Spoiler : He was of Scottish origin. He was named after William Wallace, a Scottish hero.

Spoiler : William Johnstone was born on February 7, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Titanic (1953), Tom Corbett, Space Cadet (1950) and Down Three Dark Streets (1954). He replaced Orson Wells in the Shadow Series, when Orson left the role. Bill Johnstone’s early radio career was dominated by a genre not uncommon to radio artists: soap operas. Johnstone emoted on a good many of them, including Five-Star Jones, Irene Rich Dramas, Joyce Jordan, M.D., Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, Valiant Lady, and Wilderness Road. His exposure on The Shadow led him to become one of the busiest actors in the radio business, working on such anthologies as Arch Oboler’s Plays, The Columbia Workshop, Family Theatre, Favorite Story, The General Electric Theatre, Great Plays, Hallmark Playhouse, The Railroad Hour, Romance, Screen Director’s Playhouse, Stars Over Hollywood, The Theatre Guild on the Air, and The Theatre of Romance. He was practically a regular on The Cavalcade of America and The Lux Radio Theatre, and later continued his association with Orson Welles with appearances on Campbell Playhouse, The Mercury Summer Theatre, and This is My Best. Johnstone appeared many times on “radio’s outstanding theatre of thrills,” Suspense, in the early days of that long-running anthology…and during its sponsorship by Auto-Lite, he would interact with announcer Harlow Wilcox in the role of “Hap the mechanic.” Escape and The Whistler also called upon his talents (Johnstone even briefly played the titular narrator on the latter program). He appeared in 3 episodes of Radio Mystery Theater

Spoiler : Born in Paisley, Scotland 2/7/1908; died 4/7/1997. He moved to America with his family in 1911, settling in New York City. He began his career as a newspaper reporter. He made his radio debut in 1925.

Spoiler : John Parker on the CBS and NBC Radio Network soap, Portia Faces Life (?-?). Register city editor on Five Star Jones for the CBS and NBC-BLUE Radio Networks (1935-1937). Mr. Bob on the CBS and NBC Raio Network soap, Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch (1935-1938). Lamont Cranston (The Shadow) on The Shadow for Mutual-Radio (1938-1943). One of three actors to play Jim Barrett on the CBS, NBC and ABC Radio Network soap, Valiant Lady (1938-1952). Doctor Hunt on the CBS, NBC and ABC Radio Network soap, Joyce Jordan, M.D. (1938?-1955?). Wilfred Mason on Maudie's Diary for CBS-Radio (1941-1942). Sandy Taylor on The Case Book Of Gregory Hood for Mutual-Radio (1946). Groggins on The Bill Goodwin Show for CBS-Radio (1947). The Whistler on the CBS Radio program (1948). Lieutenant Ben Guthrie on The Lineup for CBS-Radio (1950-1953).

Spoiler : Regular performer on radio programs including The Cavalcade Of America for CBS and NBC (1935-?); Les Miserables for WOR-Mutual (1937); Mysterious Traveler for Mutual (1943-1952); Nick Carter, Master Detective for Mutual (1943-1955); Wilderness Road for CBS (1944-1945); The Amazing Mrs. Danberry for CBS (1946); Pursuit for CBS (1949-1950); T-Man for CBS (1950); Nightbeat for NBC (1950-1952); Crime Classics for CBS (1953-1954).

Spoiler : Judge Lowell on the CBS-TV soap, As The World Turns (1956-1978).

Spoiler : William Johnstone the actor is not William Johnstone the western (etc.) author; the author was born in the 1938 and passed away in 2004.