Rhys Williams (31 December 1897 – 28 May 1969) was a Welsh character actor. He appeared in 78 films over a span of 30 years and later appeared on several American television series.
Career He made his 1941 film debut in the role of Dai Bando in How Green Was My Valley, a drama about a working-class Welsh family that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Williams was the only Welsh actor in the cast. He is believed to have been the original narrator of the film, and was originally hired by director John Ford as a dialogue coach.
During television's early years in America, Williams was in scores of series episodes, including the Adventures of Superman as a sadistic character in the 1952 episode "The Evil Three". Williams played art collector Rufus Varner in the 1958 Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Purple Woman", and appeared on the religion anthology series, Crossroads. His other television work was on such programmes as The Rifleman, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Peter Gunn, Riverboat and The Lloyd Bridges Show. His later appearances were on Temple Houston, 77 Sunset Strip, The Wild Wild West, 12 O'Clock High, Bonanza, The F.B.I., Mission: Impossible, Mannix, The Donna Reed Show, Here Come the Brides and The Andy Griffith Show.
Death Williams died at the age of 71 in Santa Monica, California, on 28 May 1969. His remains are interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
Filmography Broadway theatre TitleDatesRoleTheatreNotes Alice in Wonderland24 December 1930 – 4 January 1931PerformerBelmont TheatreKing Richard II5 February 1937 – Jun 1937Second HeraldCaptain of a band of WelshmenGroom of the King's StableSt. James TheatreKing Richard II15 September 1937 – 16 October 1937Captain of a band of WelshmenGroom of the King's StableSt. James Theatre Hamlet12 October 1938 – Jan 1939Player KingAmbassadorSt. James TheatreAssistant stage managerHenry IV, Part 130 January 1939 – 1 April 1939First CarrierOwen GlendowerSt. James TheatreAssistant stage managerHamlet4 December 1939 – 6 January 1940Player KingFirst Gravedigger44th Street TheatreKing Richard II1 April 1940 – 27 April 1940Captain of a band of WelshmenLord MarshalGardenerSt. James Theatre Nov 1940 – Sept 1941John Goronwy JonesNederlander TheatreAssistant to the DirectorSept 1941 – Jan 1942John Goronwy JonesRoyale TheatreAssistant to the Director14 September 1942 – 3 October 1942Brimbo WatkynMorosco TheatreLifeline30 November 1942 – 5 December 1942Captain J. McGrath, MasterBelasco TheatreHarriet3 March 1943 – 1 April 1944Calvin StoweHenry Miller's TheatreChicken Every Sunday5 April 1944 – 20 May 1944Jim BlachmanHenry Miller's TheatreChicken Every Sunday20 May 1944 – 6 January 1945Jim BlachmanPlymouth TheatreMr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker10 October 1946 – 12 October 1946Mr. HookerMusic Box Theatre30 March 1949 – 9 April 1949Sam WilkinsMansfield Theatre
Film TitleYearRoleNotes How Green Was My Valley194120th Century FoxAlso served as technical advisorPreserved at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveCairo1942Strange ManMGMGentleman Jim1942Warner Bros. Random Harvest1942SamMGMRemember Pearl Harbor1942Republic PicturesUnderground Agent1942Columbia Pictures Mrs. Miniver1942HoraceMGMThis Above All1942Sergeant (uncredited)20th Century FoxEagle Squadron1942Universal Pictures No Time for Love1943Clancy (uncredited)Paramount PicturesBlood on the Sun1945Cagney Productions, Inc. You Came Along1945Colonel StubbsParamount Pictures1945RKO Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveVoice of the Whistler1945Columbia Pictures1945Warner Bros.1946RKO1946Mars Film Corp.So Goes My Love1946MagelSkirball-Manning ProductionsCross My Heart1946ProsecutorParamount Pictures1947JudgeParamount Pictures1947Inspector CarstonParamount Pictures Moss Rose194720th Century