William Steele (actor)
Encyclopedia
William Anton Gittinger (March 28, 1888 – February 13, 1966), best known as William Steele, was an American actor of small roles in Westerns, particularly those of John Ford
.
Although his screen credits and many records indicate a wide variety of names and spellings, Steele's own signatures on his military documents indicate that he was born William Anton Gittinger on March 28, 1888 (not 1889, as some sources have it) in San Antonio, Texas
. Little is known of his life prior to his arrival in Los Angeles
around 1910. As the film industry in Hollywood was just blossoming, and as he apparently had great experience with horses, Steele easily obtained work in quickie Westerns. He fought in Europe in World War I
, then returned to Hollywood. While he was extremely inconsistent in the names he used, he worked consistently in Westerns throughout the silent era and up until the 1950s. His final appearance was as the wounded posse member Nesby in Ford's The Searchers
in 1956, his tenth film for Ford. He died ten years later, not quite 78 years old. He was survived by his wife Josephine, an actress. He is buried under his birth name at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
in San Antonio, Texas.
John Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
.
Although his screen credits and many records indicate a wide variety of names and spellings, Steele's own signatures on his military documents indicate that he was born William Anton Gittinger on March 28, 1888 (not 1889, as some sources have it) in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. Little is known of his life prior to his arrival in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
around 1910. As the film industry in Hollywood was just blossoming, and as he apparently had great experience with horses, Steele easily obtained work in quickie Westerns. He fought in Europe in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, then returned to Hollywood. While he was extremely inconsistent in the names he used, he worked consistently in Westerns throughout the silent era and up until the 1950s. His final appearance was as the wounded posse member Nesby in Ford's The Searchers
The Searchers (film)
The Searchers is a 1956 American Western film directed by John Ford, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May, and set during the Texas–Indian Wars...
in 1956, his tenth film for Ford. He died ten years later, not quite 78 years old. He was survived by his wife Josephine, an actress. He is buried under his birth name at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2008, had 120,982 interments.- History :...
in San Antonio, Texas.
Stage names
- Billy Gettinger
- Bill Gettinger
- William Gettinger
- William Gittenger
- Bill Steele
- Robert Steele
- W.A. Steele
- William A. Steele
- William Steuer
- William Steele
Selected filmography
- The Valley of HellThe Valley of Hell (film)The Valley of Hell is a 1927 Western film, directed by Clifford Smith.-Cast:* Francis McDonald - Creighton Steele* Edna Murphy - Mary Calvert* William Steele - James Brady...
(19271927 in film-Events:*January 10 - Fritz Lang's science-fiction fantasy Metropolis premieres in Germany.*April 7 - Abel Gance's Napoleon often considered his best known and greatest masterpiece, premiers at the Paris Opéra and would demonstrate techniques and equipment that would not be used for years to...
) - Ace of SpadesAce of Spades (serial)Ace of Spades is a 1925 Western film serial directed by Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* William Desmond - Dan Harvey* Mary McAllister - Olive Heath* Albert J. Smith - Joe Deneen* William Steele - Jim Heath Ace of Spades is a 1925 Western film serial directed by Henry MacRae....
(19251925 in film-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
) - The Last Man on EarthThe Last Man on Earth (1924 film)The Last Man on Earth is a silent comedy produced by Fox Film Corporation and loosely based on Mary Shelley's 1826 novel The Last Man. The film was remade as the semi-musical comedy It's Great to Be Alive , and influenced the sci-fi novel Mr...
(19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - Shootin' for LoveShootin' for LoveShootin' for Love is a 1923 Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson - Duke Travis* Laura La Plante - Mary Randolph* Alfred Allen - Jim Travis* William Welsh - Bill Randolph* William Steele - Dan Hobson...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - Dead GameDead GameDead Game is a 1923 Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson - 'Katy' Didd * Robert McKim - Prince Tetlow* Harry Carter - Jenks* Laura La Plante - Alice Mason* William Welsh - Harlu...
(1923) - Single HandedSingle Handed (1923 film)Single Handed is a 1923 Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson - Hector MacKnight* Elinor Field - Ruth Randolph* Percy Challenger - Professor Weighoff* William Steele - Windy Smith...
(1923) - The WallopThe WallopThe Wallop is a 1921 Western film directed by John Ford and starring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - John Wesley Pringle* Mignonne Golden - Stella Vorhis* William Steele - Christopher Foy...
(19211921 in film-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1921:U.S.A. unless stated*$10,000 Under a Pillow, silent film directed by Frank Moser*The Ace of Hearts, silent film directed by Wallace Worsley*Across the Divide, silent film directed by John Holloway...
) - The Avenging ArrowThe Avenging ArrowThe Avenging Arrow is a 1921 western film serial directed by William Bowman and W. S. Van Dyke. It is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ruth Roland - Anita Delgado* Edward Hearn - Ralph Troy* Virginia Ainsworth - Luiza Traganza* S.E...
