Changes

==Heading to Hollywood==

==Heading to Hollywood==

In 1942, he left Michigan State to audition in [[Hollywood]] as an actor himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269514/bio|title=William Fawcett Biography|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|accessdate=August 30, 2020}}</ref> He sought a part as a college professor but was turned down on the grounds that he did not fit the part. Fawcett was a thin, wiry man and filled the bill for Pete, the ornery, cantankerous, but fiercely loyal, old coot. Fawcett adopted his stage name when he found that there were several other actors already using the name "William Thompson."<ref>[http://brokenwheelranch.com/pete.htm;  

In 1942, he left Michigan State to audition in [[Hollywood]] as an actor himself.<ref name=imdb>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269514/bio|title=William Fawcett Biography|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|accessdate=August 30, 2020}}</ref> He sought a part as a college professor but was turned down on the grounds that he did not fit the part. Fawcett was a thin, wiry man and filled the bill for Pete, the ornery, cantankerous, but fiercely loyal, old coot. Fawcett adopted his stage name when he found that there were several other actors already using the name "William Thompson."<ref>[http://brokenwheelranch.com/pete.htm;  

His first film credit came at the age of fifty-two, when in 1946, he portrayed Judge Smith in ''Stars Over Texas''. In 1947, he starred as Nat in ''Green Dolphin Street'' and as Andre the beachcomber in ''The Sea Hound.'' That same year, he was Uncle Bob in ''Pioneer Justice.'' In 1948, Fawcett portrayed Judge Hammond in ''Check Your Guns'' and as a news hawker in ''Superman'' (1978).<ref name="Great Character Actors">{{cite web|url=http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=William&actor_last=Fawcett|title=William Fawcett: Great Character Actors; Material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>

His first film credit came at the age of fifty-two, when in 1946, he portrayed Judge Smith in ''Stars Over Texas''. In 1947, he starred as Nat in ''Green Dolphin Street'' and as Andre the beachcomber in ''The Sea Hound.'' That same year, he was Uncle Bob in ''Pioneer Justice.'' In 1948, Fawcett portrayed Judge Hammond in ''Check Your Guns'' and as a news hawker in ''Superman'' (1978).<ref name="Great Character Actors">{{cite web|url=http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=William&actor_last=Fawcett|title=William Fawcett: Great Character Actors; Material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>

In 1951, one of his busiest years, he was Mr. Tuttle in ''The Mating Season,'' Mr. Jackson in ''Mysterious Island,'' Old Mountain Man in ''Comin' Round the Mountain,'' Alkalai in ''Cattle Queen,'' and Alpha in ''Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere.'' He played Washoe, a ranch cook, in ''Hills of Utah.'' He was Ahkmid in ''The Magic Carpet.'' In 1952, Fawcett played Weatherbee in ''Kansas Territory,'' the High Priest in ''King of the Congo,'' Caretaker in ''Has Anybody Seen My Gal?,'' and Dr. Rolph in ''Blackhawk,'' a serial. He played [[cattle]] rancher Uncle John in ''Barbed Wire'' (1952).<ref name="Great Character Actors"/>

In 1951, one of his busiest years, he was Mr. Tuttle in ''The Mating Season,'' Mr. Jackson in ''Mysterious Island,'' Old Mountain Man in ''Comin' Round the Mountain,'' Alkalai in ''Cattle Queen,'' and Alpha in ''Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere.'' He played Washoe, a ranch cook, in ''Hills of Utah.'' He was Ahkmid in ''The Magic Carpet.'' In 1952, Fawcett played Weatherbee in ''Kansas Territory,'' the High Priest in ''King of the Congo,'' Caretaker in ''Has Anybody Seen My Gal?,'' and Dr. Rolph in ''Blackhawk,'' a serial. He played [[cattle]] rancher Uncle John in ''Barbed Wire'' (1952).<ref name="Great Character Actors"/>

In 1953, Fawcett continued as Dr. Fairchild in ''Neanderthal Man'' and as Orin Hadley in ''Run for the Hills.'' In 1954, he was cast as Matthew Barnes in ''Dakota Incident,''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> and "Pa" to Andy Griffith in ''No Time for Sergeants.''. He was also featured in archival footage on the children's program, ''The Gabby Hayes Show.''<ref name="mtv.com"/> He also appeared in [[Walt Disney]]'s television miniseries, ''Davy Crockett,'' with Fess Parker in the title role.<ref name=imbd/>  

In 1953, Fawcett continued as Dr. Fairchild in ''Neanderthal Man'' and as Orin Hadley in ''Run for the Hills.'' In 1954, he was cast as Matthew Barnes in ''Dakota Incident,''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> and "Pa" to Andy Griffith in ''No Time for Sergeants.''. He was also featured in archival footage on the children's program, ''The Gabby Hayes Show.''<ref name="mtv.com"/> He also appeared in [[Walt Disney]]'s television miniseries, ''Davy Crockett,'' with Fess Parker in the title role.<ref name=imdb/>  

In 1958, Fawcett was a [[farmer]] in ''Good Day for a Hanging''.<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> From 1957 to 1959, Fawcett appeared as Sam Miller, the hanged [[newspaper]] [[publisher]] of the ''Wilcox Clarion'' [[newspaper]] in Willcox, [[Arizona]], in the premiere episode of the syndicated western series, ''26 Men,'' stories about the Arizona Rangers, starring Tristram Coffin. He also appeared in the series in various roles on four other occasions.