Fox1947RKOEasy Come, Easy Go1947PriestParamount Pictures If Winter Comes1947MGM Tenth Avenue Angel1948Blind MacMGM1948Columbia Pictures Hills of Home1948MGM Tokyo Joe1949Santana Pictures, Inc. Fighting Man of the Plains194820th Century Fox 1949Inspector GeneralWarner Bros.Bad Boy1949 Allied Artists Pictures1949United ArtistsCalifornia Passage1950Republic PicturesKiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950Vic MasonWilliam Cagney ProductionsPreserved at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveDevil's Doorway1950MGMTyrant of the Sea1950Columbia Pictures1950ChokecherryRepublic PicturesOne Too Many1950Filmed 1950, released 1951Hallmark ProductionsLightning Strikes Twice1951Warner Bros.1951MGM1951Michaels, the ButlerColumbia Pictures1951MGM1951Mayor of Varonne20th Century FoxMillion Dollar Pursuit1951 Republic PicturesNever Trust a Gambler1951Columbia PicturesLes Misérables1952Brevet20th Century Fox1952Universal PicturesCarbine Williams1952MGM Mutiny1952RedlegsKing Brothers Productions Okinawa1952Columbia PicturesPlymouth Adventure1952 (uncredited)MGM Meet Me at the Fair1953Universal PicturesJulius Caesar1953LuciliusMGMScandal at Scourie1953MGMMan in the Attic195320th Century FoxBad for Each Other1953Columbia Pictures Johnny Guitar1954 Republic Pictures1954 Universal PicturesThere's No Business Like Show Business195420th Century Fox1955TurnkeyMGMMany Rivers to Cross1955MGM1955MGM1955ConstableUnited ArtistsBattle Cry1955Warner Bros. How to Be Very, Very Popular195520th Century Fox Mohawk195620th Century Fox195620th Century Fox1956United Artists1956MGMNightmare1956United Artists195720th Century Fox Raintree County1957MGMMerry Andrew1958ConstableMGMMidnight Lace1960Universal Pictures1965Paramount Pictures Our Man Flint196620th Century Fox Skullduggery1970Released posthumouslyUniversal Pictures
Television ProgramEpisodeAir dateNotes Four Star Playhouse"Backstage"6 November 1952Stage managerStudio One10 November 1952Guest StarFour Star Playhouse"Man on the Train"15 January 1953RaikesAdventures of Superman23 January 1953Macy TaylorYour Jeweler's Showcase"Monkey's Paw"7 April 1953Four Star Playhouse"Night Ride"7 May 1953BumGeneral Electric Theater"Test of Love"16 August 1953Mr. SmithFour Star Playhouse21 October 1954Sidney"Sonnets from the Lebanese"8 November 1955"Marriage That Couldn't Succeed"c.1956Crossroads"Our First Christmas Tree"1956"The Question"2 September 1956Professor GreenGeneral Electric Theater"Mischief at Bandyleg"3 November 1957Matthew MageeCode 3"Ashes Will Whisper"1957Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeason 2 Episode 32: "The Hands of Mr Ottermole"1957Mr. SummersWagon TrainThe Liam Fitzmorgan Story28 October 1958James Grady"The Busy Body"17 December 1958Uncle FredPerry Mason6 December 1958Rufus Varner"Blood Brothers"26 May 1959"Bloodlines"10 October 1959"Letter of the Law"1 December 1959Riverboat"Strange Request"13 December 1959Josiah Cragg"A Case of Identity"19 January 1960Bonanza"Bitter Water"9 April 1960Andy McKaren"Sins of the Father"19 April 1960"The Prodigal"26 April 1960Dr. Kate. SpitfireTV pilot1960"The Passenger"3 October 1960"Play Acting"27 October 1960Russell"The Law and Mr. McCoy"1 February 1962Judge Reuter"Fasten Your Money Belt"1 March 19628 May 1963"Billy Hart"28 November 1963Judge Curry77 Sunset Strip"Not Such a Simple Knot"17 January 1964Uncle Molnar12 O'Clock High"Interlude"27 November 1964Adam MacRae"The Night of the Druid's Blood"25 March 1966Dr. Tristam "The Assassin"9 October 1966Dean Vincent SutherlandArmstrong Circle Theatre"Brigadoon"15 October 1966Mission Impossible"The Train"8 March 1967Prime Minister Ferenc Larya" Aunt Bee, the Juror"23 October 1967Judge CranstonHere Come the Brides"A Kiss For Just So"29 January 1969Bishop NewkirkMannix"Last Rites for Miss Emma"8 March 1969Doctor
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