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Billie Bird

 
Actor: Billie Bird
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: Feb 28, 1908 in Pocatello, Idaho
  • Died: Nov 27, 2002 in Granada Hills, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '50s-'60s, '80s-'90s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Career Highlights: Unwed Mother, Somebody Loves Me
  • First Major Screen Credit: Somebody Loves Me (1952)

Biography

A vaudeville and burlesque comedienne who went on to essay numerous film roles after being discovered at an orphanage at the age of eight, actress Billie Bird would later use her stage experience to entertain troops on 12 USO tours in the 1960s and '70s. Born Bird Berniece Sellen in Pocatello, ID, in February 1908, her chance discovery came when a traveling road show stopped to entertain the children at the orphanage in which she resided and immediately recognized her talent. Subsequently traveling with the troupe and studying with a tutor in her downtime, Bird went on to form a sister act and later appeared in such "light opera" works as Show Boat and New Moon. A move to Los Angeles in 1943 found Bird performing at such hot spots as Club Moderne and The Colony Club, and, from 1947 to 1955, she showed off her skills on the guitar, clarinet, vibraphone, and bagpipes in burlesque shows. Although Bird made her screen debut in the 1921 comedy Grass Widowers, it was the 1950s that found her edging away from the stage and toward television and film. Particularly active in movies in the '50s, Bird appeared in more than a dozen films, including Somebody Loves Me (1952) and The Joker Is Wild (1957). The actress remained relatively active in the '60s, as well, although her career slowed to a notable pace in the '70s with the exception of a featured role in the popular late-'70s sitcom Benson. However, her screen career later picked up momentum with such notable '80s comedies as Sixteen Candles (1984), One Crazy Summer (1986), and Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), and Bird made a successful return to the world of sitcom television as an aged, but feisty, support-group member in Dear John. Roles in such films as Home Alone (1990) and Dennis the Menace (1993) followed. In 1995, she made her final screen appearance in the Pauly Shore comedy Jury Duty. Stricken with Alzheimer's disease in the '90s, Bird died in November 2002. She was 92. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Billie Bird
Born Berniece Bird
February 28, 1908(1908-02-28)
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Died November 27, 2002 (aged 94)
Granada Hills, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress, comedian
Spouse(s) Edwin Sellen (?–1966)

Billie Bird (February 28, 1908 – November 27, 2002) was an American actress and comedienne.

Contents

Early life

Born Berniece Bird in Pocatello, Idaho, Bird was discovered at the age of eight while living at an orphanage. As a child, she worked in vaudeville, and later in theater/cabaret before moving on to television and movies.[1]

Career

Bird broke into movies in 1950 and made a brief uncredited appearance in The Odd Couple as a chambermaid. Her only line was "Goodnight." which was said to Felix Ungar, in which he returned with "Goodbye." Bird was often cast by director John Hughes and appeared in many of his 1980 and 1990s films, including Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, and Dennis the Menace, the latter two of which paired her with veteran Hughes actor, Bill Erwin, as her husband. She also starred as Mrs. Lois Feldman in Police Academy 4. Her last film appearance was in 1995's Jury Duty, with Pauly Shore.

In addition films, Bird made numerous appearances on various television series including roles on Ironside, Eight Is Enough, The Facts of Life, Who's the Boss?, and Knots Landing. She was also a regular cast member on the sitcom Benson from 1984 to 1986. In 1988, she joined the cast of Dear John starring Judd Hirsch. Her last television appearance was on the CBS sitcom George & Leo, starring Hirsch and Bob Newhart.

Personal life

Bird was married to Edwin Sellen until his death in 1966. They had three children.

Death

Bird died on November 27, 2002 in Granada Hills, California at the age of 94 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.[1] She was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Selected filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
1951 The Mating Season Mugsy
1954 Woman's World Woman in Bargain Basement Uncredited
Alternative title: A Woman's World
1959 Born to Be Loved Drunk's wife
1960 Too Soon to Love Mrs. Jefferson Alternative title: Teenage Lovers
1967 Barefoot in the Park Drunken neighbor Uncredited
1970 Getting Straight Landlady
1982 Young Doctors in Love Mrs. Greschler the Flower Lady
1983 Max Dugan Returns Older Woman
1984 Sixteen Candles Dorothy Baker (Grandmother)
1986 One Crazy Summer Grandma
1988 Ernest Saves Christmas Mary Morrissey
1989 That's Adequate Old Lillian Darling
1990 The End of Innocence Mrs. Yabledablov
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1958 Letter to Loretta Mrs. Shubb 1 episode
1971 Adam-12 Winnie Goodrich 1 episode
1973 Gunsmoke Old Woman 1 episode
1974 Apple's Way Lillian 1 episode
1976-1977 The Waltons Mrs. Cox
Shirley		 2 episodes
1982 House Calls 1 episode
1983 Goodnight, Beantown 1 episode
1984 Newhart Ella 1 episode
1985 Remington Steele Anna Dix 1 episode
1986 Hardcastle and McCormick Mimi LeGrand 1 episode
1986-1987 Silver Spoons Mildred 2 episodes
1987 Max Headroom Florence 1 episode
1988-1992 Dear John Margie Philbert 90 episodes
1988 Hunter Marie Watson 1 episode
1992 Murphy Brown Ruthie 1 episode
1993 The Wonder Years Woman 2 episodes
1997 George & Leo 1 episode

References

  1. ^ a b "Billie Bird, 94; Actress Had Character Roles in Movies, on TV". The LA Times. 2002-12-06. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/dec/06/local/me-passings6.2. Retrieved 2009-02-03. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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