In 1958, Fawcett was a [[farmer]] in ''Good Day for a Hanging''.<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> From 1957 to 1959, Fawcett appeared as Sam Miller, the hanged [[newspaper]] [[publisher]] of the ''Wilcox Clarion'' [[newspaper]] in Willcox, [[Arizona]], in the premiere episode of the syndicated western series, ''26 Men,'' stories about the Arizona Rangers, starring Tristram Coffin. He also appeared in the series in various roles on four other occasions.<ref name=imdb/>

===Films of the 1960s===

===Films of the 1960s===

In the 1960s, the roles in film grew fewer. He was Lester Lonnergan in Meredith Willson's ''[[The Music Man]]'' in 1962 and Mike in ''The Quick Gun'' in 1964. He appeared as Steinmetz in ''King Rat'' (1965) and as Jensen in  ''Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter'' (1966). He was Ollie Jensen in ''Hostile Guns'' in 1967. He played Tax Man in ''Blackbeard's Ghost'' in 1968. In 1969 and 1970, Fawcett appeared, respectively, in two Disney films, ''The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes'' (starring the teenaged Kurt Russell) and ''Menace on the Mountain.''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> In 1969, Fawcett played the key supporting role as Old Man Warner in the film version of Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery."

In the 1960s, the roles in film grew fewer. He was Lester Lonnergan in Meredith Willson's ''[[The Music Man]]'' in 1962 and Mike in ''The Quick Gun'' in 1964. He appeared as Steinmetz in ''King Rat'' (1965) and as Jensen in  ''Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter'' (1966). He was Ollie Jensen in ''Hostile Guns'' in 1967. He played Tax Man in ''Blackbeard's Ghost'' in 1968. In 1969 and 1970, Fawcett appeared, respectively, in two Disney films, ''The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes'' (starring the teenaged Kurt Russell) and ''Menace on the Mountain.''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/> In 1969, Fawcett played the key supporting role as Old Man Warner in the film version of Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery."<ref name=imdb/>

===Guest starring on television===

===Guest starring on television===

He also appeared on such series as ''[[The Public Defender (TV series)|The Public Defender]],'' ''Brave Eagle,'' ''The Lone Ranger'' (five times), ''Annie Oakley,'' ''Pony Express'' (in the episode "The Story of Julesburg," Colorado), ''Riverboat,'' ''Sugarfoot,'' ''The Tall Man,'' ''Laramie,'' ''[[Leave It To Beaver]],'' ''[[Straightaway]],'' ''The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin,'' ''The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters,'' ''Circus Boy,'' ''The Dakotas,'' ''Adam-12,'' ''Cheyenne,'' ''I Dream of Jeannie,'' ''The Law and Mr. Jones,'' ''Tammy,'' ''Frontier Justice,'' ''Maverick,'' ''Dundee and the Culhane,''  ''[[The Investigators (TV series)|The Investigators]],'' ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' ''The Virginian'' (nine times), ''[[The Road West (TV series)|The Road West]],'' ''Rawhide,'' ''77 Sunset Strip,'' and ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' (episode: ''The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank'').  

He also appeared on such series as ''[[The Public Defender (TV series)|The Public Defender]],'' ''Brave Eagle,'' ''The Lone Ranger'' (five times), ''Annie Oakley,'' ''Pony Express'' (in the episode "The Story of Julesburg," Colorado), ''Riverboat,'' ''Sugarfoot,'' ''The Tall Man,'' ''Laramie,'' ''[[Leave It To Beaver]],'' ''[[Straightaway]],'' ''The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin,'' ''The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters,'' ''Circus Boy,'' ''The Dakotas,'' ''Adam-12,'' ''Cheyenne,'' ''I Dream of Jeannie,'' ''The Law and Mr. Jones,'' ''Tammy,'' ''Frontier Justice,'' ''Maverick,'' ''Dundee and the Culhane,''  ''[[The Investigators (TV series)|The Investigators]],'' ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' ''The Virginian'' (nine times), ''[[The Road West (TV series)|The Road West]],'' ''Rawhide,'' ''77 Sunset Strip,'' and ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' (episode: ''The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank'').  

Fawcett was cast five times, including the role of a banker in  ''Buffalo Bill, Jr.''<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967," ''West Texas Historical Reviews,'' Vol. 89 (2013), p. 114.</ref> Fawcett also had a lead as Jed McNabb in a dramatic episode of ''Fireside Theatre'' entitled, "To Stand Alone."<ref name="William Fawcett - TV.com"/> He portrayed a motel owner in the 1962 ''Perry Mason'' episode, "The Case of the Bluffing Blast," and a pawn shop owner in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Wednesday Woman." He also guest starred on  Robert Conrad's unconventional western series, ''The Wild Wild West.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Fawcett,_William/index.html|title=William Fawcett Biography and Filmography|publisher=starplus}}</ref>

Fawcett was cast five times, including the role of a banker in  ''Buffalo Bill, Jr.''<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967," ''West Texas Historical Reviews,'' Vol. 89 (2013), p. 114.</ref> Fawcett also had a lead as Jed McNabb in a dramatic episode of ''Fireside Theatre'' entitled, "To Stand Alone."<ref name="William Fawcett - TV.com"/> He portrayed a motel owner in the 1962 ''Perry Mason'' episode, "The Case of the Bluffing Blast," and a pawn shop owner in the 1964 episode, "The Case of the Wednesday Woman." He also guest starred on  Robert Conrad's unconventional western series, ''The Wild Wild West.''<ref name=imdb/>

==Death of the Fawcetts==

==Death of the Fawcetts==