June 30, 1901
November 2, 1980

AKA: The Actor

Robber

Willie “The Actor” Sutton spent two years on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Ten Most Wanted List. He was known to disguise himself as a police officer to gain entry to the banks he robbed. After spending thirty-three years in prison, his notoriety helped him get a new job—as spokesperson for a bank.

A working-class upbringing

Born on June 30, 1901, William “Willie” Francis Sutton, Jr. was raised in the Irishtown section of Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Mary Ellen Bowles Sutton, a native of Ireland, was deeply religious and his father, William Francis Sutton Sr., was a blacksmith. Sutton grew up in a working-class extended family that included his maternal grandfather and two uncles. His mother’s sister-in-law lived with the family as well, and exercised considerable...