William Fox (born 26th January 1911 in Manilla, Philippines; died 20th September 2008 in London) appeared on Coronation Street between June and July 1969 as Douglas Cresswell, Managing Director of Newton & Ridley.
He was the son of a trader operating across the South China Sea and as an infant, travelled extensively with his parents. He was sent to a Preparatory School in 1916 and completed his schooling at Haileybury Public School. It was expected that he would go onto Oxford University and into a career in the petroleum industry but auditioned and won a scholarship at The Central School of Speech and Drama after seeing an advertisement in The Times.
An officer in the London Irish Rifles, he returned to acting after demobilisation - although initially undertaking stage work, he appeared in more television and film roles during the 1960s.
His other credits include The Mulberry Accelerator, As I Was Saying, Solo for Canary, The Verdict Is Yours, The Men from Room 13, Knight Errant Limited, The Escape of R.D.7, Hugh and I, Z Cars, Epitaph for a Spy, The Newcomers, The Chinese Puzzle, Crown Court, When the Boat Comes In and Spyship.
On stage, he appeared in productions of Caesar and Cleopatra, As You Like It, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, She Stoops to Conquer, The Winter's Tale, Cymbeline, The Admirable Bashville, Romeo and Juliet, The School for Scandal, Shakespeare Birthday Festival and The Tempest for the Old Vic Company. Other works include Socrates, The Breadwinner, Dangerous Corner, The Rose Without a Thorn, Young Madame Conti, Richard II, Henry V, Two Stars for Comfort, The Family Reunion and A Personal Affair.
