William S. Johnstone, also known as Bill Johnstone (1908â€"1996) was
an American radio and screen actor. He is best known for his voice
work as the title character on The Shadow for five seasons from
1938â€"1943.William S. Johnstone was born and raised in Brooklyn, New
York City, to a Scottish-born father and a German-born mother. Some
newspaper publicity said he was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Scotland, and came to the United States at age three. He worked as a
newspaper reporter before he became an actor.Johnstone acted on stage
with the Theatre Guild at the beginning of his career, appearing in a
number of bit parts. He had supporting roles in 1927 in Fog-Bound and
The Manhatters.. In 1928, he played the title role in Him, written by
E.E. Cummings. Cummings later commented, "William Johnstone made a
marvelously attractive unhero ..." He also appeared that year in a
lead role in Kate Clugston's These Days.:284In 1938, he was selected
over 45 other actors to replace Orson Welles as The Shadow on radio.
He also starred as Ben Guthrie in the radio version of The
Lineup,:201-202 and became one of the most prolific radio actors of
his time, with many supporting roles. He had a memorable role in the
".22 Rifle for Christmas" episode of Dragnet on radio, and reprised it
on the television series. In film, he portrayed John Jacob Astor IV in
Titanic, and had a supporting role in Down Three Dark Streets. He
played Judge James T. Lowell in As The World Turns on television in a
long run from 1956â€"1979.[unreliable source?]
an American radio and screen actor. He is best known for his voice
work as the title character on The Shadow for five seasons from
1938â€"1943.William S. Johnstone was born and raised in Brooklyn, New
York City, to a Scottish-born father and a German-born mother. Some
newspaper publicity said he was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire,
Scotland, and came to the United States at age three. He worked as a
newspaper reporter before he became an actor.Johnstone acted on stage
with the Theatre Guild at the beginning of his career, appearing in a
number of bit parts. He had supporting roles in 1927 in Fog-Bound and
The Manhatters.. In 1928, he played the title role in Him, written by
E.E. Cummings. Cummings later commented, "William Johnstone made a
marvelously attractive unhero ..." He also appeared that year in a
lead role in Kate Clugston's These Days.:284In 1938, he was selected
over 45 other actors to replace Orson Welles as The Shadow on radio.
He also starred as Ben Guthrie in the radio version of The
Lineup,:201-202 and became one of the most prolific radio actors of
his time, with many supporting roles. He had a memorable role in the
".22 Rifle for Christmas" episode of Dragnet on radio, and reprised it
on the television series. In film, he portrayed John Jacob Astor IV in
Titanic, and had a supporting role in Down Three Dark Streets. He
played Judge James T. Lowell in As The World Turns on television in a
long run from 1956â€"1979.[unreliable source?]
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