Bill Mumy
Bill Mumy | |
---|---|
Born | Charles William Mumy Jr. February 1, 1954 San Gabriel, California, U.S. |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1960−present |
Spouse |
Eileen Joy Davis (m. 1986) |
Children | 2, including Liliana |
Awards | Inkpot Award (2015)[1] |
Website | www |
Charles William Mumy Jr. (/ˈmuːmi/; born February 1, 1954[2]) is an American actor, writer, and musician and a figure in the science-fiction community/comic book fandom. He came to prominence in the 1960s as a child actor whose work included television appearances on Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and a role in the film Dear Brigitte, followed by a three-season role as Will Robinson in the 1960s CBS sci-fi series Lost in Space.
Mumy later appeared as lonely teenager Sterling North in the Disney film Rascal (1969) and Teft in the film Bless the Beasts and Children (1971).
In the 1990s, Mumy performed the role of
Mumy is also known for his musical career as a guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer: he is an Emmy nominee for original music in Adventures in Wonderland (1992). As a musician Mumy performs as a solo artist, an occasional guest performer, and as half of the duo Barnes & Barnes. From 1988 through the 90s he performed at the San Diego Comic-Con and other comics-related events as part of the band Seduction of the Innocent (named after the titular book by Fredric Wertham) along with Miguel Ferrer, Steve Leialoha, Max Allan Collins and John "Chris" Christensen. The band released one CD, The Golden Age.[3]
Early life and career
Mumy was born in San Gabriel, California, to Charles William Mumy (December 28, 1904 - August 7, 1995), a cattle rancher, and Muriel Gertrude Mumy (née Gould; July 19, 1912 - December 29, 2010).[4] He began his professional career at age seven and has worked on more than four hundred television episodes, eighteen films, various commercials, and scores of voice-over projects.[5] He has also worked as a musician, songwriter, recording artist, and writer.[6]
Television and film career
Among Mumy's earliest television roles was six-year-old Willy in the "Donald's Friend" (1960) episode of the
In 1961, Mumy was cast on CBS-TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents series in "The Door Without a Key", featuring John Larch, who played his father in "It's a Good Life". The same year, Mumy starred as little Jackie in the episode "Bang! You're Dead", featuring Marta Kristen, who later played his sister Judy on Lost in Space. Mumy was cast as Mark Murdock in the "Keep an Eye on Santa Claus" (1962) episode of the ABC-TV drama series Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly. His fellow guest stars were Cloris Leachman (who played his mother in "It's a Good Life"), Steve Brodie, and Frank McHugh.[7]
At age eight, Mumy appeared in Jack Palance's ABC-TV circus drama The Greatest Show on Earth (1963); he was cast as Miles, a parentless boy, in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Shifty Shoebox" (1963), and he portrayed Freddy in the "End of an Image" (1963) episode of NBC-TV's modern Western series Empire, starring Richard Egan.
In 1964, he was cast as
Mumy was reportedly the first choice to portray Eddie Munster in the 1964 CBS situation comedy The Munsters, but his parents objected to the extensive makeup requirements. The role instead went to Butch Patrick. Mumy appeared in one episode as a friend of Eddie.
Mumy guest starred in an episode of NBC-TV's I Dream of Jeannie, "Whatever Became of Baby Custer?" (1965). That same year, he also appeared in an episode of Bewitched titled "Junior Executive" (1965), in which he played a young Darrin Stephens.
Mumy starred in Dear Brigitte (1965), a film adaptation of the novel Erasmus with Freckles, as Erasmus Leaf, a child mathematical genius who develops a crush on Brigitte Bardot (played by herself in the film). His parents, played by James Stewart and Glynis Johns, attempt to manage his obsession.[8]
Lost in Space and beyond
From 1965 to 1968, Mumy portrayed Will Robinson in
Mumy was later cast in Bless the Beasts and Children (1971) as Teft, a leader in a group of misfit teenage boys resolved to save a herd of bison from hunters. He also played a musician friend of Cliff DeYoung's character in the television film Sunshine (1973), later reprising the role in Sunshine Christmas and in the TV series Sunshine. In 1974, Mumy played Nick Butler in the pilot episode of NBC's The Rockford Files and made an appearance in a later episode in season 1 as a sidewalk artist. In 1988, he played Ben Matlock's genius nephew, Dr. Irwin Bruckner, on Matlock.
In 1996, Mumy was a writer and co-creator of
In 2018, Mumy appeared in the pilot episode of the Netflix remake series, Lost in Space. His character's name is Dr. Z. Smith, in homage to the character played by Jonathan Harris in the 1965 television series.
