr. Pomeroy - Hour of the GunHour of the GunHour of the Gun is 1967 Western film starring James Garner and depicting Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday during their 1881 battles against Ike Clanton and his brothers in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and the gunfight's aftermath in and around Tombstone, Arizona.The film is based on the non fiction...
(1967) - Anson Safford - The Rat PatrolThe Rat PatrolThe Rat Patrol is an American television program that aired on ABC during the 1966–1968 seasons. The show follows the exploits of four Allied soldiers who are part of a long-range desert patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II...
- Season 1, Episode 26 (1967) - Dr. Anderson - The Boston StranglerThe Boston Strangler (film)The Boston Strangler is a 1968 film based on the true story of the Boston Strangler and the book by Gerold Frank. It was directed by Richard Fleischer, and stars Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo, the strangler, and Henry Fonda as John S...
(1968) - Dr. Nagy - Flick (1970) - Cantwell
- Face-Off (1971) - Graydon Hunter
- This Is the LawThis is the LawThis is the Law was a Canadian panel game show which aired on CBC Television from 1971 to 1976.It presented short, humorous vignettes which ran with musical accompaniment rather than a soundtrack, and challenged panellists to guess which law was being broken by the "Lawbreaker" character , who...
(1972-1976) - Host - C.H.O.M.P.S.C.H.O.M.P.S.-Plot:A young inventor - Brian Foster creates a robotic dog for use as part of a home protection system. C.H.O.M.P.S. is an acronym for "canine home protection system." Ralph Norton is his boss who he constantly argues with. Norton's daughter Casey and Foster develop a relationship...
(1979) - Head Engineer - The Last Flight of Noah's ArkThe Last Flight of Noah's ArkThe Last Flight Of Noah's Ark is a Disney film released by Buena Vista Distribution on June 25, 1980. The film stars Elliott Gould, Geneviève Bujold and Ricky Schroder.-Plot:...
(1980) - Slabotsky - FirefoxFirefox (film)Firefox is a 1982 American action film produced, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. It is based upon the 1977 novel of the same name written by Craig Thomas....
(1982) - Walters - The Boy in Blue (1986) - Bainbridge