Rhys Williams (Welsh actor) explained

Rhys Williams
Birth Date:	1897 12, df=yes
Birth Place:	Clydach, Wales
Death Place:	Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting Place:	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California
Occupation:	Actor
Years Active:	1941–1969
Spouse:	Elsie Dvorak
Children:	2

Rhys Williams (31 December 1897 – 28 May 1969) was a Welsh character actor. He appeared in 78 films over a span of 30 years and later appeared on several American television series.

Career

He made his 1941 film debut in the role of Dai Bando in How Green Was My Valley, a drama about a working-class Welsh family that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.^[1] Williams was the only Welsh actor in the cast. He is believed to have been the original narrator of the film, and was originally hired by director John Ford as a dialogue coach.^{[2] [3]}

During television's early years in America, Williams was in scores of series episodes, including the Adventures of Superman as a sadistic character in the 1952 episode "The Evil Three". Williams played art collector Rufus Varner in the 1958 Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Purple Woman", and appeared on the religion anthology series, Crossroads. His other television work was on such programmes as The Rifleman, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Peter Gunn, Riverboat and The Lloyd Bridges Show. His later appearances were on Temple Houston, 77 Sunset Strip, The Wild Wild West, 12 O'Clock High, Bonanza, The F.B.I., Mission: Impossible, Mannix, The Donna Reed Show, Here Come the Brides and The Andy Griffith Show.

Death

Williams died at the age of 71 in Santa Monica, California, on 28 May 1969. His remains are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.^[4]

Filmography

Broadway theatre

Title	Dates	Role	Theatre	Notes
Alice in Wonderland	24 Dec 1930 – 4 Jan 1931	Performer	Belmont Theatre		^[5]
King Richard II	5 Feb 1937 – Jun 1937	Second Herald Captain of a band of Welshmen Groom of the King's Stable	St. James Theatre		^[6]
King Richard II	15 Sep 1937 – 16 Oct 1937	Captain of a band of Welshmen Groom of the King's Stable	St. James Theatre		^[7]
Hamlet	12 Oct 1938 – Jan 1939	Player King Ambassador	St. James Theatre	Assistant stage manager	^[8]
Henry IV, Part 1	30 Jan 1939 – 1 Apr 1939	First Carrier Owen Glendower	St. James Theatre	Assistant stage manager	^[9]
Hamlet	4 Dec 1939 – 6 Jan 1940	Player King First Gravedigger	44th Street Theatre		^[10]
King Richard II	1 Apr 1940 – 27 Apr 1940	Captain of a band of Welshmen Lord Marshal Gardener	St. James Theatre		^[11]
	Nov 1940 – Sept 1941	John Goronwy Jones		Assistant to the Director	^[12]
	Sept 1941 – Jan 1942	John Goronwy Jones		Assistant to the Director
	14 Sep 1942 – 3 Oct 1942	Brimbo Watkyn	Morosco Theatre		^[13]
Lifeline	30 Nov 1942 – 5 Dec 1942	Captain J. McGrath, Master	Belasco Theatre		^[14]
Harriet	3 Mar 1943 – 1 Apr 1944	Calvin Stowe	Henry Miller's Theatre		^[15]
Chicken Every Sunday	5 Apr 1944 – 20 May 1944	Jim Blachman	Henry Miller's Theatre		^[16]
Chicken Every Sunday	20 May 1944 – 6 Jan 1945	Jim Blachman	Plymouth Theatre
Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker	10 Oct 1946 – 12 Oct 1946	Mr. Hooker	Music Box Theatre		^[17]
	30 Mar 1949 – 9 Apr 1949	Sam Wilkins	Mansfield Theatre		^[18]