Voice acting career
Mumy has narrated over 50 episodes of the
Mumy's work also includes voice overs in national commercials for
Music
Mumy is an accomplished musician who plays the banjo, bass, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, mandolin, and percussion. His various musical credits include songs he has written and recorded with America, performed on tour with Shaun Cassidy, and played with Rick Springfield's band in the film Hard to Hold. He created the band The Be Five with other Babylon 5 actors.[14]
Mumy has released a number of solo CDs, including Dying to Be Heard, In the Current, Pandora's Box, After Dreams Come True, Los Angeles Times and Ghosts, as well as nine albums with music partner
Mumy produces and hosts The Real Good Radio Hour, a weekly series on KSAV Internet Radio focusing on various styles of music and the artists who pioneered them.[17]
Lost in Space activities in later years
In 1996, Mumy and his Lost in Space costar
In a 2010 interview on Blog Talk Radio's Lessons Learned, Rick Tocquigny was asked if Mumy was a Jonathan Harris fan before they appeared together on Lost in Space. Tocquigny said that at age five, Mumy was too young to watch his mentor's show The Third Man, which would have been aired late at night, but he was old enough to see The Bill Dana Show.[18]
On June 14, 2006, Mumy got to work with Harris one last time, though posthumously. Years before Harris died, he recorded voice work for the animated short The Bolt Who Screwed Christmas, narrating the film and playing the part of The Bolt. As a tribute to Harris, writer-director John Wardlaw added a scene that reunited Lost in Space cast members Mumy, Marta Kristen, and Angela Cartwright as the animated Ratchett family.[19]
Mumy appears in two episodes of the 2018 series Lost in Space on Netflix. He plays the role of Dr. Smith, whose identity is stolen by June Harris, the villain.
Mumy attends Lost in Space reunions and shows, and co-authored a 2015 book, Lost (and Found) in Space with Angela Cartwright.[20] He and Cartwright co-authored the 2021 book, Lost (and Found) in Space 2: Blast Off into the Expanded Edition.[21][22]
Other work
Mumy and co-author Peter David published a short story, "The Black '59" (1992), in the anthology Shock Rock, edited by F. Paul Wilson.[23]
He has also written a number of comics. With his friend, the late Miguel Ferrer, Mumy created Comet Man and Trypto the Acid Dog. They also co-wrote the Marvel Graphic Novel The Dreamwalker.[24]
Personal life
Mumy married Eileen Joy Davis on October 9, 1986.[4] They live in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles with their two children, Seth (b. 1989) and Liliana (b. 1994).[25][26]
Television and filmography
Year | Film/Television | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | The Tom Ewell Show | Jeffrey Nelson | Episode: "Tom Puts the Girls to Work" |
1961–63 | The Twilight Zone | Billy Bayles, Anthony Fremont, young Pip Phillips | 3 episodes |
1961 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Jackie Chester | Season 7 Episode 2: "Bang, You're Dead" |
1962 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mickey Hollins | Season 7 Episode 15: "The Door Without a Key" |
1962 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour |
Tony Mitchell | Season 1 Episode 8: "House Guest" |
1962 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color |
Petey Loomis | Episode: "Sammy, the Way-Out Seal" |
1962 | The Jack Benny Program | 34-Lb Boy | Episode: "Jack and the Crying Cab Driver" |
1962 | Wagon Train | Toddy | Episode: "The Sam Darland Story" |
1963 | A Child Is Waiting | Boy counting Jean's pearls | |
1963 | A Ticklish Affair | Alex Martin | |
1963 | Palm Springs Weekend | 'Boom Boom' Yates | |
1963 | Perry Mason | Miles Jefferson | Episode: "The Case of the Shifty Shoebox" |
1964–65 | Bewitched | Michael (Orphan Boy), Darrin | 2 episodes |
1964 | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | Billy | 3 episodes |
1965 | The Virginian | Willy | Episode: "Old Cowboy" |
1965 | Dear Brigitte | Erasmus Leaf | |
1965 | I Dream of Jeannie | Custer | Episode: "Whatever Became of Baby Custer?" |
1965 | The Munsters | Googie Miller | Episode: "Come Back Little Googie" |
1965–68 | Lost in Space | Will Robinson | 84 episodes |
1968 | Wild in the Streets | Boy | Uncredited |
1969 | Rascal | Sterling North | |
1969 | Lancer | Andy Cutler | Episode: "The Kid" |
1970 | Here Come the Brides | Simon Bill | Episode: "Break the Bank of Tacoma" |
1971 | Bless the Beasts and Children | Teft | |
1973 | Papillon | Lariot | |
1974 | The Rockford Files | Nick Butler | Episode: "Backlash of the Hunter" (pilot) |
1975 | Sunshine | Weaver | 15 episodes |
1983 | Twilight Zone: The Movie | Tim (Segment #3) | |
1984 | Hard to Hold | Keyboard Player | |
1988 | Matlock | Dr. Irwin Bruckner | |
1990 | Captain America | Young General Fleming | |
1991 | The Flash | Roger Braintree | Episode: "Good Night, Central City" |
1991–92 | Superboy | Tommy Puck | 3 episodes |
1992 | Double Trouble | Bob | |
1993 | Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Fenton | Episode: "Monstrous Meltdown" |
