William Broderick Crawford

 William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986)

Crawford was a stage, film, radio, and television actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his Oscar and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Willie Stark in All the King's Men and for his starring role as Dan Mathews in the television series Highway Patrol (1955–1959). Until filming All the King's Men, Crawford's career had been largely limited to "B films" in supporting or character roles. He realized he did not fit the role of a handsome leading man, once describing himself as looking like a "retired pugilist". Nevertheless, he excelled in roles playing villains and authoritarian figures. Crawford's theatrical breakthrough came in 1937 when he played the half-witted Lennie in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men". His performance won him critical acclaim, but the film role went to Lon Chaney, Jr. WWII intervened and Crawford served in the Army Air Corps and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge. Crawford married three times. His first marriage was to actress Kay Griffith in 1940; the couple had two sons together. Crawford's second marriage was to Joan Tabor in 1962; they divorced in 1967. His third and final marriage, which lasted until Crawford's death in 1986. He died following a series of strokes in 1986 at the age of 74 in Rancho Mirage, California. Crawford is buried at Ferndale Cemetery in Johnstown, New York.