William Demerest wasborn in 1892 in St Paul, Minnesota.   His fil debut was in 1926 in “When the Wife’s Away”.   Among his other film credits are “Rosalie” in 1937, “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”, “Josette” with Simone Simon and “”The Jolson Story” in 1946 with Larry Parks and Evelyn Keyes.   He was in the very popular television series “My Three Sons” with Fred MacMurray.   He died in 1983.

TCM Overview:

Prolific character player of the 1930s and 40s, later on TV, typically in cranky but endearing comedy roles. Appeared in all of Preston Sturges’ Paramount films of the 1940s, most memorably as Officer Kockenlocker in “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” and as the tough Marine sergeant in “Hail the Conquering Hero” (both 1944). Well known as Uncle Charley on the long-running TV series “My Three Sons.”