William Anton Gittinger, also known as Steele, was a talented American actor who made a name for himself in small roles within Westerns, particularly those directed by the renowned John Ford. Despite his screen credits and various records indicating a multitude of names and spellings, Steele's own signatures on his military documents reveal that he was indeed born on March 28, 1888, in San Antonio, Texas.
Little is known about his life prior to his arrival in Los Angeles around 1910, when the film industry in Hollywood was still in its infancy. However, it is believed that his extensive experience with horses played a significant role in securing him work in quickie Westerns. Steele's life took a dramatic turn when he fought in Europe during World War I, only to return to Hollywood and continue his acting career.
Throughout the silent era and well into the 1950s, Steele remained a consistent presence in Westerns, albeit under a variety of names. His tenth and final film for John Ford was the critically acclaimed The Searchers (1956),in which he played the role of a wounded posse member named Nesby.
Tragically, Steele passed away ten years later, at the age of nearly 78. He left behind his wife, Josephine, an actress in her own right, and was laid to rest under his birth name, William Anton Gittinger, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
