Tony Bill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Bill
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Bill in 1977
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| Born |
Gerard Anthony Bill
August 23, 1940 San Diego, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Gerald Bill |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Toni Gray
(m. 1962; div. 1969)Helen Buck Bartlett
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 4 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Picture (1974) – The Sting (shared with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips) |
Tony Bill, born Gerard Anthony Bill on August 23, 1940, is an American actor, producer, and director. He is famous for producing the 1973 movie The Sting. For this film, he won an Academy Award for Best Picture along with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips.
As an actor, Tony Bill appeared in many movies. Some of his well-known roles were in Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Shampoo (1975), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), and Less than Zero (1987). He also became a director, starting with My Bodyguard in 1980. He later directed films like Untamed Heart (1993) and Flyboys (2006).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tony Bill was born in San Diego, California. He went to St. Augustine High School in his hometown. After high school, he studied English and art at the University of Notre Dame. He graduated from college in 1962.
Tony Bill's Career in Film
Tony Bill started his career as an actor in the 1960s. His first movie role was in Come Blow Your Horn (1963). In this film, he played the younger brother of a character played by Frank Sinatra. That same year, he also appeared in Soldier in the Rain with Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen.
Acting Roles
Tony Bill often played characters who were friendly and sometimes a bit naive. He appeared in many movies and TV shows. In the mid-1960s, he was in two episodes of the BBC's Play of the Month series. He played the main role in Lee Oswald Assassin and Biff in Death of a Salesman (both in 1966).
Some of his other acting roles include:
- Marriage on the Rocks (1965)
- None but the Brave (1965)
- You're a Big Boy Now (1966)
- Ice Station Zebra (1968)
- Castle Keep (1969)
- Shampoo (1975)
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Tony Bill also acted in television movies and miniseries. He had guest roles in popular Western shows like The Loner, The Virginian, and Bonanza in the 1960s. He also appeared in an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 1968.
Directing Films
In 1980, Tony Bill directed his first movie, My Bodyguard. This marked a new part of his career. He continued to direct many other films, including:
- Six Weeks (1982)
- Five Corners (1987)
- Crazy People (1990)
- Untamed Heart (1993)
- Flyboys (2006)
Flyboys was special because it was one of the first movies to be filmed entirely with digital cameras. Tony Bill also directed TV movies like One Christmas (1994) and Pictures of Hollis Woods (2007).
Other Work
In 2009, Tony Bill wrote a book called Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set. The book explains where movie set terms come from. It also shares stories from his long career in film.
From 1984 to 2000, Tony Bill co-owned a restaurant in Venice, California. It was called the 72 Market Street Oyster Bar and Grill. He owned it with actor Dudley Moore.
Personal Life
Tony Bill married Toni Gray in December 1962. They had a son named Peter and a daughter named Francesca. Later, they divorced.
Tony Bill is now married to his second wife, Helen Buck Bartlett. She is also his producer partner at their film company, Barnstorm Films, in Venice, California. They have two daughters named Madeline and Daphne.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Bill para niños