(1921) - The Phantom RidersThe Phantom RidersThe Phantom Riders is a 1918 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Production:Filming took place from September 7-27, 1917. Released in January 1918 as a Universal Special feature, The Phantom Riders was a 50-minute silent film on five...
(19181918 in filmThe year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
) - Bucking BroadwayBucking BroadwayBucking Broadway is a 1917 film by John Ford, probably his sixth feature film. Long thought to be lost, along with about 60 of Ford's 70 silent films, it was found in 2002 in the archives of the CNC . It was subsequently restored and digitized...
(19171917 in filmThe year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
) - A Marked ManA Marked ManA Marked Man is a 1917 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Molly Malone - Molly Young* Harry L. Rattenberry - Young...
(1917) - The Secret ManThe Secret ManThe Secret Man is a 1917 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. Two of the five reels of the film survive at the Library of Congress film archive.-Production:...
(1917) - The Texas SphinxThe Texas SphinxThe Texas Sphinx is a 1917 Western film featuring Harry Carey and released by Universal Pictures.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Hoot Gibson* Ed Jones* Alice Lake* William Steele * Vester Pegg...
(1917) - Cheyenne's PalCheyenne's PalCheyenne's Pal is a 1917 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Production:Filming took place over a three-day period under the working titles Cactus My Pal and The Dumb Friend. The finished film was released by Universal Studios as a...
(1917) - The Soul HerderThe Soul HerderThe Soul Herder is a 1917 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Molly Malone* Hoot Gibson* Jean Hersholt - Priest* Fritzi Ridgeway* Duke R. Lee...
(1917) - Six-Shooter JusticeSix-Shooter JusticeSix-Shooter Justice is a 1917 film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Claire Du Brey* William Steele - * A. E. Witting...
(1917) - The Wrong ManThe Wrong Man (1917 film)The Wrong Man is a 1917 Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Francelia Billington* Vester Pegg* William Steele - * Hoot Gibson* Helen Gibson* George Berrell...
(1917) - The Golden BulletThe Golden BulletThe Golden Bullet is a 1917 Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Fritzi Brunette* Vester Pegg* William Steele - * George Berrell* Hoot Gibson...
(1917) - The Mysterious OutlawThe Mysterious OutlawThe Mysterious Outlaw is a 1917 film featuring Harry Carey and released by Universal Pictures.-Cast:* Harry Carey* William Steele - * Jane Bernoudy* Elizabeth Janes...
(1917) - A 44-Calibre MysteryA 44-Calibre MysteryA 44-Calibre Mystery is a 1917 short Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Claire Du Brey* Hoot Gibson* Frank MacQuarrie* Vester Pegg* William Steele * Maude Emory-See also:* List of American films of 1917...
(1917) - Hair-Trigger BurkeHair-Trigger BurkeHair-Trigger Burke is a 1917 film starring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Ted Brooks* Claire Du Brey* Vester Pegg* William Steele -...
(1917) - The Fighting GringoThe Fighting Gringo (1917 film)The Fighting Gringo is a 1917 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey - William 'Red' Saunders* Claire Du Brey - May Smith* George Webb - Arthur Saxon* Rex De Rosselli - Ramon Orinez* T. D...
(1917) - Goin' StraightGoin' StraightGoin' Straight is a 1917 film featuring Harry Carey and released by Universal Pictures.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Priscilla Dean* Vester Pegg* Ted Brooks* Ed Jones* Charles Bryden* William Steele -...
(1917) - The Outlaw and the LadyThe Outlaw and the LadyThe Outlaw and the Lady is a 1917 film featuring Harry Carey and released by Universal Pictures.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Louise Lovely* Jack Richardson* William Steele - * Vester Pegg* Tote Du Crow - Butler...
(1917) - The Bad Man of CheyenneThe Bad Man of CheyenneThe Bad Man of Cheyenne is a 1917 silent Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Mike Rinaldi* Harry Carey* Priscilla Dean* Elizabeth Janes* Vester Pegg* Jack Richardson* William Steele -...
(1917) - Blood MoneyBlood Money (1917 film)Blood Money is a 1917 Western film directed by Fred Kelsey and starring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey* Louise Lovely* Vester Pegg* Jack Richardson* William Steele -...
(1917) - A Knight of the RangeA Knight of the RangeA Knight of the Range is a 1916 Western film featuring Harry Carey.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Olive Carey - Bess Dawson* Hoot Gibson - Bob Graham* William Canfield - Gentleman Dick* Bud Osborne - Sheriff* A.D. Blake - Nick...
(19161916 in filmThe year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
) - The Ring of DestinyThe Ring of DestinyThe Ring of Destiny is a 1915 Western film, directed by and starring Cleo Madison.-Cast:* Cleo Madison* Joe King* Hoot Gibson* William Steele -...
(19151915 in filmThe year 1915 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 8 : D.W Griffith's The Birth of a Nation premieres at Clune's Auditorium Los Angeles and breaks box office and film length records, running at a total length of 3 hrs 10 minutes.* June 18 : The Motion Picture Directors...
)