William O'Connell (actor)

American actor (1929–2024)

William O'Connell
Born	William O'Connell (1929-05-12)May 12, 1929 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	January 15, 2024(2024-01-15) (aged 94) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor

William O'Connell (May 12, 1929 – January 15, 2024) was an American film and television actor.

Biography

O'Connell was born in Los Angeles on May 12, 1929. He served in the Korean War in the 45th Infantry Division.^[1]

O'Connell worked often with Clint Eastwood, with whom he first appeared in the 1969 musical Paint Your Wagon. In 1972, O'Connell was cast as a nervous barber in Eastwood's second directorial effort, High Plains Drifter, released the following year. In 1976, O'Connell appeared as ferryman Sim Carstairs in The Outlaw Josey Wales, also directed by Eastwood. O'Connell's other roles include portrayals in Every Which Way But Loose and its sequel Any Which Way You Can, where he played a member of a comically inept biker gang constantly being outmatched by Eastwood.

In addition to his film career, O'Connell was very active on TV throughout the 1960s and '70s, appearing in about 50 different roles on such series such as Star Trek, Rawhide, Petticoat Junction, and Quincy, M.E.

O'Connell died at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, on January 15, 2024, at the age of 94.^[1]

Selected filmography

20,000 Eyes (1961) – Appraiser (uncredited)
Womanhunt (1962)
The Wheeler Dealers (1963) – Paid Weeper (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1965) (Season 3 Episode 29: "Off Season") - Art Summers
The War Lord (1965) – Volunteer rejected by Chrysagon (uncredited)
Do Not Disturb (1965) – Cecil Graves (uncredited)
Way... Way Out (1966) – Ponsonby
It's a Bikini World (1967) – McSnigg
The Big Mouth (1967) – Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Games (1967) – Party Guest #1
Star Trek, in "Journey to Babel" (1967, TV series) – Thelev
Petticoat Junction, in "All Sales Final" (1967, TV series) – Mr. Agnew
The Sweet Ride (1968) – Beach Resident (uncredited)
Ice Station Zebra (1968) – Survivor
Hook, Line & Sinker (1969) – Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Paint Your Wagon (1969) – Horace Tabor
The Happy Ending (1969) – Minister
Green Acres, in "A Tale of a Tail" (1969, TV series) – Hotel Clerk
Which Way to the Front? (1970) – Mr. Prescott (uncredited)
Scandalous John (1971) – Men's Store Clerk
The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972) – Bartender in Piercetown
High Plains Drifter (1973) – the Barber
Black Eye (1974) – Minister
Big Bad Mama (1974) – Crusade Preacher
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) – Sim Carstairs
Every Which Way but Loose (1978) – Elmo (Black Widow)
Any Which Way You Can (1980) – Elmo (Black Widow)
Stewardess School (1986) – Attorney

References

^ ^a ^b Evans, Greg (February 1, 2024). "William O'Connell Dies: Memorable 'Star Trek' Villain, Foils In Clint Eastwood Films Was 94". Deadline. Retrieved February 1, 2024.