Bill Erwin
Bill Erwin | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Lindsey Erwin |
William Lindsey Erwin, also known as Bill Erwin (born on December 2, 1914 in Honey Grove, Texas) is an American television, film, and stage actor. He has over 250 television shows and films to his credit.
Biography
Early life
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1935, earning a Bachelors degree in Journalism. He completed a Masters of Theater Arts degree in California at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1941. After serving as a Captain in the Army Air Force in World War II, Bill returned to Hollywood to resume his acting career. His first film role was in 1942 in "You're in the Army Now", with Phil Silvers.
Career
In the late 1950s, Erwin was in such pictures as Man From Del Rio, The Night Runner, and The Cry Baby Killer. However, his TV credits were even more numerous in the 50's as he appeared in such television shows as Crusader, Trackdown, Colgate Theatre, and The Rifleman. In the 1960s, Bill appeared in television shows such as: The Andy Griffith Show, Mister Ed, Maverick, The Twilight Zone, 87th Precinct, The Fugitive, and Mannix. Continuing his growing television stardom, Erwin, in the 1970s, was found in such television shows as: Barnaby Jones, Cannon, and Gunsmoke. Entering into the 1980s and 1990s, Bill established his legacy on television by appearing in shows like ER, Voyagers, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Married With Children, Growing Pains, The Golden Girls, and of course, Seinfeld. In the Seinfeld episode ("The Old Man"), Erwin played Sid Fields (the actual name of the writer for Abbot and Costello- a person of whom Jerry admired) who was apart of this Foster-A-Grandpa Program. Erwin was Jerry's Foster Grandparent, and his aggressive character and shear hatred for Jerry made the relationship fail. Furthermore, Erwin's character bit Kramer on the arm causing him to lose his dentures. In the 2000s, it appears that Erwin hasn't slowed down as he appeared on such shows as Monk (TV Series), The West Wing, King of Queens, Everwood and My Name Is Earl. Curiously, in 1957, Erwin appeared in "Richard Diamond, Private Detective" as Sgt. Riker (1 episode) before appearing in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, entitled 'Remember Me' (5th episode, 4th series) alongside Jonathan Frakes, who also played a character entitled Riker, Picard's 1st officer.
Trivia
Lives in North Hollywood.
Has two daughters and two sons and seven grandchildren.
He was nominated for an Emmy for guest starring in the Seinfeld episode. Bill was later reunited with Michael Richards when he guest starred on the short-lived The Michael Richards Show.
Co-starred with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour in 1980 in Somewhere in Time and attends annual reunions of cast, crew and fans of the movie at Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Played Jack Nicholson's father in "Cry Baby Killer," Nicholson's first starring role in 1958. The long out-of-print film was released on DVD on 11/22/06.
Has been on television continuously from 1948 to the present (2006).
Began his theatrical career as ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's stage manager for Bergen's 1941 tour of the country. Bill dryly recalls, "I was in charge of the dummies."
Won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, four Drama-Logue Awards, Gilmore Brown Award for Career Achievement, Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters' Diamond Circle Award, and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Angelo State University.
An avid wordsmith, he is presently at work on a children's book, a compendium of his original aphorisms, and a collection of his humorous cartoons.
Erwin has appeared in a number of films directed by John Hughes, with cameos in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, She's Having a Baby, Home Alone, and Dennis the Menace. Often, Hughes pairs him with the late Billie Bird as his wife.