William Tyrell Quinn (May 6, 1912 – April 29, 1994) was an American character actor of film and television.

Early years Quinn was born on May 6, 1912, in New York City. His father, Edward Quinn, was a supervisor in the United States Shipping Board's copying department. His mother, Lillian Tyrrell, was an actress in films and a chorus girl on Broadway. He performed with his older brothers in a children's act in vaudeville.

Career As a teenager, Quinn worked in films in New York City. He performed with touring stock theater companies during the 1920s.

Quinn began working on radio around 1934. He starred as a detective on Little Herman on ABC in the late 1940s. Other radio programs on which he appeared included The Man Behind the Gun,"Men Behind the Script". The Columbus Ledger. March 21, 1943. p. 24. Retrieved March 7, 2025. "Director William Robson gives instructions on a script of CBS’ 'The Man Behind the Gun' to his cast. The actors are, left to right, Jackson Beck, Bill Quinn and Frank Lovejoy." Counterspy, The FBI in Peace and War, Gangbusters, and Mr. District Attorney.

A prolific character actor, Quinn appeared in more than 150 roles over seven decades, beginning in silent films during the 1920s and ending with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier in 1989, in which he portrayed the father of Dr. McCoy. On television, he appeared as Mr. Van Ranseleer, the wise, blind bar patron, in Archie Bunker's Place. His other TV roles include The Odd Couple, in the recurring role of Felix and Oscar's dour physician, Dr. Melnitz; The Rifleman as Frank Sweeney, the bartender; and Mary's father in three episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Quinn made guest appearances on several other TV series, including Perry Mason, Honey West, My Three Sons, Batman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, Land of the Giants, Adam-12, The Waltons, Quincy, M.E., The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Trapper John, M.D. and The Golden Girls. His film appearances include The Birds (1963), The Reluctant Astronaut (1967), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), Hearts of the West (1975), Gable and Lombard (1976), Bustin' Loose (1981), and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983).

Personal life and death Quinn married Mary Catherine Roden in 1939,New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018 and they had three daughters. One of those is Virginia "Ginnie" Quinn Newhart, wife of comedian Bob Newhart, on whose sitcoms Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show Quinn occasionally appeared in small supporting roles."Television Today: Evening". The Atlanta Constitution. November 1, 1982. p. 7B. Retrieved March 2, 2023."Highlights Broadcast". Tampa Bay Times. February 27, 1984. p. 4D. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

Quinn died on April 29, 1994, at the age of 81 in Camarillo, California of natural causes. He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Filmography

No Mother to Guide Her (1923) - Billy Mills, as a child The New School Teacher (1924) - Pupil The Rifleman (1959) (Season 1, Episode 26: "The Deadly Wait" - Sweeney The Last Angry Man (1959) - Andrew Lord (uncredited) The Flying Fontaines (1959) - Al Bartlett (uncredited) The Mountain Road (1960) - Colonel Magnusson From the Terrace (1960) - Lawrence Von Elm (uncredited) The Rifleman (1960) (Season 2, Episode 27: "Lariat") - Sweeney Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1961) (Season 7 Episode 7: "You Can't Be a Little Girl All Your Life") - Mr. Dutton Cry for Happy (1961) - Alan Lyman Go Naked in the World (1961) - Pete's Doctor (uncredited) The Young Savages (1961) - Police Captain Larsen (uncredited) Ada (1961) - Tom De Paul, Committee Man (uncredited) Five Finger Exercise (1962) - Salesman Advise & Consent (1962) - Senator Paul Hendershot The Birds (1963) - Sam, man in Diner It Happened at the World's Fair (1963) - Man Leaving Dispensary (uncredited) Brainstorm (1965) - Psychiatrist at Sanity Hearing (uncredited) Mirage (1965) - Eddie, Bartender (uncredited) Dark Intruder (1965) - The Neighbor When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965) - Dean of Colby Penelope (1966) - Bank Executive (uncredited) The Ballad of Josie (1967) - Bobbitt (uncredited) Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding! (1967) - Executive at Meeting (uncredited) The Reluctant Astronaut (1967) - Captain Ferguson (uncredited) The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) - U.S. Marshal Arthur Bates (uncredited) Love Is a Funny Thing (1969) - Le passager How to Frame a Figg (1971) - Assistant Attorney General John Carmoni The Mad Bomber (1973) - Sergeant Quinn Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies (1973) - Mortician Hearts of the West (1975) - Customer at Cafe Rio (uncredited) Psychic Killer (1975) - Hospital Coroner Matilda (1978) - Donohue Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983) - Mr. Van Rensalier Bustin' Loose (1981) - Judge Antonio Runzuli Dead & Buried (1981) - Ernie Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) - Mr. Leo Conroy (Segment#2) Lucky Stiff (1988) - Emmet Kassler Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) - McCoy's Father (his final film role)

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