William Johnstone (actor)

William S. Johnstone, also known as Bill Johnstone (1908–1996) was an American radio and screen actor. He is best known for his voice work as the title character on The Shadow[1] for five seasons from 1938–1943.

William Johnstone in the trailer to the 1953 film Down Three Dark Streets.

Early years

William S. Johnstone was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Scottish-born father and a German-born mother.[2][3] Some newspaper publicity said he was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and came to the United States at age three.[4] He worked as a newspaper reporter before he became an actor.[5]

Career

Johnstone acted on stage with the Theatre Guild at the beginning of his career, appearing in a number of bit parts.[6][7] He had supporting roles in 1927 in Fog-Bound[8] and The Manhatters.[9] In 1928, he played the title role in Him, written by E.E. Cummings.[10] Cummings later commented, "William Johnstone made a marvelously attractive unhero ..."[10][7] He also appeared that year in a lead role in Kate Clugston's These Days.[9]:284

In 1938, he was selected over 45 other actors to replace Orson Welles as The Shadow on radio.[11] He also starred as Ben Guthrie in the radio version of The Lineup,[12]:201-202 and became one of the most prolific radio actors of his time, with many supporting roles. He had a memorable role in the ".22 Rifle for Christmas" episode of Dragnet on radio, and reprised it on the television series. In film, he portrayed John Jacob Astor IV in Titanic, and had a supporting role in Down Three Dark Streets. He played Judge James T. Lowell in As The World Turns on television in a long run from 1956–1979.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Johnstone's other roles in radio included those shown in the table below.

ProgramCharacter
The Casebook of Gregory HoodSandor "Sandy" Taylor[12]:66
Five Star JonesEditor[12]:119
Inspector Mark SabreMark Sabre[12]:163-164
Maudie's DiaryMaudie's father[12]:221
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage PatchBob Redding[12]:236
The New Adventures of Nero WolfeInspector Cramer[12]:254-255
Pepper Young's FamilySam Young[12]:268
Six-Gun JusticeJim Dance[20]
Valiant LadyJim Barrett[12]:346
The WhistlerThe Whistler[21]:273
Wilderness RoadSimon Weston[12]:356
The Woman from NowhereEric Wolfe[22]

He also had supporting roles in Pursuit,[21]:206 Nick Carter, Master Detective,[21] Calamity Jane[12] and Woman from Nowhere.[12]:358

Personal life

Johnstone was married to Georgia Brady Johnstone, a former dancer who became friend and secretary to his The Shadow co-star Agnes Moorehead.[3]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1948All My SonsAttorneyUncredited
1948The Decision of Christopher BlakePresident's Aide in DreamUncredited
1948EnchantmentNarratorVoice
1950Military Academy with That Tenth Avenue GangCol. Jamison
1950The Magnificent YankeeLawyerUncredited
1951Half AngelMinisterUncredited
1951My Favorite SpyPrenticeUncredited
1953TitanicJohn Jacob Astor
1953Beneath the 12-Mile ReefCrewman of 'Snapper'Uncredited
1954Riding ShotgunCol. Flynn
1954Down Three Dark StreetsFBI Chief Frank Pace

References
  1. "Shadow: Bill Johnstone Returns In Lead Character". The Pittsburgh Press. Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh. September 27, 1942. p. 57. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "United States Census 1930", United States Census, 1930; New York, New York; page 10B, line 89, enumeration district 0001-0250.
  3. Nissen, Axel (2017-10-13). Agnes Moorehead on Radio, Stage and Television. McFarland. pp. 8–10. ISBN 9781476630359.
  4. Biggs, Beatrice (August 28, 1939). "Radio News". The Daily Clintonian. Indiana, Clinton. p. 2. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Dial Lines". The Des Moines Register. Iowa, Des Moines. April 30, 1936. p. 11. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Mutual Folks Turn Talents to the Stage". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. February 19, 1939. p. 47. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Norman, Charles (1958). The magic-maker, E.E. Cummings. Macmillan. pp. 233–234.
  8. "William Johnstone". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  9. Hischak, Thomas S. (2012). Broadway Plays and Musicals: Descriptions and Essential Facts of More Than 14,000 Shows through 2007. McFarland. p. 284. ISBN 9780786453092. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  10. Sawyer-Lauçanno, Christopher (2004). E.E. Cummings: A Biography. Sourcebooks, Inc. p. 318. ISBN 9781570717758. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  11. "(photo caption)". Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin, Madison. October 17, 1938. p. 22. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  13. Tranberg, Charles (2007-08-31). I Love the Illusion: The Life and Career of Agnes Moorehead. BearManor Media. p. 59. ISBN 9781593930950.
  14. "Radio Spirits » Blog Archive » Happy Birthday, William Johnstone!". www.radiospirits.info. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  15. Reinehr, Robert C.; Swartz, Jon D. (2010). The A to Z of Old Time Radio. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 141. ISBN 9780810876163.
  16. Wilson, Scott (2016-09-16). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 383. ISBN 9781476625997.
  17. Kear, Lynn; Rossman, John (2008-02-13). The Complete Kay Francis Career Record: All Film, Stage, Radio and Television Appearances. McFarland. p. 247. ISBN 9780786431984.
  18. Shimeld, Thomas J. (2011-08-25). Walter B. Gibson and The Shadow. McFarland. pp. 77–78. ISBN 9780786490059.
  19. Cox, Jim (2006). The Daytime Serials of Television, 1946-1960. McFarland. p. 170. ISBN 9780786424290.
  20. Byrd, Boarman (June 3, 1935). "Between Broadcasts". The Miami News. Florida, Miami. p. 6. Retrieved August 22, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Cox, Jim (2002). Radio Crime Fighters: Over 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland. pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-0-7864-4324-6.
  22. "Irene Rich Stars in New Dramatic Series". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. January 15, 1944. p. 13. Retrieved August 23, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.


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