Actor in a
WILLIAM DEMAREST
William Demarest
- © Paramount Studios
- (William Demarest in The Great McGinty, 1940)
Biography
BIO
William Demarest was born Carl William Demarest in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1892. He was raised in New Bridge Landing, New Jersey.
He started out in vaudeville, working in a comedy duo with his wife Estelle Collette, and then moved to Broadway, debuting along with his wife in 1920, at the age of 28. He appeared in three more productions through 1932.
Demarest co-starred in his first film in 1926, at the age of 34, for Universal Pictures. He received an Actor in a Supporting Role Academy Award nomination for The Jolson Story (1946).
Demarest turned to television roles in the late 1950s and co-starred in the long-running hit series My Three Sons (1965-1972).
He appeared in 140 features during his career. His last film appearance was in 1976.
His first wife was the vaudevillian Estelle Collette. He was remarried to Lucile Thayer in 1939.
Demarest died from prostate cancer and pneumonia in Palm Springs, California, in 1983. He was 91 years of age.
Additional Broadway stage history is available at: 
Additional biographical information is available at: 
