William Preston (August 26, 1921 – July 10, 1998) was an American actor from Manheim, Pennsylvania. He did not begin acting until the age of 47 but subsequently appeared in more than sixty productions of Shakespeare's plays. He had a Master's degree in English literature from Penn State. He is perhaps best known for his role as recurring character Carl "Oldie" Olsen on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Among his many movie roles, he played John, the bum, from The Fisher King (1991), a blacksmith in Far and Away (1992), and the flask mourner in Family Business (1989). He later appeared in Waterworld (1995), Reckless (1995), Blue in the Face (1995), and The Crucible (1996).
He died at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan on July 10, 1998.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1973 Malatesta's Carnival of Blood Sticker 1985 Goodbye, New York Elevator Man 1989 Family Business Flask Mourner 1990 The Exorcist III Old Man in Wheelchair 1991 The Fisher King John the Bum 1992 Far and Away Blacksmith 1993 Me and Veronica Old Man 1994 My Summer Story Grandpa Bumpus 1995 Blue in the Face Statistician 1995 Waterworld Depth Gauge 1995 Reckless Porter 1995 Flasher Flasher 1996 Joe's Apartment Complaint Handler 1996 The Crucible George Jacobs 1996 I'm Not Rappaport Jake 1998 Illuminata Old toothless man
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