Billie Bird

Billie Bird
Born Berniece Bird
(1908-02-28)February 28, 1908
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Died November 27, 2002(2002-11-27) (aged 94)
Granada Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
Occupation Actress, comedian
Years active 1951–1997
Spouse(s) Edwin Sellen (?–1966) (his death) 3 children

Bernice "Billie" Bird (February 28, 1908 – November 27, 2002) was an American actress and comedian. [1]

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 films.[2]

Career

She is credited on the Internet Movie Database with an appearance in a 1921 film Grass Widowers, but it is not clear if this is accurate. Otherwise, she broke into films in 1950, later making a brief uncredited appearance in The Odd Couple as a chambermaid. Her only line was "Goodnight", which was said to Felix Ungar, who responded, "Goodbye." Bird was often cast by director John Hughes and appeared in many of his 1980 and 1990s films, such as Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, and Dennis the Menace, the latter two of which both paired her with veteran Hughes actor Bill Erwin playing 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 to films, Bird made numerous appearances on various television series including roles on Silver Spoons, Ironside, Eight Is Enough, The Facts of Life, Who's the Boss?, and Knots Landing. She was also a regular cast member on the sitcoms It Takes Two in 1982 and Benson from 1984 to 1986. In 1988, she joined the cast of Dear John starring Judd Hirsch. Her last acting role was a brief appearance in 1997 on an episode of the CBS sitcom George & Leo, which starred Bob Newhart and Bird's former co-star, Hirsch.

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.[2] She is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Selected filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Mating Season Mugsy

1953 "Somebody Loves Me"

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
1968 The Odd Couple Chambermaid 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
1987 Police Academy 4 Mrs. Lois Feldman
1988 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach Mrs. Lois Feldman
1988 Ernest Saves Christmas Mary Morrissey
1989 That's Adequate Old Lillian Darling
1990 Home Alone Irene (woman in airport)
1990 The End of Innocence Mrs. Yabledablov
1993 Dennis the Menace Edith Butterwell
1995 Jury Duty Rose
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
1982 It Takes Two Mama 22 episodes
1983 Goodnight, Beantown 1 episode
1984–
1986
Benson Mrs. Rose Cassidy Series Regular: Season 7
1984 Newhart Ella 1 episode
1984 Happy Days Mother Kelp (Marion Cunningham's Mother) 2 episodes??
1984 Three's A Crowd Aunt Mae (Jack Tripper's Aunt) 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
1987 Cheers Lillian Miller 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. "Billie Bird". BFI.
  2. 1 2 "Billie Bird, 94; Actress Had Character Roles in Movies, on TV". The LA Times. 2002-12-06. Retrieved 2009-02-03.

External links

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