Bill Quinn

William Tyrell Quinn (May 6, 1912[1] – April 29, 1994) was an American film actor.

For other people named William Quinn, see William Quinn (disambiguation).
Bill Quinn
Quinn in The Wild Wild West, 1968
Born
William Tyrell Quinn

May 6, 1912
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 29, 1994, aged 81
Camarillo, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1923–1989
Spouse
Mary Catherine Roden
​
​
(m. 1942)​
Children3
RelativesBob Newhart (son-in-law)

Early years

Quinn was born on May 6, 1912, in New York City.[2] 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.[3] He performed with his older brothers in a children's act in vaudeville.[4]

Career

As a teenager Quinn worked in films in New York City. He performed with touring stock theater companies in the 1920s.[3]

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 Counterspy, The FBI in Peace and War, Gangbusters, and Mr. District Attorney.[5]

Quinn appeared in more than 150 acting roles over seven decades, starting in the 1920s in silent films and ending in 1989 in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. He was a regular on Archie Bunker's Place.[4] His other television roles include The Odd Couple, in which he played the recurring role of the roommates' physician, Dr. Melnitz; The Rifleman as Sweeney, the bartender; McHale's Navy; and Mary's father in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. In 1971, he was featured in the Universal Pictures movie How to Frame a Figg starring Don Knotts. He appeared in the 1961, Perry Mason, season 4, episode 22 "The Case of the Cowardly Lion" as Judge 1. He played Warden Sloan in the 1969 season 2 episode 2 "Six Hours to Live" of Land of the Giants.

Quinn also played in Barnaby Jones, in the episode titled "Murder Once Removed" (January 21, 1975).

He played Judge Antonio Runzuli in Bustin' Loose starring Richard Pryor and Cicely Tyson.

He was also known for his regular appearances on The Rifleman as Frank Sweeney, the North Fork Saloon bartender.

Personal life and death

Quinn married Mary Catherine Roden in 1942, and they had three daughters.[3] He was the father-in-law of Bob Newhart:[4] He is the father of Newhart's wife, Virginia "Ginnie" Quinn Newhart. He appeared in small supporting roles in several episodes of The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart.[4]

Quinn died on April 29, 1994, at the age of 81 in Camarillo, California of natural causes.[4] He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.[2]

Filmography

References
  1. Leszczak, Bob (August 23, 2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-4766-1539-4. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  2. Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  3. Aaker, Everett (May 25, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 346–347. ISBN 978-1-4766-6250-3. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. "TV, Film and Stage Actor Bill Quinn Dead at 81". Associated Press. May 3, 1994. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  5. "Behind the Radio Dial". The Weekly Kansas City Star. May 25, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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