William Henry Bassett (December 28, 1935 – February 9, 2025) was an American actor of film and television who appeared in more than 100 films and television programs from the 1960s.
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Life and career
Bassett was known for his role in ads for Whataburger. He also appeared in films such as Lucky Lady, Old Boyfriends, Return from Witch Mountain, The Karate Kid, Black Eagle, House of 1000 Corpses, Demon Hunter and Black Dynamite, as well as such television shows as Bewitched; I Dream of Jeannie; Bonanza; The Feather and Father Gang; The Love Boat; Days of Our Lives; Quincy, M.E.; Lou Grant; Dallas; The Young and the Restless; Newhart; General Hospital; Sabrina The Teenage Witch; 3rd Rock from the Sun; Scrubs; The Streets of San Francisco; and Arrested Development. Bassett's work as a voice actor includes the video games Metal Gear Solid, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and World of Final Fantasy, along with being the narrator for the documentary Inside: Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
Bassett also hosted the trivia game show Inquizition throughout its 1998 to 2001 run on the Game Show Network. The caustic "Inquizitor" was always filmed from behind, his face unseen and identity unknown. Bassett was finally revealed as the show's host in a 2024 interview with creator Sande Stewart.
Bassett died on February 9, 2025, at the age of 89.