William Preston (actor)

William Preston (August 26, 1921 – July 10, 1998) was an American actor from Manheim, Pennsylvania. He did not begin acting until the age of 47 but subsequently appeared in more than sixty productions of Shakespeare's plays. He had a Master's degree in English literature from Penn State. He is perhaps best known for his role as recurring character Carl "Oldie" Olsen on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Among his many movie roles, he played John, the bum, from The Fisher King (1991), a blacksmith in Far and Away (1992), and the flask mourner in Family Business (1989). He later appeared in Waterworld (1995), Reckless (1995), Blue in the Face (1995), and The Crucible (1996).[1]

He died at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan on July 10, 1998.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Malatesta's Carnival of Blood Sticker
1985 Goodbye, New York Elevator Man
1989 Family Business Flask Mourner
1990 The Exorcist III Old Man in Wheelchair
1991 The Fisher King John the Bum
1992 Far and Away Blacksmith
1993 Me and Veronica Old Man
1994 My Summer Story Grandpa Bumpus
1995 Blue in the Face Statistician
1995 Waterworld Depth Gauge
1995 Reckless Porter
1995 Flasher Flasher
1996 Joe's Apartment Complaint Handler
1996 The Crucible George Jacobs
1996 I'm Not Rappaport Jake
1998 Illuminata Old toothless man

References

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  1. ^ a b "W.H. Preston, locally born veteran actor". Sunday News. July 12, 1998. p. 18. Retrieved March 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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