However, she was listed in New York census and travel records as Elliot Windom when the family traversed the Atlantic when Bill was a little boy. He was told Winters requested to be Bills partner. He attended some reunions of the 508th and even contributed to the news letter. Famous Politician William Windom was born on May 10, 1827 in Ohio. He admitted to working well with the director although some sources claim there was some difficulty during the shoot. However an ultrasound showed just the opposite. One of the directors who appeared at Biarritz, later used Bill in some performances at Fordham University. Bill actually participated in his own Obituary for The New York Times. Shortly before his death, a journalist contacted him for an interview and later used snippets in Bills obituary in 2012. It seemed that Bill had found a relationship where his wife wasnt in the acting business or working hard on a career. Windom married Carol Keyser in New York City in August 1947. She devoted the rest of her life to raise money and supplies for the people of Cabo San Lucas, especially the children. He continued guest-starring in series during the 1960s including playing The Major in "Five Characters in Search of an Exit", a 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone; Windom considered this guest appearance as his West Coast television debut. [1], Windom became a paratrooper with Company B, 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He and the 82nd airborne division returned home to the U.S. (after spending 3 months at Biarritz) in January 1946. Bill nor Carol never mentioned, publicly, a reason for the divorce. Nobody wants to tear my shorts off. (on being interviewed all over the world and meeting fans), Doing Thurber is exhilarating, like three hours of tennis., Chess and Tennis hold my interest wherever they occur-their applicability to gamemenship and oneupmanship (one of Bills favorite terms) is of particular relish to me., Guys like Robert Redford get their offers a year in advance. Bill says Bixby was on the nominating committee. This may have been frustrating to some people but overall Bill is always remembered for making people laugh. They divorced in December 1955. And dont blame it on the audience, pal, thats the oldest excuse in the world. (when asked about his favorite actor). Bill was named as a character in a detective noir book called Final Cut by Pamela Chais. If you got 90% of them to stand up and give you a hand thats terrific. However a couple was sitting at the bottom and Bill jumped over them and cracked his head open. Bill had to call home and tell his wife how he wanted the tiles placed. It was made with Jack Lemmon and called The War Between Men and Women. Instead of being named John, Lemmons character was Peter and he was courting a divorcee with children. In a season 2 episode of Murder, She Wrote eagle eyed fans will notice Bill is wearing a dog tag with only two lines of information. By the way, Bill rehearsed the scenes in his tuxedo with coattails and huaraches sandals. ), I used to be a star back then. By the 1980s these numbers were in the 6 digits. This may be a spin by the PR folks as Bill said he didnt take acting seriously until after he enrolled at the University in Biarritz. Bill and Serling never met, just talked once on the phone. Acting was a way to make money and have fun and Bill had such a quirky personality it just worked. You learn to giggle, have a little fun, make people laugh, and it takes you a long way. (Talking about being bullied during school). A few times, Bills military experience were expressed in some of the characters he played. [1] He was the great-grandson of the United States secretary of the treasury of the same name, whom the actor resembled. He once told a reporter he liked well-dressed woman and preferred New York styles over California styles. Bill was considered a master at characterization and getting into their psyche. Im always ready for the worst but Im not frightened to death of life., On Tv and stage acting: One pays the rent; the other satisfies the ego., Im only happy when Im working. Finally Peck says to me out of the side of his mouth,(imitating Mr. Peck)Hey Bill, do you think this would be too much? At which point his elbow slips off the table like he has fallen asleep. (on the set of To Kill a Mockingbird), There are two essentials, two and two only, to have any performance in the world in any medium. So Bill got Holbrooks agent and was very successful. Bill reportedly mentioned this on his appearance on The Johnny Carson Show. In one of his catamarans Bill used to keep a small suntan lotion bottle in it, filled with rum, I always have a few smiles along the way., Bill said he was proud member #196 of the Richard III Club. You can eat: Vegetables. Bill mentioned that he once filled out an unemployment form stating: Acting $500 per minute, Insurance $500 per month and Dishwashing $500 per year. He sailed all over the world. One of the famous guest lecturers was actress Marlene Dietrich who taught movie acting techniques. One month later, fans were invited to two memorial services in his honor. Bill learned Chess from his father and beat him after playing only 4 games. The town later became Cabot Cove, ME on Murder, She Wrote in which Bill was the crusty Dr. Seth Hazlitt. Windom also had leading parts in long-running programmes such as The Farmer's Daughter (1963-66), as a widowed congressman who falls for the Swedish farm girl (Inger Stevens), governess to his children; and Murder, She Wrote (1984-96), in which he was Seth Hazlitt, the crusty old doctor, friend and confidant of the crime writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). I think they wanted to use Troy Donahue or one of their stable people and Director Don Taylor told them, Use Windom or lose me! They relented. Wendy shocked fans with her dramatic transformation as she left her New York City apartment earlier this month, looking thinner than ever before.. Its like focusing a telescope., During an interview when promoting My World Bill was asked if he liked camping, Im too old for that. The story, Five Characters in Search of an Exit is about 5 people looking for their way out of a door-less room. The two were working on their acting careers and a marriage between two actors often doesnt last long. When Julien learns about the affair he goes into a rage and asks was it Edouards kiss that did