Bill Mumy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bill Mumy
Mumy in 2013
Born	Charles William Mumy Jr. (1954-02-01) February 1, 1954 (age 71) San Gabriel, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor musician writer producer
Years active	1960−present
Spouse(s)	Eileen Joy Davis ​ (m. 1986)​
Children	2, including Liliana
Awards	Inkpot Award (2015)

Bill Mumy (born February 1, 1954) is an American actor, writer, producer, and musician. He became famous in the 1960s as a child actor. He appeared in many TV shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Twilight Zone. He also starred in the movie Dear Brigitte.

One of his most famous roles was Will Robinson in the science fiction series Lost in Space. This show ran for three seasons in the 1960s. Later, Mumy played Sterling North in the film Rascal (1969). He was also Teft in Bless the Beasts and Children (1971).

In the 1990s, Mumy played Lennier in the sci-fi TV series Babylon 5. He was in all five seasons of the show. He also narrated the Emmy Award–winning series Biography. Bill Mumy is also a talented musician. He is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. He was even nominated for an Emmy Award for his music in Adventures in Wonderland (1992).

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Bill Mumy was born in San Gabriel, California. His father, Charles William Mumy, was a cattle rancher. His mother was Muriel Gertrude Mumy. Bill started his acting career when he was just five years old.

Since then, he has worked on over 400 TV episodes. He has also been in 18 films. Besides acting, he has worked as a musician, songwriter, and writer.

Bill Mumy's TV and Film Journey

Bill Mumy had many early TV roles. In 1960, he played six-year-old Willy in National Velvet. He also appeared in three episodes of the original Twilight Zone.

In one episode, "It's a Good Life" (1961), he played Anthony. Anthony was a six-year-old with special powers. He could make people do what he wanted. Bill Mumy later played an adult Anthony in a new Twilight Zone episode. His daughter, Liliana Mumy, played his character's daughter in that episode.

Mumy in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode Bang! You're Dead, 1961

In 1961, Mumy was in Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He played little Jackie in the episode "Bang! You're Dead". Marta Kristen, who later played his sister in Lost in Space, was also in this episode.

When he was eight, Mumy appeared in The Greatest Show on Earth. He also played Miles, a boy without parents, in Perry Mason. In 1964, he was in the Disney film For the Love of Willadena. He also appeared in the sitcom Bewitched. He played a troubled orphan in the episode "A Vision of Sugarplums".

Bill Mumy was first considered for the role of Eddie Munster. This was for The Munsters TV show in 1964. But his parents did not want him to wear a lot of makeup. So, Butch Patrick got the role instead. Mumy did appear in one episode of The Munsters as Eddie's friend.

He also guest-starred in I Dream of Jeannie in 1965. In another Bewitched episode, "Junior Executive" (1965), he played a young Darrin Stephens.

Bill Mumy with Brigitte Bardot in Dear Brigitte, 1965

Mumy starred in the movie Dear Brigitte (1965). He played Erasmus Leaf, a child genius. Erasmus had a big crush on the actress Brigitte Bardot. Brigitte Bardot played herself in the film.

Lost in Space and Beyond

From 1965 to 1968, Bill Mumy played Will Robinson in Lost in Space. His character often heard the famous warning: "Danger, Will Robinson!" This warning came from the show's robot.

Later, Mumy was cast in Bless the Beasts and Children (1971). He played Teft, a leader of teenage boys. They tried to save a group of bison from hunters. He also played a musician in the TV film Sunshine (1973). He continued this role in Sunshine Christmas and the Sunshine TV series.

In 1996, Mumy helped create Space Cases. This was a Nickelodeon TV show. It had similar themes to Lost in Space. From 1994 to 1998, he played Lennier in Babylon 5. This was a science fiction series. In 1998, he appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He played Kellin, a Starfleet officer. He was happy to play a human character this time. For his role as Lennier in Babylon 5, he had to wear special makeup.

In 2018, Mumy appeared in the new Lost in Space series on Netflix. He played a character named Dr. Z. Smith. This was a tribute to the original Dr. Smith from the 1965 series.

Voice Acting Adventures

Bill Mumy has narrated over 50 episodes of the Biography series. He has also hosted and narrated other documentaries. These were for channels like Animal Planet and Syfy.

He has also lent his voice to many animated shows. These include Ren and Stimpy, Scooby-Doo, and Batman: The Animated Series. He also voiced characters in Steven Spielberg's Animaniacs and Disney's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. His voice has been heard in commercials for popular brands too.

Musical Talents

Bill Mumy is a very talented musician. He plays many instruments. These include the banjo, bass, guitar, harmonica, and keyboards. He has written and recorded songs with the band America. He has also performed with Shaun Cassidy and Rick Springfield.

He formed a band called The Be Five with other Babylon 5 actors. He and Marta Kristen sang "Sloop John B" in a Lost in Space episode.

Mumy has released several solo music CDs. He also has nine albums with his music partner Robert Haimer. They are known as Barnes and Barnes. Their most famous song is "Fish Heads". Rolling Stone magazine called it one of the top 100 music videos ever. He also performs with a blues-rock band called the Jenerators. In 2017, he started a new band called Action Skulls.

Lost in Space Connections

In 1996, Mumy met his Lost in Space co-star Jonathan Harris again. They worked together on a special called Lost In Space: Forever (1998). They played their old roles in a scene written by Mumy.

Jonathan Harris passed away in 2002. Bill Mumy gave a speech at his funeral. He was also asked to narrate a story about his friend's life for Biography.

In 2006, Mumy worked with Harris one last time. Harris had recorded voice work for an animated short film before he died. It was called The Bolt Who Screwed Christmas. As a tribute, a scene was added to the film. It reunited Lost in Space cast members Mumy, Marta Kristen, and Angela Cartwright.

Mumy attends Lost in Space fan events. He also co-wrote two books about the show with Angela Cartwright. The first was Lost (and Found) in Space (2015). The second was Lost (and Found) in Space 2: Blast Off into the Expanded Edition (2021).

Other Creative Work

Bill Mumy has also written stories and comics. He co-wrote a short story called "The Black '59" in 1992. With his friend Miguel Ferrer, Mumy created the comic book character Comet Man. They also wrote a Marvel Graphic Novel called The Dreamwalker.

Personal Life

Bill Mumy married Eileen Joy Davis on October 9, 1986. They live in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. They have two children, Seth (born 1989) and Liliana (born 1994).

Television and Film Roles

Images for kids

• 

  Mumy in Dear Brigitte, 1965

See also

In Spanish: Bill Mumy para niños