Billy Sands
Billy Sands (January 6, 1911 – August 27, 1984) was an American character actor who appeared as a regular on The Phil Silvers Show (Sgt Bilko) as Pvt. Dino Papparelli and was a regular on McHale's Navy as Harrison "Tinker" Bell. He also made guest-starring roles on many other television series, including Car 54, Where Are You?, All in the Family, Here's Lucy, Happy Days, and The Odd Couple. Sands also appears in one of the opening scenes of Rocky as a booker for the fighters.
Billy Sands | |
|---|---|
 Sands at left with Phil Silvers and Paul Ford in The Phil Silvers Show, 1958 | |
| Born | January 6, 1911 Bergen, New York, US |
| Died | August 24, 1984 (aged 73) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Television actor |
Personal life and death
Born William F. Sands in Bergen, New York to John F. and Dana Alice (née Warboys) Sands, he began his professional career in 1946 when he appeared on Broadway with Spencer Tracy in Robert E. Sherwood's Rugged Path.
Sands died of lung cancer at the age of 73 while at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on August 27, 1984. He is buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. Sands is survived by his wife Marsha, daughter Susan, son Eugene, two sisters and a brother.( Source UPI news release Aug30/1984 )
Partial filmography
- McHale's Navy (1964) - Motor Machinist Mate Harrison Bell
- McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force (1965) - Motor Machinist Mate Harrison Bell
- The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) - Airport Announcer / Man Mopping Floor in Film (uncredited)
- P.J. (1968) - Barber (uncredited)
- The Love God? (1969) - Barber (uncredited)
- How to Frame a Figg (1971) - Bowling Alley Manager
- Another Nice Mess (1972) - Interpreter
- The Harrad Experiment (1973) - Jack
- Rocky (1976) - Club Fight Announcer
- The World's Greatest Lover (1977) - Guard
- High Anxiety (1977) - Customer
- Serial (1980) - Bartender