William Ching

William Brooks Ching (October 2, 1913 – July 1, 1989)[1] was an American character actor who appeared in numerous films and on television during the later 1940s and 1950s. Ching may be best known for his supporting role in Rudolph Maté's 1950 film noir D.O.A. [2] along with his role as the overbearing boyfriend of Katharine Hepburn's character in George Cukor's 1952 comedy Pat and Mike.

William Ching
Ching as Dr. Taylor in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Allegro (1947)
Born
William Brooks Ching

(1913-10-02)October 2, 1913
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedJuly 1, 1989(1989-07-01) (aged 75)
Tustin, California, U.S.
Resting placeFairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, California
OccupationActor
Years active1946–1959
Spouse(s)Lucile Rieger
(m. 19??; died 1958)
Evelyn Olmsted
​
​
(m. 1958)​
Children3

Early years

Ching was born in St. Louis and raised in New Orleans. During World War II, he served in the Coast Guard.[3]

Career

Ching began his career as a professional singer, starring in a summer series at the Memphis Open Air Theater.[3] He appeared in musical comedies such as Rodgers and Hammerstein's Allegro (1947).[4] His first film role was in 1946. He signed with Republic Pictures in 1947, and for the next dozen years, acted mostly in Westerns and dramas.[5] Ching declined to change his name at the time of his move to films, though it might give the mistaken impression that he was of Asian descent.[6]

Ching in DOA (1950)

He appeared in the Randolph Scott Western Tall Man Riding (1955). The same year, Ching was cast as Clint Allbright on CBS's Our Miss Brooks. In 1958, he played Glenn McKay in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Corresponding Corpse". His last major acting credit was in a 1959 episode of the television series 77 Sunset Strip.

Death

In 1989, at age 75, Ching died of congestive heart failure. He is buried at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, California.[1]

Partial filmography

References
  1. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  2. William Ching profile @ www.rottentomatoes.com; retrieved January 28, 2009
  3. "Hal Wallis Signs Famous Singing Star William Ching". Valley Times. California, North Hollywood. July 12, 1952. p. 8. Retrieved July 22, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "William Ching". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. Brennan, Sandra, William Ching profile, AllMovie.com; retrieved January 28, 2009.
  6. "William Ching Won't Alter Name For The Movies". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. The Associated Press. April 23, 1950. Retrieved March 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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