Billy De Wolfe was an American actor known for his roles in “The Doris Day Show,” “Call Me Madam,” and “Tea for Two.” He had a distinctive high-pitched voice and was renowned for his comical repetition of phrases.
Personal and Family Life
Billy De Wolfe, whose birth name was William Andrew Jones, was born on February 18, 1907, in Wollaston, Massachusetts. His parents were Welsh immigrants, and they briefly returned to Wales before coming back to the U.S. when he was nine. He initially worked as an usher in a theater and later adopted his stage name from a theater manager.
Career
Billy’s entertainment career began in vaudeville, later transitioning to radio, film, and stage performances. He made his film debut in “Dixie” (1943) and became well-known for his comedic roles, often portraying fastidious and ineffectual characters. Throughout his career, he received acclaim for his work in various musicals and comedies, particularly on stage and television.
Death and Legacy
Billy De Wolfe passed away on March 5, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, due to lung cancer. He was interred in the Mount Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Massachusetts, in a plot marked with his birth name. His unique comedic style and contributions to film and television left a lasting impact, influencing future generations of actors.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Tea for Two | 1950-09-01 | Larry Blair |
| The World’s Greatest Athlete | 1973-02-14 | Dean Maxwell |
| Frosty the Snowman | 1969-12-07 | Professor Hinkle (voice) |
| Lullaby of Broadway | 1951-03-26 | Lefty Mack |
| Call Me Madam | 1953-03-25 | Pemberton Maxwell |
| Blue Skies | 1946-10-15 | Tony |
| Dear Wife | 1949-11-15 | Albert Krummer |
| Dear Ruth | 1947-06-10 | Albert Kummer |
| Variety Girl | 1947-08-29 | Billy De Wolfe |
| The Perils of Pauline | 1947-07-04 | Mr. Timmy Timmons |
| Dear Brat | 1951-05-30 | Albert |
| Isn’t It Romantic? | 1948-10-06 | Horace Frazier |
| Miss Susie Slagle’s | 1946-03-04 | Ben Mead |
| Free to Be… You and Me | 1974-03-11 | The Principal (voice) |
| Billie | 1965-12-13 | Mayor Charlie Davis |
| Dixie | 1943-06-23 | Mr. Bones |
| Our Hearts Were Growing Up | 1946-06-14 | Roland du Frere |
| Duffy’s Tavern | 1945-09-28 | Doctor |
| Arsenic and Old Lace | 1969-04-02 | Officer O’Hara |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1948-06-20 | Self |
| Good Morning, World | 1967-09-05 | Roland Hutton Jr. |
| Johnny Midnight | 1960-01-03 | |
| Burke’s Law | 1963-09-20 | Artemis Newpenny |
| That Girl | 1966-09-08 | |
| Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | 1963-10-04 | Inspector |
| The Debbie Reynolds Show | 1969-09-16 | |
| Rango | 1967-01-13 | |
| The Merv Griffin Show | 1962-10-01 | Self |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1961-12-11 | Self |
| Love, American Style | 1969-09-29 | Mr. Gratz |
| The Doris Day Show | 1968-09-24 | Willard Jarvis |
| The Doris Day Show | 1968-09-24 | Willard Jarvis / Randolph Jarvis |
| The Doris Day Show | 1968-09-24 | Willard Jarvis (uncredited) |
| The Doris Day Show | 1968-09-24 | Billy De Wolfe |
| The Pruitts of Southampton | 1966-09-06 | Vernon Bradley |
| The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | 1962-10-01 | Self |
| The Dick Van Dyke Show | 1961-10-03 | Rex Spaulding |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1961-12-11 | Self – Co-Host |
| Tonight Starring Jack Paar | 1957-07-29 | Self |