A Tribute to the Stars!A Tribute to the Stars!
Bill Erwin: Star
of Stage, Screen
and Television
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NEWS:
December 2, 2008. Bill was featured in The Associated Press's "On This Date" column as the senior ranking celebrity birthday at 94 years-young! Newspaper, radio, television and Internet news services carried the story. Happy Birthday Bill!
October 26-29th, 2006. Bill returned to Mackinac Island, Michigan, for the 16th Annual "Somewhere in Time" weekend at Grand Hotel. Bill's photo as "Arthur" was featured on the cover of this year's program. He was also honored at the Finale Program on Saturday night in the hotel's theater with a video of selected highlights from his career. Follow links at the bottom of this page for photos from past weekends on Mackinac Island. Photos from the 2006 event will be posted soon.
If you have photos of Bill at the 2006 Somewhere in Time Weekend and would like to share them for possible use on this Web site, please contact Kevin Bochynski at: kevb@bochynski.com
October 19, 2006: Bill's most recent guest appearance was on the hit television show, My Name is Earl on Thursday, October 19 at 8 p.m. (Pacific) in an episode titled "Van Hickey."
Bill continues to do voice work. To hear a sample of his work as Mark Twain in a recent documentary on spelling reform, go to:
http://www.childrenofthecode.org/code-history/index.htm
August 2005: Bill Erwin has been designated an Honorary Life Member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Congratulations, Bill, on this well-deserved recognition of your distinguished film and television career!
During the week of March 21-27, 2005, Bill's episode for Twilight Zone Radio was broadcast on select radio stations in the U.S., on satellite radio, over the BBC airwaves, and worldwide via the American Forces Radio Network. "90 Years Without Slumbering" was adapted from the original series' teleplay. Bill plays Sam Forstmann, a man obsessed with his antique grandfather clock.
In 2004, Bill guest starred on "The King of Queens" (April 7) and the WB hit show, "Everwood" (April 19). He also appeared in the pilot of National Lampoon's "Gordo's Road Show."
He was guest star in the episode "Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" on the hit USA Network series, "Monk" on Friday, July 25, 2003, which also aired on ABC in 2004. Bill played the son of a 114 year-old murder victim. Click here to read an interview with Bill about his guest appearance on "Monk." Once again, Bill continues to demonstrate his youthfulness as he turns 92 years-young in 2006.
For Bill's upcoming television appearances, click here.
"There is a vast generational
gap between my mind and my body.
My body has a long white beard, but my
mind hasn't started shaving."--Bill Erwin
BIOGRAPHY
Bill Erwin was born "William Lindsey Erwin" in Honey Grove, Texas, on December 2, 1914. (see photos of Bill's recent visit to his hometown)
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1935, earning a Bachelors degree in Journalism. He completed a Masters of Theater Arts degree in California at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1941. After serving as a Captain in the Army Air Force in World War II, Bill returned to Hollywood to resume his acting career. His first film role was in 1942 in "You're in the Army Now," with Phil Silvers.
A long-time "grape-plucker in the vineyards of Hollywood," Bill Erwin has been active in bi-coastal American theatre for more than half a century--and he intends to keep at it until he gets it right.
His
awards include an Emmy
nomination in 1993 (Guest Star in a Comedy Series - "Seinfeld"),
In mid-August, 1998, Bill was on location in Savannah, Georgia, appearing in "Forces of Nature" with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. The film was released in March 1999.
Bill appeared as "Eli Hamilton" in the Jean-Claude Van Damme action-adventure film, "Desert Heat," released in September, 1999. Hats off to Bill--who still has plenty of action and adventure in him at 90!
The year 2000 marked the 20th Anniversary of the release of the romantic classic, Somewhere in Time. Bill portrayed "Arthur," the Grand Hotel's venerable bellman, co-starring with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve. Bill was among the honored guests as INSITE (The International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts) celebrated the enduring popularity of the film at events in Chicago, Hollywood,(click for photos) and at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, (where the magic all began). Bill appeared in a one-hour documentary about the making of "Somewhere in Time" which was part of the 20th Anniversary DVD release. Bill returned to Mackinac Island in October 2002 for the annual INSITE gathering, along with first-time attendee, Jane Seymour. He also attended reunions in 2003 and 2004.
Bill continues to keep busy professionally. In 2001 and 2002. He appeared in "Stanley's Gig" (with Faye Dunaway and William Sanderson). Several films in which he appears are now in post-production, including "Down and Dirty," and "Cahoots" (with Keith Carradine). "The Crack in the Floor" (with Gary Busey) was released on DVD and video in April 2001. Bill made television appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "The Michael Richards Show," "Just Shoot Me," "West Wing," and "So Little Time." He has several film projects in the works in 2002. In August 2002, Bill attended the first-ever "Twilight Zone" convention (click to see photos) in North Hollywood. (Bill appeared in three episodes of the classic show.) In August 2004, Bill attended the second "Twilight Zone" convention, also held in Hollywood.
A
writer/actor/and do-gooder, Bill has four children and seven grandchildren.
He lives in North Hollywood where he continues to act in movies, television,
on the stage and in radio and TV commercials. An avid wordsmith, he is presently
at work on a children's book, a compendium of his original aphorisms, and a
collection of his humorous cartoons. In July 2004, R. Kent Rasmussen dedicated
his book, Mark Twain for
Kids: His Life and Times: "To
Bill Erwin, the youngest kid I know . . ." Bill's legion of fans and friends
heartily attest to his youthful outlook as he celebrated his 94th birthday on
December 2, 2008!
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Bill, Jean-Claude
Van Damme and Kevin West
on the set of "Desert Heat," July 1998
(Go to Photo Gallery
below for photos of Bill in "Desert Heat" as "Eli Hamilton")
or
Click
here to see "Desert Heat" pictures now
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Daughter Kelly
and Bill,
1995
Table of Contents
Highlights of Bill's Acting Career
Visit
the Bill Erwin Photo Gallery
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend,
2006
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2005
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2004
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2003
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2002
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2001
Photos of "State of Mark Twain Studies Conference, August 2001
Highlights of Bill's 86th Birthday Party, Dec. 2, 2000
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 2000
Photos of "Somewhere in Time" Weekend, 1999
Read about Bill's One-Man Show, "Twisted Twain"
Read
about Bill's Guest Appearance
on "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
Script
of Bill's Guest Appearance
on "Seinfeld" in "The Old Man" episode
This web site created for Bill Erwin by Kevin Bochynski
With thanks for images provided by
Jo Addie, Lynn Anderson, Kim Endahl, Carolyn Freeman, Bill McPhie,
Kathleen
O'Quinn, Kent Rasmussen, Barb Schmidt, Bill Shepard, Mary Ann Thurman
and
Gary and Jen Waagenaar.
Updated 12/2/08
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Good-bye, thanks for dropping in. Come see us again soon!
Send comments to: kevb@bochynski.com
or
Send fan mail to Bill at: cocotwain@sbcglobal.net
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