Film

Title	Year	Role	Notes
How Green Was My Valley	1941		20th Century Fox Also served as technical advisor Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive	^[19]
Cairo	1942	Strange Man	MGM	^[20]
Gentleman Jim	1942		Warner Bros.	^[21]
Random Harvest	1942	Sam	MGM	^[22]
Remember Pearl Harbor	1942		Republic Pictures	^[23]
Underground Agent	1942		Columbia Pictures	^[24]
Mrs. Miniver	1942	Horace	MGM	^[25]
This Above All	1942	Sergeant (uncredited)	20th Century Fox	^[26]
Eagle Squadron	1942		Universal Pictures	^[27]
No Time for Love	1943	Clancy (uncredited)	Paramount Pictures	^[28]
Blood on the Sun	1945		Cagney Productions, Inc.	^[29]
You Came Along	1945	Colonel Stubbs	Paramount Pictures	^[30]
	1945		RKO Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive	^[31]
Voice of the Whistler	1945		Columbia Pictures	^[32]
	1945		Warner Bros.	^[33]
	1946		RKO	^[34]
	1946		Mars Film Corp.	^[35]
So Goes My Love	1946	Magel	Skirball-Manning Productions	^[36]
Cross My Heart	1946	Prosecutor	Paramount Pictures	^[37]
	1947	Judge	Paramount Pictures	^[38]
	1947	Inspector Carston	Paramount Pictures	^[39]
Moss Rose	1947		20th Century Fox	^[40]
	1947		RKO	^[41]
Easy Come, Easy Go	1947	Priest	Paramount Pictures	^[42]
If Winter Comes	1947		MGM	^[43]
Tenth Avenue Angel	1948	Blind Mac	MGM	^[44]
	1948		Columbia Pictures	^[45]
Hills of Home	1948		MGM	^[46]
Tokyo Joe	1949		Santana Pictures, Inc.	^[47]
Fighting Man of the Plains	1948		20th Century Fox	^[48]
	1949	Inspector General	Warner Bros.	^[49]
Bad Boy	1949		Allied Artists Pictures	^[50]
	1949		United Artists	^[51]
California Passage	1950		Republic Pictures	^[52]
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye	1950	Vic Mason	William Cagney Productions Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive	^[53]
Devil's Doorway	1950		MGM	^[54]
Tyrant of the Sea	1950		Columbia Pictures	^[55]
	1950	Chokecherry	Republic Pictures	^[56]
One Too Many	1950		Filmed 1950, released 1951 Hallmark Productions	^[57]
Lightning Strikes Twice	1951		Warner Bros.	^[58]
	1951		MGM	^[59]
	1951	Michaels, the Butler	Columbia Pictures	^[60]
	1951		MGM	^[61]
	1951	Mayor of Varonne	20th Century Fox	^[62]
Million Dollar Pursuit	1951		Republic Pictures	^[63]
Never Trust a Gambler	1951		Columbia Pictures	^[64]
Les Misérables	1952	Brevet	20th Century Fox	^[65]
	1952		Universal Pictures	^[66]
Carbine Williams	1952		MGM	^[67]
Mutiny	1952	Redlegs	King Brothers Productions	^[68]
Okinawa	1952		Columbia Pictures	^[69]
Plymouth Adventure	1952	(uncredited)	MGM	^[70]
Meet Me at the Fair	1953		Universal Pictures	^[71]
Julius Caesar	1953	Lucilius	MGM	^[72]
Scandal at Scourie	1953		MGM	^[73]
Man in the Attic	1953		20th Century Fox	^[74]
Bad for Each Other	1953		Columbia Pictures	^[75]
Johnny Guitar	1954		Republic Pictures	^[76]
	1954		Universal Pictures	^[77]
There's No Business Like Show Business	1954		20th Century Fox	^[78]
	1955	Turnkey	MGM	^[79]
Many Rivers to Cross	1955		MGM	^[80]
	1955		MGM	^[81]
	1955	Constable	United Artists	^[82]
Battle Cry	1955		Warner Bros.	^[83]
How to Be Very, Very Popular	1955		20th Century Fox	^[84]
Mohawk	1956		20th Century Fox	^[85]
	1956		20th Century Fox	^[86]
	1956		United Artists	^[87]
	1956		MGM	^[88]
Nightmare	1956		United Artists	^[89]
	1957		20th Century Fox	^[90]
Raintree County	1957		MGM	^[91]
Merry Andrew	1958	Constable	MGM	^[92]
Midnight Lace	1960		Universal Pictures	^[93]
	1965		Paramount Pictures	^[94]
Our Man Flint	1966		20th Century Fox	^[95]
Skullduggery	1970		Universal Pictures	^[96]

