Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Fawcett was born as William Fawcett Thompson in High Forest Township in Olmsted County near Rochester in southeastern [[Minnesota]]. The name "Fawcett" came from the [[physician]] who delivered him. His father, William Eaton Lawrence Thompson, was a [[Methodist]] [[pastor]] who encouraged young Bill to enter the ministry. On September 5, 1916, three days before his twenty-second birthday, Fawcett was licensed to preach by the Hamline Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Minnesota.

Fawcett was born as William Fawcett Thompson in High Forest Township in Olmsted County near Rochester in southeastern [[Minnesota]]. The name "Fawcett" came from the [[physician]] who delivered him. His father, William Eaton Lawrence Thompson, was a [[Methodist]] [[pastor]] who encouraged young Bill to enter the ministry. On September 5, 1916, three days before his twenty-second birthday, Fawcett was licensed to preach by the Hamline Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westernclippings.com/heavies/wmfawcett_charactersheavies.shtml|title=William Fawcett|publisher=Westernclippings.com|author=Boyd Magers|accessdate=August 31, 2020}}</ref>

During [[World War I]], Fawcett served as an [[ambulance]] driver in the [[United States Army]]. He graduated from Methodist-affiliated Hamline University in the capital city of [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], Minnesota. Fawcett was decorated by the [[France|French]] [[government]] with the Légion d'honneur for his care of the wounded. After his military service, he went into acting, instead of the ministry, first in [[Canada]] and then in the [[United States]]. He had performed in church dramas and acted so convincingly that his mother would sometimes cry over his characterizations. He performed in repertory theater and stock companies during the 1920s and 1930s.

During [[World War I]], Fawcett served as an [[ambulance]] driver in the [[United States Army]]. He graduated from Methodist-affiliated Hamline University in the capital city of [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], Minnesota. Fawcett was decorated by the [[France|French]] [[government]] with the Légion d'honneur for his care of the wounded. After his military service, he went into acting, instead of the ministry, first in [[Canada]] and then in the [[United States]]. He had performed in church dramas and acted so convincingly that his mother would sometimes cry over his characterizations. He performed in repertory theater and stock companies during the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name=clippings/>

In 1936, Fawcett procured his Ph.D. in English Renaissance theatre from the University of Nebraska at [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]]. He then became a [[professor]] of theater arts at [[Michigan State University]] in East Lansing, [[Michigan]].

In 1936, Fawcett procured his Ph.D. in English Renaissance theatre from the University of Nebraska at [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]]. He then became a [[professor]] of theater arts at [[Michigan State University]] in East Lansing, [[Michigan]].<ref name=clippings/>

==Heading to Hollywood==

==Heading to Hollywood==

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|publisher=Dougmacaulay.com; 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|publisher=Dougmacaulay.com; Material no longer accessible on-line}}</ref>

Fawcett's roles continued in 1949 as Professor (He got to portray his previous occupational role) Hammil, a scientist and [[inventor]], in ''[[Batman]]'' and as [[Merlin]] the Magician in ''The Adventures of Sir Galahad,'' He played Ezra Fielding that same year in ''Barbary Pirate'' and a [[judge]] in ''Ride, Ryder, Ride!''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/>

Fawcett's roles continued in 1949 as Professor (He got to portray his previous occupational role) Hammil, a scientist and [[inventor]], in ''Batman and Robin'' and as [[Merlin]] the Magician in ''The Adventures of Sir Galahad.''<ref name=clippings/> He played Ezra Fielding that same year in ''Barbary Pirate'' and a [[judge]] in ''Ride, Ryder, Ride!''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/>

===Films in the 1950s===

===Films in the 1950s===