Carl William Demarest was a stocky, serious-looking character who began his career in vaudeville in 1905 alongside his two older brothers. He also performed in a stage act with his wife Estelle Collette, billed as 'Demarest and Collette', and later transitioned to Broadway.
Demarest entered the film industry in 1926, initially appearing in Vitaphone one-reelers and films for Warner Brothers, including the first sound picture, The Jazz Singer (1927). He later became a household name on television as retired sea captain Uncle Charley, replacing William Frawley in My Three Sons (1960).
However, Demarest was truly at his best during the 1940s, as a member of Preston Sturges's unofficial stock company of players, where he gained recognition for his trademark deadpan or exasperated expressions. He made his reputation in eccentric comic supporting roles, often playing pushy, wary, or droll characters, such as cops, business guys, or wisecracking friends of the hero.
Some of his most notable films include The Great McGinty (1940),Sullivan's Travels (1941),and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1943),which are often cited as his best works. As his film offers began to diminish, Demarest transitioned to television, landing many guest spots and a regular co-starring role as a ranch foreman in the western series Tales of Wells Fargo (1957).
Throughout his career, Demarest's quiet intensity and comic timing kept him in demand well into his eighties. Although he was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Jolson Story (1946),he lost to Harold Russell for his performance in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
