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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; http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Fawcett,_William/index.html]</ref>
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; http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Fawcett,_William/index.html]</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">[http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=William&actor_last=Fawcett Great Character Actors<!-- Bot generated title -->]</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|accessdate=August 30, 2020}}</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,''<ref name="mtv.com">[http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/20184/bio.jhtml William Fawcett | Biography, Celebrity Photos and Information | MTV<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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 as [[Merlin]] the Magician in ''The Adventures of Sir Galahad,''<ref name="mtv.com">[http://www.mtv.com/movies/person/20184/bio.jhtml William Fawcett | Biography, Celebrity Photos and Information | MTV<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He played Ezra Fielding that same year in ''Barbary Pirate'' and a [[judge]] in ''Ride, Ryder, Ride!''<ref name="Great Character Actors"/>