it. Nordyke mentioned PFC William Windom arriving in the town of Werbomont and laying down and falling asleep after a long, intense journey. How tall is William Windom : 5 10 Spouse: Carol Keyser ( m. 1947; div. Bill, luckily, didnt suffer any physical injuries during his service. Upon winning the Emmy, Bill said in his speech, What can I say? Despite his parents lifestyle Bill called the three of them a team and that his parents never let him down. Bill had a few trademarks in his roles that fans with a good eye would notice. The Illegitimi can translate to illegal or, in the case of people, a bastard. However, he joked that when he moved to California he was making more money but getting into debt. When Bill was in the military they were in the process of changing the information on dog tags. However, there was a rumor that Shatner treated Bill harshly during their Broadway days. By 1961, Bills second marriage began to dissolve, yet, in one appearance Bill was wearing his wedding band even though it wasnt necessary for his character. They were strong alcoholics. (on his parents). By the seventh season, Murder, She Wrote had fallen in the ratings. When he came home at night, his wife had to tell him to stop it and just play with the kids as hed always done. Weeks is sitting back relaxing ( and naked) when he calls Bernard over to the tub to grab the phone and get a good view at the same time. This may have been the trip to NYC Bill was supposed to make in 1970 when expecting his second daughter. Bill also admitted that he harbored some ill feelings towards Shatner from their days on Broadway. Bill preferred to play with a Ganine chess set instead of the traditional Staunton. Bill said he thought he saw a fellow soldier try to shoot his foot off with a .45 caliber to avoid the mission. It was THE place for actors and anyone who was famous had their caricature on the wall. Bill enjoyed the role because he had to be made up to look like an old man, by at least 5 women from the theater group. The first prizes are too valuable theyre really for only for that five percent of people, food, clothing, time, weather, age whatever you want to name in your life. Bill admitted that Star Trek fell in this 90%. A few weeks later, he married his third wife, Barbara Clare. Bill, like his father, rolled his own cigarettes (which Bill is seen smoking on an episode of Dallas) and shaved with a straight razor (one belonged to his famous great grandfather the other was given to Bill by actor Efrem Zimbalist, jr). Bill was a great story teller. Almost a year later, in July 1975, he filed for divorce from Jacqulyn. He went to private schools and later attended public high school where he took a mix of specialized and regular classes. Bill filed a patent for a travel chess set with the U.S. Patent office in 1996. Another time, when lost in Michigan, Bill stopped at a bar and the bartender asked, Did anyone ever tell you, you look like that actor William Windom.. Its always been a snap. (on wanting the life of an actor versus any other life), No one of proven intellectual superiority has ever been an actor. (Bill quoting H.L. Afterward, he filmed the pilot for a new series Is There a Doctor in the House? It was founded by an actress he worked with. Despite making several appearances on Broadway and being part of a national touring company, Bill decided to quit acting the year he married. Bill even played with actor Chad Everett whom he worked with 4 times on Medical Center and later on two episodes of Murder, She Wrote.. He admitted to indulging in Benny Hill (for the jokes and the pretty girls), Hee Haw (the jokes and the pretty girls) and The Lawrence Welk Show. However he usually just watched a few minutes at bedtime. Bill admitted to lying and cheating sometimes to get a part but he made sure he didnt hurt anyone from the antics. He was 88. "And I didn't. He felt Glen was kind of dumb, very dull and stuffy. William Windom, actor; born 28 September 1923; died 16 August 2012, American TV and film actor whose repertoire ran from Shakespeare to Star Trek, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, William Windom makes his big-screen debut in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). He had it made into a postcard (see photo on the Miscellaneous page) and used it for autographs. Patricia kept the home fires burning while Bill traveled for his shows. One of the Broadway shows Bill recalls fondly was Madmoiselle Colombe. Bill was very passionate about the tv and film industry especially when it came to fair use of an artists image and bigotry in the acting industry. His character, Dr. Walter Belkamp, was shot and killed within the first 10 minutes of the episode. He would later joke about always being 90% happy with life because anything after WWII was a happy time. Bill beat Wayne 5-0 and the actor slammed the game board across the table. Bill heard actresses had round heels (i.e. I know it too well., They pretty much say what I would say if I were going to criticize my own stuff: Yeah, Yeah, okay but who needs Windom? Bill mentioned he wanted to do a one-man show based on The Young Lions about the anti-war sentiment and the feelings of the grunts when it came to the lofty officers. Drama Feb 9, 1973 47 min. Apparently he was so rambunctious in class she promoted him a grade just to get rid of him. Anyone in this business is a liar or a fake if he says he doesnt care if he wins it. Years later Bill admitted that was egotistical and the win became much less important to him. When he traveled for his one-man shows he would always ask people where he could find a good chess game. Bills shooting day was usually 8am to 7pm four days a week. Karen Valentine, who worked with Bill in the show My Friend Tony, won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (for Room 222) and Paul Bogart won for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama for the TV Movie Shadow Game which Bill co-starred along with William Shatner. He and Angela were in Seths car ( which was just a shell of a car while scenery video played in the background) and Jessica was supposed to say a line about The pretty flashing lights at night. She ended up saying, Look at all the flashing nights, and Bill said Yes and the mooning maids arent bad either. The two broke out laughing and it took about 20 minutes for them to get back on track! 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