William Sylvester
Born in Oakland, California, USA — Jan 31 1922• Died Jan 25 1995
Connect
Biography
William Sylvester (January 31, 1922 – January 25, 1995) was an American TV and film actor. His most famous film credit was Dr. Heywood Floyd in Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey (1968). Born in Oakland, California and married at one time to the British actress Veronica Hurst, he moved to England after the Second World War and became a staple of British B films at a time when American and Canadian actors were much in demand in order to give indigenous films some appeal in the US. As a result, he gained top billing in one of his very first films, Hou…
Photos
William Sylvester's Credits
Browse acting and crew credits across movies and TV — filter and sort to find specific roles.
Quincy, M.E.
Joe Crawford
The Saint
Foots Fortunati
The Six Million Dollar Man
Frederick Collins
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Paul Berwick
The F.B.I.
Tom Barber
The High Chaparral
Jack Simmons
Cannon
Green Acres
Dr. Hoffman
McCloud
Switch
Ellis
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Lt. General Preston Myers
Harry O
Drama 61-67
Mark Lander
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
Banacek
Dr. Stahl
The Troubleshooters
Al Stevens
2001: A Space Odyssey
Dr. Heywood Floyd
The Magician
Peter Hayden
You Only Live Twice
Pentagon Official (uncredited)
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
Big Shamus, Little Shamus
Gemini Man
Leonard Driscoll
San Francisco International Airport
Colonel Wilkins
Armchair Theatre
Heaven Can Wait
Nuclear Reporter
The Hindenburg
Luftwaffe Colonel
Gorgo
Sam Slade
Busting
Mr. Weldman
They Were Not Divided
American Soldier (uncredited)
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Tom Henderson
Ring of Spies
Gordon Lonsdale
First Family
TV Commentator Howard
Riding with Death
Leonard Driscoll
Roger Moore: A Matter of Class
Self (archive footage)
The Lawyer
Paul Harrison
Albert R.N.
Texas
Appointment in London
Mac
Whirlpool
Hermann
Blind Corner
Paul Gregory
Offbeat
Layton / Steve Ross
Give Us This Day
Giovanni
The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
Sam Slade (archive footage)
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Devil Doll
Mark English
House of Blackmail
Jimmy
The Stranger Came Home
Philip Vickers
The Challengers
Brad York
What Every Woman Wants
Jim Barnes
Devils of Darkness
Paul Baxter
The Yellow Balloon
Len Turner
The Syndicate
Burt Hickey
Portrait of Alison
Dave Forrester
Red and Blue
Trumpeter
Incident at Midnight
Vince Warren
Information Received
Rick Hogan
2001: The Making of a Myth
Dr. Heywood R. Floyd (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Hand of Night
Paul Carver
High Tide at Noon
Alec Douglas
Dublin Nightmare
John Kevin