William Gargan
American actor (1905–1979)
Who was William Gargan?
William Gargan lived from July 17, 1905 to February 17, 1979. Gargan was born on July 17, 1905, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents— Bill and Irene—had seven children, but only Gargan and his brother Edward survived infancy. His father was a book maker, sometime saloon owner, and gambler. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier grade school and went to St. James High School in Brooklyn. William Dennis Gargan (July 17, 1905 – February 16, 1979) was an American film, television and radio actor. He acted in decades of movies including parts in Follow the Leader, Rain, Night Flight, Three Sons, Isle of Destiny and many others. In television, he was also in 39 episodes of The New Adventures of Martin Kane.
Historical significance
He was the 5th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1967, and in 1941, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Joe in They Knew What They Wanted. The role he was best known for was that of a private detective Martin Kane in the 1949–1952 radio-television series Martin Kane, Private Eye. Gargan got his first silent movie job at age seven for Vitagraph Studios.
