William Janney

William Janney, born Russell Dixon Janney on February 15, 1908, in New York, New York, was an American actor whose career spanned both stage and screen. The son of author and theatrical producer Russell Janney, he trained at the School for Professional Children before establishing himself as a working performer in both Broadway productions and Hollywood films. He died on December 22, 1992.

Janney's Broadway career ran from 1924 to 1933 and encompassed five productions. His credits included Great Music, Four O'Clock, Take My Tip, Tommy, and Bridge of Distances. His father's background in theatrical production placed him within the professional theater world from an early age.

Beyond the stage, Janney appeared in 39 films between 1929 and 1937. Among his screen roles, he is particularly associated with playing Hopalong Cassidy's brother in Hopalong Cassidy Returns (1936), a character who appeared in that film alone; in a subsequent entry in the series, North of the Rio Grande, the character was referenced as having been killed off.

One casting decision weighed on Janney throughout his life. Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn offered him the lead role in Tol'able David (1930), but his mother persuaded him to decline, explaining that a friend's son had long hoped to play the part. That role ultimately went to Richard Cromwell. Janney later reflected that turning down the part likely cost him a contract with Columbia, as Cohn made no further offers to him afterward.