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 well-known 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 notable roles were in Come Blow Your Horn (1963), Shampoo (1975), and Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985). He also became a director, with his first film being My Bodyguard in 1980. He directed other movies 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.
Career Highlights
Tony Bill started his career as an actor in the 1960s. His first movie role was in Come Blow Your Horn (1963). In the same year, he also appeared in Soldier in the Rain. He often played friendly, sometimes not-so-smart, young characters.
Acting Roles
Throughout the 1960s and beyond, Tony Bill acted in many films. These include Marriage on the Rocks (1965), None but the Brave (1965), and You're a Big Boy Now (1966). He also appeared in Ice Station Zebra (1968) and Castle Keep (1969). Later, he was in Shampoo (1975) and Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985).
He also acted in television shows and movies. In 1965, he was a guest star in the Western series The Loner. He also appeared in episodes of The Virginian and Bonanza in 1966. In 1968, he was in a two-part episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. As he started directing more, his acting roles became less frequent.
Directing Films and TV Shows
Tony Bill began directing movies in 1980 with My Bodyguard. This film was about a new student who hires a bodyguard to protect him from bullies. He then directed Six Weeks (1982) and Five Corners (1987).
Other movies he directed include Crazy People (1990) and Untamed Heart (1993). In 2006, he directed Flyboys, which he said was one of the first movies filmed entirely with digital cameras. For television, he directed 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 and musician Dudley Moore.
Personal Life
Tony Bill married Toni Gray in December 1962. They had a son named Peter and a daughter named Francesca. They later divorced.
He is currently married to Helen Buck Bartlett. She is also his producer and partner in their film company, Barnstorm Films. They have two daughters together, Madeline and Daphne.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Bill para niños
