---
name: "Bill Erwin"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/bill-erwin"
fi1m_id: "bill-erwin"
imdb_id: "nm0259984"
tmdb_id: 26044
wikidata_id: "Q183101"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 December 1914"
died: "29 December 2010"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T23:23:29.730121+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Bill Erwin

## Identity

Bill Erwin

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bill-erwin
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** bill-erwin
- **IMDb ID:** nm0259984
- **TMDB ID:** 26044
- **Wikidata ID:** Q183101
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Erwin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183101, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0259984/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26044

Actor. Born 2 December 1914 in Honey Grove, Texas, USA. Died 29 December 2010.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 December 1914, Honey Grove, Texas, USA
- **Died:** 29 December 2010
- **Active:** 1988–1993
- **Also known as:** William Erwin
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 72 (1), 1990s 69 (3)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Family 3, Comedy 2, Drama 2, Adventure 1, Animation 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $679m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Erwin, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183101, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0259984/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/26044

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Land Before Time*](https://film.one/film/the-land-before-time.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Bill Erwin (also credited as William Erwin) was an American character actor with more than 250 film and television credits. Born in Honey Grove, Texas, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in theatre arts from the Pasadena Playhouse. He served as a captain in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and later worked as stage manager for ventriloquist Edgar Bergen.

Erwin appeared in numerous films including *Somewhere in Time* (1980), *Planes, Trains and Automobiles* (1987), *The Land Before Time* (1988) as Grandfather (voice), *Home Alone* (1990) and *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994). On television he had roles in series such as *Seinfeld* (as Sid Fields, for which he received an Emmy nomination in 1993), *Star Trek: The Next Generation* and *Monk*. He also pursued cartooning, with work published in *The New Yorker*, *Playboy* and *Los Angeles* magazine.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Dennis the Menace* (1993), Fi1m 56, as Edward Little — [page](https://film.one/film/dennis-the-menace.md)
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), Fi1m 72, as Chick — [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Home Alone* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Man in Airport — [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone.md)
- *The Land Before Time* (1988), Fi1m 72, as Grandfather (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-land-before-time.md)

