William Andrew Jones (February 18, 1907 – March 5, 1974), better known as Billy De Wolfe, was an American character actor. He was active in films from the mid-1940s until his death in 1974.
Early life and early stage career Born William Andrew Jones in the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, De Wolfe was the son of a Welsh bookbinder who encouraged him to become a Baptist minister. Instead, Billy developed an interest in the theatre. He found work as an usher before becoming a dancer with the Jimmy O'Connor Band.UPI. "Vet hoofer, actor Billy De Wolfe dies". Pacific Stars & Stripes. (March 8, 1974). page 3. It was at this point that he changed his last name initially to "De Wolf" (the "e" was added later), which was the last name of the manager of the Massachusetts theatre where he worked. In 1925, De Wolfe landed chorus boy spots in the Broadway musicals Artists and Models and The Cocoanuts. He then went on to tour Europe with a dance team for most of the 1930s, appearing in a London revue called "Revels in Rhythm" and "danced before royalty on nine continents." During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy until he was discharged in 1944 for medical reasons, due to a reported arthritic condition.
Films De Wolfe signed with Paramount Pictures in 1943 and became a reliable comedian. His pencil-mustached and often pompous character contrasted humorously with the films' romantic leads. His best-known role of his Paramount tenure is probably the ham actor-turned-silent movie villain in the 1947 fictionalizedCrowther, Bosley (July 10, 1947). "Movie review: The Perils of Pauline". The New York Times. "Let's get this clearly on the record: Paramount's "The Perils of Pauline" ... is neither a reasonable facsimile of the ancient silent serial for which it is named, nor is it a rightful biography of the famous serial queen, Pearl White." Retrieved November 23, 2011. Pearl White biography The Perils of Pauline. De Wolfe became known for his portrayal of fussy, petty men ("Never touch!," he would say imperiously whenever someone accosted him physically). The New York Times review of his 1948 film Isn't It Romantic strongly criticized the way the other actors' material limited their performances, contrasting their performances with his: "But Mr. De Wolfe is nothing daunted. He rips up the place with great delight. The material is at his mercy. Likewise the scenery. And he chews it to bits."Crowther, Bosley (October 7, 1948). "Movie review: Isn't It Romantic?". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2011. Billy De Wolfe also played the role of Pemberton Maxwell, The American Embassy's chargé d'affaires in the 1953 musical Call Me Madam.
De Wolfe was a good friend of Doris Day for over two decades, from the time of their first meeting during the filming of the 1950 musical Tea for Two until his death. Their screen chemistry in that film led to De Wolfe being quickly recast as a supporting character of Day in the 1951 production Lullaby of Broadway.
Return to stage and television work After his Paramount contract lapsed, De Wolfe returned to the stage. He appeared in the revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac in 1953 and 1954, and starred in the last edition of the Ziegfeld Follies, in 1957.
He appeared regularly in guest roles on television, including the first two episodes of NBC's The Imogene Coca Show. He portrayed Mr. Jarvis on CBS's The Doris Day Show, and co-starred with Larry Storch in a short-lived TV sitcom, The Queen and I. He often appeared on talk shows and in TV commercials, doing his "Mrs. Murgatroyd" drag routine. Wearing a hat and a shawl (but still sporting his mustache), De Wolfe (as old maid Phoebe Murgatroyd) would claim to be an expert on romance and answered questions from the lovelorn.
Generations of TV viewers know Billy De Wolfe only by his voice, such as the voice of the finicky but inept magician Professor Hinkle in the animated 1969 Christmas special Frosty the Snowman. That supporting character speaks with De Wolfe's precise but exaggerated diction: "Mess-y, mess-y, mess-y! Sill-y, sill-y, sill-y! Bus-y, bus-y, bus-y!"
In 1967–68 (one season, 26 episodes), he co-starred with Joby Baker and Ronnie Schell in the TV sitcom Good Morning World as Roland Hutton, the fussy manager at a radio station where David Lewis and Larry Clarke (Baker and Schell) are co-hosts.
In 1972, De Wolfe was scheduled to return to Broadway in the role of Madame Lucy in the musical revival of Irene starring Debbie Reynolds, Monte Markham, Ruth Warrick, and Patsy Kelly. During the early stages of rehearsals, however, DeWolfe learned that he was ill with cancer and was replaced by George S. Irving. Nevertheless, later that same year, De Wolfe recorded a vocal track for songs presented on the album Free to Be… You and Me, which was part of a children's entertainment project developed by actress and author Marlo Thomas. A related animated special was subsequently produced for television and aired on ABC on March 11, 1974, just six days after De Wolfe's death.
Personal life and death De Wolfe never married, and personal aspects of his life were rarely mentioned publicly during his career.
On February 26, 1974, suffering from an advanced case of lung cancer, De Wolfe was admitted to the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center. He died there a week later, on March 5, two weeks after his 67th birthday. He was cremated at Hollywood Memorial Park (now Hollywood Forever Cemetery). His urn was sent in a private plane to be buried with his family in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1943 Dixie Mr. Bones 1945 Duffy's Tavern Doctor 1946 Miss Susie Slagle's Ben Mead 1946 Our Hearts Were Growing Up Roland du Frere 1946 Blue Skies Tony 1947 Dear Ruth Albert Kummer 1947 The Perils of Pauline Mr. Timmy Timmons 1947 Variety Girl Himself 1948 Isn't It Romantic Horace Frazier 1949 Dear Wife Albert Kummer 1950 Tea for Two Larry Blair 1951 Lullaby of Broadway Lefty Mack 1951 Dear Brat Albert 1953 Call Me Madam Pemberton Maxwell 1960 Johnny Midnight Damon Episode: "The Impresario"1965 Billie Mayor Charlie Davis 1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show Rex Episode: "The Ugliest Dog in the World"1966–1969 That Girl Jules Benedict 3 episodes1967 Rango Cribs Episode: "Requiem for a Ranger"1967–1968 Good Morning World Roland B. Hutton Jr. 25 episodes1969 Frosty the Snowman Professor Hinkle / The Magician TV Special, Voice1970 The Debbie Reynolds Show Delbert Deloy Episode: "Mission: Improbable"1970–1973 The Doris Day Show Willard Jarvis / Billy De Wolfe / Randolph Jarvis 12 episodes1972 Napoleon and Samantha Man Uncredited1973 The World's Greatest Athlete Dean Maxwell 1973 Love, American Style Mr. Gratz (segment "Love and the Fractured Fibula"), 1 episode1974 Free to Be… You and Me The Principal TV movie, Voice, (final film role)
References Notes
External links