Bill Erwin
Biography
William Lindsey Erwin was an American film, stage, and television actor born on December 2, 1914, in Honey Grove, Texas. Known as a veteran character actor, he accumulated over two hundred fifty television and film credits throughout his career. His work included appearances in the films Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Somewhere in Time, and Home Alone. He also worked as a stage manager for Edgar Bergen and as a security assistant for Clancy. He gained widespread recognition for his television performance portraying the retiree Sid Fields on the show Seinfeld, a role that earned him an Emmy Award nomination in 1993. Bill Erwin passed away on December 29, 2010, at the age of ninety-six.
Career overview
William Lindsey Erwin was an American film, stage, and television actor who accumulated over 250 television and film credits throughout his career. Born on December 2, 1914, in Honey Grove, Texas, Erwin established himself as a veteran character actor across a wide variety of productions. His extensive film work included appearances in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Somewhere in Time, and Home Alone, alongside television work that included programs such as The Twilight Zone and I Love Lucy. Outside of his acting performances on screen and stage, Erwin also worked as a stage manager for Edgar Bergen and served as a security assistant for Clancy.
Among his many television appearances, Erwin became widely known for his 1993 performance on the television series Seinfeld, in which he portrayed the embittered and irascible retiree Sid Fields, a role that earned him an Emmy Award nomination. Erwin passed away on December 29, 2010, at the age of ninety-six.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
202 titles- The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration (2019) as Wilcox (archive footage)
- My Name Is Earl (2005) as Old Man playing Ping Pong
- Monk (2002) as Hiram Holling
- Everwood (2002) as Ollie
- Cahoots (2001) as Frenchy
- A Crack in the Floor (2001) as Harold
- Boycott (2001) as Loading Dock Man #2
- The Michael Richards Show (2000) as Mr. Flaherty
- Back To "Somewhere In Time" (2000) as Self
- Stanley's Gig (2000) as Jules
- The West Wing (1999) as Ronald Cruikshank
- Inferno (1999) as Eli Hamilton
- Forces of Nature (1999) as Murray
- The King of Queens (1998) as Whitey
- Chairman of the Board (1998) as Landers
- Art House (1998) as Monty
- Just Shoot Me! (1997) as Mr. King
- Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) as Gus Hobbs (segment "The Bucket")
- Menno's Mind (1997) as Mr. Lewis
- Suddenly Susan (1996) as Mr. Tidgely
- The Louie Show (1996) as Cheating Husband
- Just Your Luck (1996) as Pops
- The Drew Carey Show (1995) as Mr. Bradbury
- Cybill (1995) as Bill
- The Naked Truth (1995) as Victor
- Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) as 70-Year-Old Man
- Burke's Law (1994) as Noah Stark
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) as Conductor
- Madman of the People (1994) as William
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) as Andy Tucker
- Fallen Angels (1993) as Chick
- The John Larroquette Show (1993) as Man
- Dennis the Menace (1993) as Edward Little
- The Mommies (1993)
- Against the Grain (1993) as Harold
- At Home with the Webbers (1993) as Horace
- The Magic Bubble (1993) as Old Man
- Mad About You (1992) as Yankee Third Baseman
- Harry and the Hendersons (1991) as Guest #1
- Night of the Warrior (1991) as Coco
- The Entertainers (1991) as Sam
- Home Alone (1990) as Man in Airport
- The Willies (1990) as Old Man
- The Color of Evening (1990) as Priest
- Seinfeld (1989) as Sidney Fields
- Quantum Leap (1989) as Mr. Deever
- The Land Before Time (1988) as Grandfather (voice)
- She's Having a Baby (1988) as Grandfather
- High Mountain Rangers (1988)
- Silent Assassins (1988) as Dr. London
- Married... with Children (1987) as Hiram Massey
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Doctor Dalen Quaice
- Full House (1987) as Mr. Ferguson
- Second Chance (1987) as Gus
- Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) as Man on Plane
- On Fire (1987) as Joe's Father
- Stewardess School (1986) as Orchestra Conductor
- The Golden Girls (1985) as Mr. Hubbard
- Moonlighting (1985) as Duncan Kennedy
- Growing Pains (1985) as Buzz
- Growing Pains (1985) as Janitor
- Growing Pains (1985) as Chester / Lester
- Growing Pains (1985) as Lloyd
- Growing Pains (1985) as Edgar
- Growing Pains (1985) as Maurice
- Growing Pains (1985) as Bub
- Generation (1985) as John
- Highway to Heaven (1984) as Santa
- Who's the Boss? (1984)
- Punky Brewster (1984) as Ben
- Quest (1984)
- Invitation to Hell (1984) as Walt Henderson
- Hard Knox (1984) as Gen. Garfield
- Pardon and Peace (1983) as Old Man
- Ghost Dancing (1983) as Joe Greyfeather
- Voyagers! (1982) as Eisenhowers' Neighbor
- Drop-Out Father (1982) as Grandpa
- Moonlight (1982) as Dr. Tucker
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Night Editor
- The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) as Reverend
- Somewhere in Time (1980) as Arthur Biehl
- Knots Landing (1979) as Mr. Wineke
- Hart to Hart (1979) as Sir Gavin MacLaish
- Elvis (1979)
- Struck by Lightning (1979) as Glenn Diamond
- Huckleberry Finn (1978) as Harvey Wilkes
- Lou Grant (1977) as Old Man
- Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo (1977) as Mr. Schneider
- Sixth and Main (1977)
- The Jeffersons (1975)
- Candy Stripe Nurses (1974) as Principal
- Hunter (1973) as Sam Pickering
- The Waltons (1972)
- The Waltons (1972) as Senator Rogers
- The Rookies (1972)
- Cannon (1971)
- Dan August (1970) as Coroner
- How Awful About Allan (1970) as Dr. Ames
- The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) as Pastor
- My World and Welcome to It (1969)
- Mayberry R.F.D. (1968) as Man at Convention