## Complete filmography (162)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebration* (2019), as Wilcox (archive footage)
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Old Man playing Ping Pong
- *Everwood* (2002), series, as Ollie
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Hiram Holling
- *A Crack in the Floor* (2001), as Harold
- *Boycott* (2001), as Loading Dock Man #2
- *Cahoots* (2001), as Frenchy
- *The Michael Richards Show* (2000), series, as Mr. Flaherty
- *Stanley's Gig* (2000), as Jules
- *Inferno* (1999), as Eli Hamilton
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Ronald Cruikshank — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Forces of Nature* (1999), as Murray
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, as Whitey
- *Chairman of the Board* (1998), as Landers
- *Art House* (1998), as Monty
- *Menno's Mind* (1997), as Mr. Lewis
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, as Mr. King
- *Just Your Luck* (1996), as Pops
- *Suddenly Susan* (1996), series, as Mr. Tidgely
- *The Louie Show* (1996), series, as Cheating Husband
- *Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead* (1995), as 70-Year-Old Man
- *The Drew Carey Show* (1995), series, as Mr. Bradbury
- *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Victor
- *Cybill* (1995), series, as Bill
- *Madman of the People* (1994), series, as William
- *Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult* (1994), as Conductor
- *Burke's Law* (1994), series, as Noah Stark
- *Against the Grain* (1993), series, as Harold
- *The Mommies* (1993), series, Actor
- *Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman* (1993), series, as Andy Tucker
- *The John Larroquette Show* (1993), series, as Man
- *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Chick — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md)
- *Dennis the Menace* (1993), as Edward Little — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/dennis-the-menace.md)
- *At Home with the Webbers* (1993), as Horace
- *The Magic Bubble* (1993), as Old Man
- *Mad About You* (1992), series, as Yankee Third Baseman
- *The Entertainers* (1991), as Sam
- *Night of the Warrior* (1991), as Coco
- *Harry and the Hendersons* (1991), series, as Guest #1
- *The Willies* (1990), as Old Man
- *Home Alone* (1990), as Man in Airport — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/home-alone.md)
- *The Color of Evening* (1990), as Priest
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Sidney Fields — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, as Mr. Deever
- *The Land Before Time* (1988), as Grandfather (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-land-before-time.md)
- *Silent Assassins* (1988), as Dr. London
- *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Grandfather
- *High Mountain Rangers* (1988), series, Actor
- *Planes, Trains and Automobiles* (1987), as Man on Plane
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Doctor Dalen Quaice — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *Second Chance* (1987), series, as Gus
- *Full House* (1987), series, as Mr. Ferguson
- *Married... with Children* (1987), series, as Hiram Massey
- *On Fire* (1987), as Joe's Father
- *Stewardess School* (1986), as Orchestra Conductor
- *Growing Pains* (1985), series, as Buzz, Janitor, Chester / Lester, Lloyd, Edgar, Maurice, Bub
- *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Mr. Hubbard — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md)
- *Generation* (1985), as John
- *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Duncan Kennedy — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *Quest* (1984), Actor
- *Who's the Boss?* (1984), series, Actor
- *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, as Santa
- *Punky Brewster* (1984), series, as Ben
- *Hard Knox* (1984), as Gen. Garfield
- *Invitation to Hell* (1984), as Walt Henderson
- *Pardon and Peace* (1983), as Old Man
- *Ghost Dancing* (1983), as Joe Greyfeather
- *Voyagers!* (1982), series, as Eisenhowers' Neighbor
- *Drop-Out Father* (1982), as Grandpa
- *Moonlight* (1982), as Dr. Tucker
- *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Night Editor
- *The Brady Girls Get Married* (1981), as Reverend
- *Somewhere in Time* (1980), as Arthur Biehl
- *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Mr. Wineke
- *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, as Sir Gavin MacLaish
- *Struck by Lightning* (1979), series, as Glenn Diamond
- *Elvis* (1979), Actor
- *Huckleberry Finn* (1978), as Harvey Wilkes
- *Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo* (1977), as Mr. Schneider
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Old Man
- *Sixth and Main* (1977), Actor
- *The Jeffersons* (1975), series, Actor
- *Candy Stripe Nurses* (1974), as Principal
- *Hunter* (1973), as Sam Pickering
- *The Waltons* (1972), series, as Senator Rogers
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, Actor
- *Cannon* (1971), series, as Dr. Samuel Calvert
- *The Christine Jorgensen Story* (1970), as Pastor
- *Dan August* (1970), series, as Coroner
- *How Awful About Allan* (1970), as Dr. Ames
- *My World and Welcome to It* (1969), series, Actor
- *Mayberry R.F.D.* (1968), series, as Man at Convention
- *Counterpoint* (1967), Actor
- *Mannix* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Second Hundred Years* (1967), series, as Salesman #2
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Manager
- *Shane* (1966), series, as Clerk
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Paxton · Manager
- *Get Smart* (1965), series, as Mr. Smith
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Jury Foreman
- *Under the Yum Yum Tree* (1963), as Teacher (uncredited)
- *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Father Daley
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Fire Marshal
- *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Bar patron, Man, Counterman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, as Food Truck Cook
- *Arrest and Trial* (1963), series, as Doctor
- *The Dakotas* (1963), series, Actor
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Bevers
- *Terror At Black Falls* (1962), as Hugh 'Squint' Edwards
- *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor
- *87th Precinct* (1961), series, as George
- *Mister Ed* (1961), series, as Mr. Wood
- *Peter Loves Mary* (1960), series, as 1st Non-Com
- *Stagecoach West* (1960), series, as Teller (uncredited)
- *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as George Sapley
- *My Three Sons* (1960), series, as Joe Walters
- *Coronado 9* (1960), series, Actor
- *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Auctioneer, Doctor
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Peter Kramer, Wilcox (uncredited), Man — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Johnny Ringo* (1959), series, as Manners
- *Law of the Plainsman* (1959), series, as Dr. Palmer
- *Black Saddle* (1959), series, as Kelly
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Parker
- *Man with a Camera* (1958), series, Actor
- *The Rifleman* (1958), series, as Joe Flecker
- *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor
- *Cry Baby Killer* (1958), as Mr. Wallace
- *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, Actor
- *Gun Fever* (1958), as Bartender
- *Jet Pilot* (1957), Actor
- *Leave It to Beaver* (1957), series, Actor
- *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Man on Trail (uncredited)
- *The Walter Winchell File* (1957), series, as Bellem
- *Maverick* (1957), series, as Hotel Clerk, Evans (uncredited), Pawn Shop Dealer (uncredited)
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as A.J. Nelson - Paint Store Owner, Morrison Findlay, Superintendent, Autopsy Surgeon, Counterman
- *M Squad* (1957), series, as Roger Jessop, Detective Gene
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, Actor
- *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Sgt. Riker
- *The Night Runner* (1957), as McDermott--Fingerprint Man (uncredited)
- *Fight for the Title* (1957), as Newspaper Man
- *The Shadow on the Window* (1957), as Policeman (uncredited)
- *Panic!* (1957), series, Actor
- *Man from Del Rio* (1956), as Roy Higgens
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Sam Townley, Joshua Morgan, Harper Bates, Harte, Reverend McIntire, Clay Davis
- *State Trooper* (1956), series, as Neal James
- *Claire* (1956), as Carl
- *The Man Called X* (1956), series, Actor
- *Highway Patrol* (1955), series, Actor
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Fireman (uncredited)
- *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Preacher, Rev Tucker, Ned, Captain, Townsman, Judge, Juror, Telegrapher, Bailiff, Mr. Jonas, Snood, Townsman (uncredited)
- *Lassie* (1954), series, Actor
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, Actor
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, Actor
- *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Bum (uncredited)
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Reporter
- *Robert Montgomery Presents* (1950), series, as Jens Nelson
- *Easy Living* (1949), as Minor Role (uncredited)
- *The Philco Television Playhouse* (1948), series, as Herman
- *The Velvet Touch* (1948), as Howard Forman (as William L. Erwin)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bill-erwin