Actor
John Williams
Born 15 April 1903 · Chalfont, Buckinghamshire, England, UK — died 5 May 1983
John Williams (1903–1983) was an English character actor of stage, film and television. He is best remembered as the courteous Chief Inspector Hubbard in Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder, and later as the butler Mr. French on TV's Family Affair. He was a dependable supporting presence in 1950s Hollywood.
Key films
Dial M for Murder (1954)
His signature screen role as the shrewd Chief Inspector Hubbard in Hitchcock's thriller.
Sabrina (1954)
Showed his polished supporting work in a Billy Wilder romantic comedy.
To Catch a Thief (1955)
Gave him a second Hitchcock collaboration, as an insurance man opposite Cary Grant.
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Added to his run of strong supporting parts in a classic courtroom drama.
Midnight Lace (1960)
A later Hollywood thriller role showing his steady presence in suspense films.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 35
- 1942The Goose Steps Out · as Maj. BishopActor
- 1942The Foreman Went to France · as 'English' Army CaptainActor
- 1942The Next of Kin · as General Cooper (uncredited)Actor
- 1942The Big Blockade · as Voice over (uncredited)Actor
- 1948A Woman's Vengeance · as Prosecuting CounselActor
- 1951Kind Lady · as Mr. FosterActor
- 1951The Lady and the Bandit · as Archbald PuffinActor
- 1952Thunder in the East · as General Sir Henry HarrisonActor
- 1954Dial M for Murder · as Chief Inspector HubbardActor
- 1954Sabrina · as Thomas FairchildActor
- 1954The Student Prince · as LutzActor
- 1955To Catch a Thief · as H. H. HughsonActor
- 1956The Solid Gold Cadillac · as John T. 'Jack' BlessingtonActor
- 1956D-Day the Sixth of June · as Brig. RussellActor
- 1957Witness for the Prosecution · as Brogan-MooreActor
- 1957Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? · as Irving La Salle Jr.Actor
- 1957Island in the Sun · as Colonel WhittinghamActor
- 1957The Clouded Image · as SandalActor
- 1959The Young Philadelphians · as Gilbert DickinsonActor
- 1960Midnight Lace · as Inspector ByrnesActor
- 1960Visit to a Small Planet · as DeltonActor
- 196124 Hours in a Woman's Life · as StevensActor
- 1961Five Fingers : Dossier · as Nicolas ConstantineActor
- 1963Pygmalion · as Colonel PickeringActor
- 1965Dear Brigitte · as Peregrine UpjohnActor
- 1965Harlow · as Jonathan MartinActor
- 1966The Last of the Secret Agents? · as J. Fredrick DuvalActor
- 1967Double Trouble · as Gerald WaverlyActor
- 1968The Secret War of Harry Frigg · as Gen. Francis MayhewActor
- 1968A Flea in Her Ear · as Dr. FinacheActor
- 1972The Hound of the Baskervilles · as Arthur FranklandActor
- 1974Lost in the Stars · as JudgeActor
- 1976No Deposit, No Return · as JamesonActor
- 1978Hot Lead & Cold Feet · as MansfieldActor
- 2002Edith Head: The Paramount Years · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.