Television

Program	Episode	Air date	Notes
Four Star Playhouse	"Backstage"	6 November 1952	Stage manager
Studio One		10 November 1952	Guest Star
Four Star Playhouse	"Man on the Train"	15 January 1953	Raikes
Adventures of Superman		23 January 1953	Macy Taylor
Your Jeweler's Showcase	"Monkey's Paw"	7 April 1953		^[97]
Four Star Playhouse	"Night Ride"	7 May 1953	Bum
General Electric Theater	"Test of Love"	16 August 1953	Mr. Smith	^[98]
Four Star Playhouse		21 October 1954	Sidney	^[99]
	"Sonnets from the Lebanese"	8 November 1955		^[100]
	"Marriage That Couldn't Succeed"	c.1956		^[101]
Crossroads	"Our First Christmas Tree"	1956		^[102]
	"The Question"	2 September 1956	Professor Green	^[103]
General Electric Theater	"Mischief at Bandyleg"	3 November 1957	Matthew Magee	^[104]
Code 3	"Ashes Will Whisper"	1957
Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Season 2 Episode 32: "The Hands of Mr Ottermole"	1957	Mr. Summers	^[105]
Wagon Train	The Liam Fitzmorgan Story	28 October 1958	James Grady
	"The Busy Body"	17 December 1958	Uncle Fred
Perry Mason		6 December 1958	Rufus Varner
	"Blood Brothers"	26 May 1959		^[106]
	"Bloodlines"	10 October 1959
	"Letter of the Law"	1 December 1959
Riverboat	"Strange Request"	13 December 1959	Josiah Cragg
	"A Case of Identity"	19 January 1960
Bonanza	"Bitter Water"	9 April 1960	Andy McKaren
	"Sins of the Father"	19 April 1960
	"The Prodigal"	26 April 1960
Dr. Kate. Spitfire	TV pilot	1960		^[107]
	"The Passenger"	3 October 1960
	"Play Acting"	27 October 1960	Russell
	"The Law and Mr. McCoy"	1 February 1962	Judge Reuter
	"Fasten Your Money Belt"	1 March 1962		^[108]
		8 May 1963
	"Billy Hart"	28 November 1963	Judge Curry
77 Sunset Strip	"Not Such a Simple Knot"	17 January 1964	Uncle Molnar
12 O'Clock High	"Interlude"	27 November 1964	Adam MacRae
	"The Night of the Druid's Blood"	25 March 1966	Dr. Tristam
	"The Assassin"	9 October 1966	Dean Vincent Sutherland
Armstrong Circle Theatre	"Brigadoon"	15 October 1966		^[109]
Mission Impossible	"The Train"	8 March 1967	Prime Minister Ferenc Larya
	" Aunt Bee, the Juror"	23 October 1967	Judge Cranston	^[110]
Here Come the Brides	"A Kiss For Just So"	29 January 1969	Bishop Newkirk
Mannix	"Last Rites for Miss Emma"	8 March 1969	Doctor

