William Ching, born in 1913 in St. Louis, Missouri, is best known for his role in the film noir D.O.A. (1950), where he plays Halliday, the man who poisons an unsuspecting accountant. Ching's career began in musical theater, but he transitioned to film in the late 1940s, often appearing in westerns and dramas. His portrayal of Halliday adds a chilling layer to this classic, showcasing his ability to embody morally complex characters in the gritty landscape of post-war cinema.
D.O.A.
Frank Bigelow goes off to San Francisco for a week's holiday. He's a self-employed accountant and is engaged to his assistant Paula Gibson. He checks into the St. Francis Hotel and is soon partying with a group of salesman who are having a party. He ends up at a jive bar where a mysterious stranger switches drinks with him. He awakens the next morning feeling unwell and after having some medical tests is told that he's been poisoned and there is no cure. He has one week to live. When Paula tells him that a man in Los Angeles had been trying to reach him, he sets off to learn if there might be any connection to his current situation. Unfortunately - and too conveniently - the man committed suicide by jumping off his high rise apartment balcony not long after trying to contact him. He soon learns that some very shady characters are involved but why they might be interested in him is what he really wants to know.
