
Acting
Born May 21, 1915 · Brooklyn, New York, USA
William Herman Katt (born Herman August Wilhelm Katt; May 15, 1915 – September 21, 1992), known as Bill Williams, was an American television and film actor. He is best known for his starring role in the early television series The Adventures of Kit Carson, which aired in syndication from 1951 to 1955. Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York to German immigrant parents. He attended the Pratt Institute, and became a professional swimmer, performing in underwater shows. He landed a walk-on role as a theater usher in King Kong (1933). He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, but was discharged before the end and became an actor. His credited debut was in The Blue Room in 1944, using the professional name Bill Williams. His first starring role was opposite Susan Hayward in Deadline at Dawn (1946). Williams appeared in ten films before he landed the lead role in television's The Adventures of Kit Carson, which ran for 105 episodes. When the series ended, Williams' star power faded. It was revived in 1957 when he co-starred with Betty White on television in Date with the Angels. Williams portrayed Federal agent Martin Flaherty in The Scarface Mob (1959), the pilot for ABC's The Untouchables. However, when the series was accepted, the role went to Jerry Paris. Williams turned down the lead in Sea Hunt in 1958, believing that an underwater show would not work on television. Lloyd Bridges accepted the part and turned it into a hit. Williams did star as a former Navy frogman in Assignment: Underwater, which ran for just one season. He played a variety of roles on Perry Mason, in which his wife Barbara Hale co-starred as Raymond Burr's secretary Della Street. In a 1962 episode, "The Case of the Crippled Cougar," he played defendant Mike Preston. In 1963, he was murder victim Floyd Grant in "The Case of the Bluffing Blast." In 1965 Williams played murderer Charles Shaw in "The Case of the Murderous Mermaid," and was murderer Burt Payne in "The Case of the 12th Wildcat". Williams appeared with his son in a final season episode of Ironside, bringing him together again with Raymond Burr. He also made numerous guest appearances on television and worked in low-budget science fiction films until his retirement.

Goldie and the Boxer Go to Hollywood
1981

When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
1979

A Fire in the Sky
1978

69 Minutes
1976

The Flight of the Grey Wolf
1976

The Giant Spider Invasion
1975

125 Rooms of Comfort
1974

Scandalous John
1971

Rio Lobo
1970

Buckskin
1968

Spaceflight IC-1
1965

Tickle Me
1965

The Hallelujah Trail
1965

A Letter to Nancy
1965

Law of the Lawless
1964

Stampede at Bitter Creek
1962

The Sergeant Was a Lady
1961

The Alamo
1960

Hell to Eternity
1960

Oklahoma Territory
1960

A Dog's Best Friend
1959

The Scarface Mob
1959

Alaska Passage
1959

Legion of the Doomed
1958

Space Master X-7
1958

Slim Carter
1957

Pawnee
1957

The Storm Rider
1957

The Halliday Brand
1957

The Broken Star
1956

The Wild Dakotas
1956