Notes and References

1. Web site: The 14th Academy Awards (1942) Nominees and Winners. 3 October 2014 . 20 August 2019.
2. Web site: How Green Was My Valley . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
3. Web site: Rhys Williams at Reel Classics . ReelClassics . 25 February 2021.
4. Book: Ellenberger. Allan R.. Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. 2001. McFarland. 9780786450190. 101. 18 July 2017.
5. Web site: Alice in Wonderland . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
6. Web site: King Richard II . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
7. Web site: King Richard II . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
8. Web site: Hamlet . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
9. Web site: Henry IV, Part 1 . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
10. Web site: Hamlet . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
11. Web site: King Richard II . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
12. Web site: The Corn Is Green . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
13. Web site: The Morning Star . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
14. Web site: Lifeline . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
15. Web site: Harriet . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
16. Web site: Chicken Every Sunday . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
17. Web site: Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
18. Web site: The Biggest Thief in Town . IBDB . 25 February 2021.
19. Web site: How Green Was My Valley . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 27 November 2022.
20. Web site: Cairo . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
21. Web site: Gentleman Jim . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
22. Web site: Random Harvest . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
23. Web site: Remember Pearl Harbor . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
24. Web site: Underground Agent . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
25. Web site: Mrs. Miniver . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
26. Web site: This Above All . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
27. Web site: Eagle Squadron . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
28. Web site: No Time for Love . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
29. Web site: Blood on the Sun . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
30. Web site: You Came Along . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
31. Web site: The Bells of St. Mary's . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
32. Web site: Voice of the Whistler . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
33. Web site: The Corn Is Green . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
34. Web site: The Spiral Staircase . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
35. Web site: The Strange Woman . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
36. Web site: So Goes My Love . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
37. Web site: Cross My Heart . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
38. Web site: The Trouble with Women . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
39. Web site: The Imperfect Lady . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
40. Web site: Moss Rose . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
41. Web site: The Farmer's Daughter . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
42. Web site: Easy Come, Easy Go . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
43. Web site: If Winter Comes . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
44. Web site: Tenth Avenue Angel . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
45. Web site: The Black Arrow . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
46. Web site: Hills of Home . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
47. Web site: Tokyo Joe . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
48. Web site: Fighting Man of the Plains . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
49. Web site: The Inspector General . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
50. Web site: Bad Boy . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
51. Web site: The Crooked Way . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
52. Web site: California Passage . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
53. Web site: Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
54. Web site: Devil's Doorway . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
55. Web site: Tyrant of the Sea . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
56. Web site: The Showdown . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
57. Web site: One Too Many . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
58. Web site: Lightning Strikes Twice . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
59. Web site: The Law and the Lady . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
60. Web site: The Son of Dr. Jekyll . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
61. Web site: The Light Touch . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
62. Web site: The Sword of Monte Cristo . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
63. Web site: Million Dollar Pursuit . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
64. Web site: Never Trust a Gambler . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
65. Web site: Les Misérables . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
66. Web site: The World in His Arms . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
67. Web site: Carbine Williams . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
68. Web site: Mutiny . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
69. Web site: Okinawa . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
70. Web site: Plymouth Adventure. AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
71. Web site: Meet Me at the Fair . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
72. Web site: Julius Caesar . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
73. Web site: Scandal at Scourie . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
74. Web site: Man in the Attic . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
75. Web site: Bad for Each Other . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
76. Web site: Johnny Guitar . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
77. Web site: The Black Shield of Falworth. AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
78. Web site: There's No Business Like Show Business . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
79. Web site: The King's Thief . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
80. Web site: Many Rivers to Cross . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
81. Web site: The Scarlet Coat . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
82. Web site: The Kentuckian . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
83. Web site: Battle Cry . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
84. Web site: How to Be Very, Very Popular . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
85. Web site: Mohawk . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
86. Web site: The Desperados Are in Town . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
87. Web site: The Boss . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
88. Web site: The Fastest Gun Alive . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
89. Web site: Nightmare . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
90. Web site: The Restless Breed . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
91. Web site: Raintree County . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
92. Web site: Merry Andrew . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
93. Web site: Midnight Lace . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
94. Web site: The Sons of Katie Elder . AFI Catalog of Feature Films . 25 February 2021.
95. Web site: Our Man Flint . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
96. Web site: Skullduggery . TCM . Turner Classic Movies, Inc. . 25 February 2021.
97. Web site: Your Jeweler's Showcase . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
98. Web site: General Electric Theater . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
99. Web site: Four Star Playhouse . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
100. Web site: The Danny Thomas Show . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
101. Web site: The Best of the Post . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
102. Web site: Crossroads . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
103. Web site: The Loretta Young Show . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
104. Web site: General Electric Theater . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
105. Web site: Code 3 . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
106. Web site: The Rifleman Cast: Guest Stars . Levy-Gardner-Laven Productions, Inc . 25 February 2021.
107. Web site: Dr. Kate. Spitfire . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
108. Web site: The Bob Cummings Show . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
109. Web site: Armstrong Circle Theatre . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.
110. Web site: The Andy Griffith Show . UCLA Film & Television Archive . 25 February 2021.