William attended grammar and high schools in New York and New Jersey. Upon graduation, he enrolled at West Virginia University where he planned to study law and played football and tennis. One summer, his uncle got him a job at the Suffern County .
Nephew of Charles MacArthur and Helen Hayes , cousin of James MacArthur ( "Hawaii Five-O" ). His mother was Charles MacArthur s sister.
When MGMs March on in 1934-35 with Metro Goldwyn Mayer: Convention of the Century was filmed, he worked in MGMs Exploitation (Publicity) Division.
