Bill Daily facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Daily
1969 photo from I Dream of Jeannie
Born	William Edward Daily (1927-08-30)August 30, 1927 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	September 4, 2018(2018-09-04) (aged 91) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Resting place	Cremated,Ashes scattered outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Education	Lane Technical High School
Alma mater	Goodman Theatre School
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1953–2011
Television	I Dream of Jeannie The Bob Newhart Show
Spouse(s)	Becky Daily (m. 1993; died 2010)
Children	2 adopted children

William Edward Daily (August 30, 1927 – September 4, 2018) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his roles in popular sitcoms. He played Major Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie and Howard Borden on The Bob Newhart Show.

Bill Daily's Early Life and Career Beginnings

Bill Daily was born on August 30, 1927, in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was young, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. After finishing Lane Technical High School, Daily studied at the Peterson Theatre School.

He then became a professional musician, playing the upright bass in jazz bands. He performed in many clubs across the Midwest. In the early 1950s, he joined the United States Army. He served during the Korean War in an artillery unit and later in an entertainment group.

Becoming a Comedian and Actor

After his time in the Army, Daily started performing stand-up comedy. He began playing in bigger clubs across the U.S. He also worked for the NBC television station WMAQ in Chicago. There, he was an announcer, floor manager, and later a staff director.

Daily helped Bob Newhart create a famous comedy routine. He also worked on The Mike Douglas Show in Cleveland. In 1963, Steve Allen saw Daily perform and offered him a job in Los Angeles. Daily became an announcer, writer, and performer on Allen's syndicated show.

Landing Roles in Famous Sitcoms

Daily appeared in guest roles on shows like My Mother the Car, The Farmer's Daughter, and Bewitched. Then, a well-known sitcom writer, Sidney Sheldon, noticed Daily's talent.

In 1965, Sheldon hired Daily for the role of Army Captain Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie. Roger was the best friend of astronaut Tony Nelson. He often helped Tony with funny problems caused by Tony's magical genie (Barbara Eden). This show was set during the early years of NASA's space programs.

Two years after I Dream of Jeannie ended in 1970, Daily returned to television. He played Howard Borden on The Bob Newhart Show. Howard was a friendly commercial airline navigator who lived across the hall from Bob Newhart's character, Bob Hartley. Howard often visited the Hartleys to borrow things or share a meal.

A photo from The Bob Newhart Show. Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) listens to Howard (Daily).

Later Career and Guest Appearances

Daily also appeared as a panelist on the 1970s CBS game show Match Game. He was a regular for the show's last three years.

In 1980, Daily got his own show called Small & Frye. He played a doctor, but the show only lasted three months. Daily loved magic, so he made three TV specials called Bill Daily's Hocus-Pocus Gang in 1982 and 1983. These shows introduced young magicians.

In 1987, Daily became the director of the New Mexico Film Commission. In 1988, he tried another starring role in the sitcom Starting From Scratch. This show lasted one season.

One of Daily's most memorable roles after The Bob Newhart Show was Dr. Larry Dykstra. He played this psychiatrist character on the popular show ALF (1986).

Daily also returned to his famous roles in TV movies. He played Roger Healey again in I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later (1985) and I Still Dream of Jeannie (1991). In 1990, he reunited with Bob Newhart on the show Newhart. He also played Howard Borden again in The Bob Newhart Show: The 19th Anniversary Special in 1991. In 1997, he was a guest star on Caroline in the City.

Even though he mostly retired, Daily still did some live comedy and TV guest appearances in the 2000s. From 2006 to 2009, he was a guest host on a radio station in Albuquerque.

Bill Daily at the 2011 Supanova Expo in Australia

Bill Daily's Personal Life and Passing

Bill Daily was married three times. He had two adopted children, a son named Patrick and a daughter named Kimberley, who passed away.

Daily passed away from natural causes on September 4, 2018, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was 91 years old. His family announced his death a few days later. His ashes were scattered near Santa Fe.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  1969 photo from I Dream of Jeannie

See also

In Spanish: Bill Daily para niños