William C. Dowlan (September 21, 1882 – November 6, 1947) was an American stage performer and a film actor and director during the silent era.

[1][2] Young William grew up in St. Paul, where he received his formal education at Christian Brothers School and where he also developed an early interest in acting and stagecraft.

[4] The trade magazine Motion Picture News describes his stage experience in a short "authorized" biography of Dowlan published in 1916:Almost immediately after finishing his education [Dowlan] took up work on the stage, and with the exception of the time when he managed and starred in his own road company, he played in stock and productions...In this period he played in many of the principal theatres from coast to coast, appearing in Chicago, Philadelphia, Vancouver, B.C.

[3]In 1912 Dowlan refocused his acting career, turning from the stage to the rapidly expanding entertainment medium of motion pictures.

He then joined the American Film Company to direct Youth's Endearing Charm, starring Mary Miles Minter and Harry von Meter.