1994 | Animaniacs | The Farmer | Voice, episode: "Witch One" |
1994 | The Ren & Stimpy Show | Dr. Brainchild | Voice, episode: "Blazing Entrails" |
1994–98 | Babylon 5 | Lennier | 109 episodes |
1995 | Batman: The Animated Series | Warren Lawford / Fox | Voice, episode: "The Terrible Trio" |
1996 | The Oz Kids | Sam | Voice |
1997 | The Weird Al Show | UPS Guy | |
1997 | Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Voice, episode: "Switcheroo '97" |
1998 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Kellin | Episode: "The Siege of AR-558" |
1998 | Lost in Space Forever | Himself/Will Robinson | TV special |
2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Eon | Voice, 2 episodes |
2003 | The Twilight Zone | Adult Anthony Fremont | Episode: "It's Still a Good Life" |
2004 | Comic Book: The Movie | Himself | Video |
2006 | Holly Hobbie & Friends | Bud Morris | Voice |
2009 | The Bolt Who Screwed Christmas | Knob Ratchett | Theatrical short |
2011 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | Agent Bryson | Voice, episode: "The Widening Gyre" |
2013–14 | Bravest Warriors | Johnny Tezuka | Voice, 4 episodes |
2014 | Transformers: Rescue Bots | Vigil | Voice, 2 episodes |
2018 | The Loud House | Timothy "Tim" McCole | Voice, episode: "A Fridge Too Far" |
2018–2019 | Lost in Space (2018) | Dr. Zachary Smith | 2 episodes |
2023 | Babylon 5: The Road Home | Lennier | Voice, Direct to video[27] |
References
- ^ "Inkpot Award". December 6, 2012.
- ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Still Offensive After All These Years".
- ^ a b "Bill Mumy profile". Film Reference Library. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Bill Mumy: Biography". AllMovie. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Bill Mumy: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ ""Keep an Eye on Santa Claus", Going My Way, December 12, 1962". IMDb. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Mark Deming, Mark. "Dear Brigitte (1965)". AllMovie. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ Noland, Claire (January 25, 2012). "Dick Tufeld dies at 85; actor who intoned 'Danger, Will Robinson!'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
Besides warning young Will Robinson of impending danger, Tufeld's Robot uttered other lines that became catchphrases for faithful viewers — including "That does not compute" — and needled the antagonistic Dr. Zachary Smith with barbs like "Dr. Smith is a bubble-headed booby."
- ^ BOLLETTIERI, SPENCER (February 8, 2022). "Before Prodigy, Nickelodeon Already Created Its Own Star Trek". Screen Rant.
- ^ Mumy, Bill (September 3, 2013). "The Interviews: An Oral History of Television". The Television Academy Foundation’s The Interviews (Interview). Interviewed by Amy Harrington. North Hollywood: Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
YouTube title:Bill Mumy discusses appearing on 'Star Trek Deep Space Nine'
- ^ Erickson, Hal (2015). "Biography: Bill Mumy". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
- ^ "Biography". billmumy.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ "Bill Mumy's Return Trip". People. June 3, 1991.
- ^ Lapka, Larry. "Barnes & Barnes: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ Andy Hermann, "Meet Action Skulls, a New Band Featuring Vicki Peterson, John Cowsill and Bill Mumy", LA Weekly, August 4, 2017.
- ^ "The Real Good Radio Hour with Bill Mumy". ksav.org. March 23, 2013. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013.
- ^ "Bill Mumy of Lost in Space fame shares his life lessons". BlogTalkRadio. September 22, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
- ^ Herrera, Margaux (July 1, 2011). "The Bolt Who Screwed Christmas Director Talks Crude Humor and Working with the Late Jonathan Harris". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 15, 2017..
- ^ King, Susan (September 14, 2015). "Warning! Warning! 50th anniversary 'Lost in Space' Blu-ray and book approaching!". Los Angeles Times.
- ISBN 978-1735621531.
- ^ "Tinseltown Talks: Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright launch new 'Lost in Space' book". The Oakland Press. September 23, 2021.
- ^ Ashley, Michael; Contanto, William (May 30, 1995). The Supernatural Index: A Listing of Fantasy, Supernatural, Occult, Weird, and Horror Anthologies. Greenwood. p. 196. Archived at Google Books. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "Bill Mumy on the Grand Comics Database".
- ISBN 978-1935234005.
- ^ "Biography". www.billmumy.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ "'Babylon 5: The Road Home' Voice Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023.
Bibliography
- Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 303-304.
- Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914-1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 166.
External links
- Official website
- Bill Mumy at IMDb
- Bill Mumy at the TCM Movie Database
- Bill Mumy discography at Discogs
- Bill Mumy interviews on Outsight Radio Hours
- Bill Mumy at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Bill Mumy at SBV Talent
- Bill Mumy speaks about the character Will Robinson