biography
Born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 30, 1923, actor William "Bill" Campbell survived a tough stint in the Navy during World War II.
Signing his first film contract with Warner Bros. in
early 1950, Campbell's first film for the studio was the film noir release The Breaking Point (1950; with John Garfield and Patricia
Neal), in which Campbell had a supporting role. In 1951, he tried his fortunes at MGM, where he acted in such films as Battle
Circus (1953; with Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson) and Code Two (1953; with Ralph Meeker
and Elaine Stewart). He eventually moved to Universal-International, around the time of the death
of the studio system.
Campbell's first starring role came in the Columbia film noir release Cell 2455 Death Row (1955; with Kathryn Grant and Vince Edwards). He received good notices in Love Me Tender (1956; with Richard Egan, Debra Paget, and Elvis Presley) and had a few more starring roles in films, such as the intriguing film noir Man in the Vault (1956; with Karen Sharpe, Anita Ekberg, and Berry Kroeger) before sliding back into supporting roles in the later 1950s. In 1958, he starred in the syndicated television series Cannonball, which lasted for one season. Campbell was a natural in film noir thrillers and westerns in the 1950s, and into the 1960s he tackled roles in horror films, including Dementia 13 (1963; with Luana Anders) and Blood Bath (1966; with Lori Saunders). Campbell's first wife was the beautiful and notorious Judith Campbell Exner, one-time mistress of Frank Sinatra, President John F. Kennedy, and mob boss Sam Giancana; the couple married in 1952 and divorced in 1958. Campbell then married actress Barbara Bricker in 1960, but the marriage dissolved in just a few months. |
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the films of william campbellHoliday for Sinners (1952)
With Gig Young in the MGM drama Holiday for SinnersBig Leaguer (1953)
From the MGM drama Big LeaguerBattle Cry (1955)
From the Warner Bros. war film Battle CryCell 2455 Death Row (1955)
Bad guy Campbell abuses Marian Carr in the Columbia film noir release Battle CryMan Without a Star (1955) 
LEFT: With Jeanne Crain and Kirk Douglas in the Universal-International western Man Without a Star. RIGHT: Campbell as Jeff JimsonRunning Wild (1955) 
Campbell portrays policeman Ralph Barton in Universal-International's film noir flick Running Wild. LEFT: With Kathleen Case. RIGHT: With Jan MerlinLove Me Tender (1956)
Campbell sings with Elvis Presley in the 20th Century Fox drama Love Me TenderMan in the Vault (1956)
With Karen Sharpe in the RKO film noir thriller Man in the Vault. This film was produced by John Wayne's Batjac ProductionsEighteen and Anxious (1957)
From Republic's tormented teen drama Eighteen and AnxiousDementia 13 (1963)
With Mary Mitchel in Francis Ford Coppola's American International horror release Dementia 13The Secret Invasion (1964)
From the war drama The Secret Invasion with Henry Silva, Edd Byrnes, and Stewart Granger. This film was directed by Roger CormanTrack of the Vampire (1966) 
Campbell as vampire Antonio Sordi with girlfriend Lori Saunders in the American International horror flick Track of the Vampire, also known as Blood BathBlack Gunn (1972)
From the Columbia action flick Black Gunn with Jim Brown, Gary Conway, Luciana Paluzzi, Timothy Brown, and Bruce Gloverlater yearsCampbell's last role in a theatrically released film came in the blacksploitation crime thriller Black Gunn (1972; with Jim Brown, Martin Landau, and Luciana Paluzzi). Yet he worked steadily in television through the late 1970s on such shows as Police Woman, Medical Center, and The Streets of San Francisco. Campbell then went to work as the director for fund raising at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, but he occasionally took on television roles through the 1990s. Sadly, William Campbell passed away from natural causes on April 29, 2011, at the age of 87. He was survived by his third wife, Tereza. |
filmographyFILM
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This page premiered July 17, 2009.
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