- Mannix (1967)
- The Guns of Will Sonnett (1967)
- The Invaders (1967) as Manager
- The Second Hundred Years (1967) as Salesman #2
- Counterpoint (1967)
- Shane (1966) as Clerk
- The Wild Wild West (1965) as Jury Foreman
- Get Smart (1965) as Mr. Smith
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Paxton
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Manager
- The Fugitive (1963) as Bar patron
- The Fugitive (1963) as Man
- The Fugitive (1963) as Counterman
- Burke's Law (1963) as Fire Marshal
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Father Daley
- Arrest and Trial (1963) as Doctor
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) as Food Truck Cook
- The Dakotas (1963)
- Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963) as Teacher (uncredited)
- The Virginian (1962) as Bevers
- Terror At Black Falls (1962) as Hugh 'Squint' Edwards
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Mister Ed (1961) as Mr. Wood
- 87th Precinct (1961) as George
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as George Sapley
- My Three Sons (1960) as Joe Walters
- Stagecoach West (1960) as Teller (uncredited)
- Coronado 9 (1960)
- Peter Loves Mary (1960)
- Peter Loves Mary (1960) as 1st Non-Com
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Peter Kramer
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Wilcox (uncredited)
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Man
- Rawhide (1959) as Parker
- The Untouchables (1959) as Auctioneer
- The Untouchables (1959) as Doctor
- Black Saddle (1959) as Kelly
- Johnny Ringo (1959) as Manners
- Law of the Plainsman (1959) as Dr. Palmer
- The Rifleman (1958) as Joe Flecker
- Sea Hunt (1958)
- The Texan (1958)
- Man with a Camera (1958)
- Cry Baby Killer (1958) as Mr. Wallace
- Gun Fever (1958) as Bartender
- Perry Mason (1957) as A.J. Nelson - Paint Store Owner
- Perry Mason (1957) as Morrison Findlay
- Perry Mason (1957) as Superintendent
- Perry Mason (1957) as Autopsy Surgeon
- Perry Mason (1957) as Counterman
- Maverick (1957) as Hotel Clerk
- Maverick (1957) as Evans (uncredited)
- Maverick (1957) as Pawn Shop Dealer (uncredited)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Leave It to Beaver (1957)
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Sgt. Riker
- M Squad (1957) as Roger Jessop
- M Squad (1957) as Detective Gene
- Trackdown (1957)
- Trackdown (1957) as Man on Trail (uncredited)
- The Walter Winchell File (1957) as Bellem
- Panic! (1957)
- The Night Runner (1957) as McDermott--Fingerprint Man (uncredited)
- The Shadow on the Window (1957) as Policeman (uncredited)
- Fight for the Title (1957) as Newspaper Man
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sam Townley
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Joshua Morgan
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Harper Bates
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Harte
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Reverend McIntire
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Clay Davis
- State Trooper (1956)
- State Trooper (1956) as Neal James
- The Man Called X (1956)
- Claire (1956) as Carl
- Man from Del Rio (1956) as Roy Higgens
- Cheyenne (1955)
- Highway Patrol (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Preacher
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Rev Tucker
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Ned
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Captain
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Townsman
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Judge
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Juror
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Telegrapher
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Bailiff
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Mr. Jonas
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Snood
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Townsman (uncredited)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Fireman (uncredited)
- Lassie (1954)
- General Electric Theater (1953)
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Bum (uncredited)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Jens Nelson
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Reporter
- Easy Living (1949) as Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Herman
- The Velvet Touch (1948) as Howard Forman (as William L. Erwin)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Bill Erwin best known for?
Bill Erwin is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including My Name Is Earl (2005), Monk (2002), Everwood (2002), The Bridges of Madison County (1995).
When and where was Bill Erwin born?
Bill Erwin was born on December 2, 1914 in Honey Grove, Texas, USA. They passed away on December 29, 2010.
How many credits does Bill Erwin have?
Bill Erwin has accumulated over 202 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 2019.
What is Bill Erwin's background in cinema and television?
William Lindsey Erwin was an American film, stage, and television actor born on December 2, 1914, in Honey Grove, Texas. Known as a veteran character actor, he accumulated over two hundred fifty television and film credits throughout his career. His work included appearances in the films Planes, Trains and Automobiles,...
Bill Erwin by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) — aged about 36
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Peter Kramer — aged about 44
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Wilcox (uncredited) — aged about 44
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Man — aged about 44
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) as Doctor Dalen Quaice — aged about 72
- The West Wing (1999) as Ronald Cruikshank — aged about 84
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