Bill Bailey (American actor)

Bill Bailey (born 1938), is an American actor and author, primarily providing supporting roles in film and television throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He appeared in Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), and Haunted Honeymoon (1986), as well as a number of British television programs including Yes, Prime Minister (1987), Jeeves and Wooster (1992), and Agatha Christie's Poirot (1993).[1] He has also narrated an abridged version of Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick".

For other people named Bill Bailey see the William Bailey (disambiguation) page.
Bill Bailey
Born1938 (age 81–82)
North Carolina, US
OccupationAuthor, actor
Websiteredbillbailey.com

A number of Internet databases have misattributed his work to the British comedian Bill Bailey.[2]

Life and career
Bill Bailey as himself c.1984
Clutching a shot of whisky and one of his beloved pipes.

Bailey was born in a small rural town in North Carolina and attended Sanford Central High School.[3] He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1960 with a degree in philosophy, spent some time in the US Army, and then as prison guard in Canada. He married a Texan heiress, and moved to Houston, Texas where he managed a ranch and took part in motorbike scrambling and sports car rallying. He worked as a bouncer, and later organised the first white collar union in the US meat-packing industry.[3] Soon after taking up acting he moved to London in 1968 and within a year of his arrival he became the first full-frontal male nude on the British stage at the Almost Free Theatre, London.[4][5] He has acted in film, television and on London's West End stage.[3]

He is the author of seven published books, most notably Taping Whores (2004).

Bibliography
  • Split Infinities, 2000, ISBN 1587210924
  • Rolling Thunder, 2001, ISBN 0759644403
  • Comedians of Violence, 2003, ISBN 1410734412
  • Taping Whores, 2004, ISBN 1418418153.
  • Times Two, 2004, ISBN 1414021496
  • Is Alice?, 2009, ISBN 1847478980
  • The Ghost Society, 2009, ISBN 9781849910842

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1971DoomwatchReporterTV series (1 episode: "Flight Into Yesterday")
1971BrettBarmanTV series (1 episode: "The Hollow Men")
1973The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesDrunkTV series (1 episode: "Five Hundred Carats")
1974The Groove TubeSuc Muc Dik
1976The New AvengersCaryTV series (1 episode: "Three Handed Game")
1978Superman2nd Senator(Missile Control)
1980Superman IIJ.J.
1981OutlandHill
1982Emery Presents: Legacy of MurderCameramanTV series (1 episode: "Bang, Bang You're Dead")
1983Philip Marlowe, Private EyeHugo CandlessTV series (1 episode: "Nevada Gas")
1984Master of the GameTim O'NeillTV mini-series
1984Tales of the UnexpectedBobTV series (1 episode: "Have a Nice Death")
1985The Last Place on EarthPrison WarderTV mini-series (1 episode: "Rejoice")
1985WaterHollister
1985Lace IIChief of PoliceTV film
1986If Tomorrow ComesPriestTV mini-series
1986On the EdgeFlash Holman
1986The American WayGeneral Motorsaka Riders of the Storm
1986Haunted HoneymoonThe Host
1986Sky BanditsSheriff
1987IshtarGeneral Westlake
1987Heat and SunlightBarney
1987Howards' WayKarl HansonTV series
1987Yes, Prime MinisterUS Vice-PresidentTV series (1 episode: "A Diplomatic Incident")
1989The Nightmare YearsKnick KnickerbockerTV mini-series documentary
1989Around the World in 80 DaysCaptain PhillipsTV mini-series (3 episodes)
1989Tygo RoadSpinnijTV mini-series (5 episodes)
1989Coded HostileMilitaryTV film
1989Murder StoryBilly van Wyck / Keelman
1989Frederick Forsyth PresentsFrank TerpilTV series (1 episode)
1991Guilty by Suspicion20th Century Fox Guard
1991Drop the Dead DonkeyEarlTV series (1 episode: "The Evangelist")
1992NotoriousJudgeTV film
1992Jeeves and WoosterAlexander WorpleTV series (1 episode: "Cyril and the Broadway Musical")
1992Immaculate ConceptionAmerican Consul
1993Agatha Christie: PoirotFelix BleibnerTV series (1 episode: "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb")
1993Death TrainG.N.N. NewscasterTV film
1993Dominion: Tank PoliceSkeleton (voice)Video
1994The Day TodayJudgeTV series (1 episode)
1995BaltoButcherVoice
1997Brass EyeFr. Pierre Runek and an EyewitnessTV series (2 episodes)
1997April Fool's DaySand delivery manTV film
1999Eureka StreetJohn EvansTV mini-series (1 episode)
2001Just VisitingThibault's Father
2002MicawberWillis Gates IITV series (1 episode: "Micawber Meets the Americans"), (final appearance)

Theatre appearances
Year Title Role Theatre Notes
1970 Player Piano Kroner Almost Free
1971 Threepenny Opera Walt Prince of Wales Theatre/Piccadilly Theatre With Vanessa Redgrave and Barbara Windsor
1972 Bakke's Night of Fame Cell Guard Shaw Theatre
1973/74 The Front Page Schwartz National Theatre
1974 Wind in the branches of the Sassafras Watermill
1974 Guys and Dolls Big Jule Birmingham Rep
1974 Grand Manoeuvres Général Picon National Theatre
1974 The Freeway National Theatre
1974/75 Robin Hood Little John Birmingham Rep
1975 Al Capone Capone Watermill
1975 Sea Change Traverse Theatre
1980 Happy Birthday Wanda Ryan Bush Theatre
1980 Geography of a Horse Dreamer Father Royal Court Theatre with Bob Hoskins
1982 Daughter's of Men Hampstead Theatre With Frances de la Tour
1981 Private Dick Shamey Newcastle Playhouse
1986 Insignificance Senator Theatre Royal, Plymouth
1990 Bus Stop Will Masters Watford Palace Theatre/Lyric Theatre, London With Jerry Hall
1987 After the Fall Chairman National Theatre
1993 The Rose Tattoo Salesman Peter Hall Company /Playhouse Theatre
1994 Conversations with My Father Scarborough Theatre/The Old Vic
1998 The Madras House Edinburgh Lyceum & Lyric Theatre, London
1999 Small Craft Warnings The Pleasance, Edinburgh

References
  1. Bill Bailey on IMDb
  2. Fandango movie website this site misattributes his work.
  3. Author biography in Taping Whores 2004
  4. Life magazine, 23.12.68
  5. Newsweek 8.9.68
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