Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, William Demarest was a prolific actor in movies and TV, making more than 140 films. Demarest started his acting career in vaudeville and made his way to Broadway. His most famous role was in My Three Sons, replacing a very sick William Frawley. Demarest was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting role in the real-life biography, The Jolson Story. He did not win. This was the first and only time Demarest was nominated for any Academy Award.


Brother of actor Rube Demarest. Co-starred on NBC Radio's "The Eddie Bracken Story" (1945). A golf enthusiast, he died the same day and year as pro golfer Jimmy Demaret. Had a falling-out with actor/singer Al Jolsen Played a character with the name Steve Martin in three movies The_Jazz_Singer (1927), The_Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson_Sings_Again (1949).