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Tony Bill

Actor

Tony Bill

Born August 23, 1940 in San Diego, California, USA34 films

Gerard Anthony "Tony" Bill (born August 23, 1940) is an American actor, producer, and director. He produced the 1973 movie The Sting, for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips.

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He majored in English and art at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1962. Bill began his career as an actor in the 60s, first appearing on screen as Frank Sinatra's ingenuous younger brother in Come Blow Your Horn (1963). Bill specialized in likeable but none-too-bright juveniles and young leads. His acting credits include None But the Brave (1965), You're A Big Boy Now (1966), Never a Dull Moment (1968), Ice Station Zebra (1968), Shampoo (1975), The Little Dragons (1980), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), and Less Than Zero (1987).

Bill continued to act in TV-movies, miniseries, and guest spots though with decreasing frequency as he segued into directing. He appeared in the 1966 episode "Chaff In The Wind" of the long running western The Virginian. He then appeared in 1967 episode "The Predators" of NBC's western series The Road West starring Barry Sullivan.

In 1980, Bill directed his first film, My Bodyguard. From there he went on to direct Six Weeks (1982), Five Corners (1987), Crazy People (1990) A Home of Our Own (1993), and Flyboys (2006) which Bill claims was one of the first features shot entirely with digital cameras. In television Bill directed Truman Capote's One Christmas, Harlan County War, and Pictures of Hollis Woods, among others.

In 2009, Bill published the book Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set. The book traces the etymology of the language of the movie set and is filled out with stories from the Bill's career in film.

From 1984-2000, he co-owned with Dudley Moore the celebrated 72 Market Street, a restaurant in Venice, California.

He is married to his second wife, the former Helen Buck Bartlett, his producer/partner in Barnstorm Films in Venice. The couple have two daughters, Madeline and Daphne.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Tony Bill, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Pee-wee's Big Adventure posterFirst watchPee-wee's Big Adventure19856.5as Terry HawthorneThe eccentric and childish Pee-wee Herman embarks on a big adventure when his beloved bicycle is stolen. Armed with information from a fortune-teller and a relentless obsession with his…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

34 films as actor
  1. 2005Must Love DogsWalter
  2. 2001Lying in WaitDetective Mike
  3. 1998Naked City: Justice with a BulletMickey Calvin
  4. 1996Barb WireFoster
  5. 1993A Home of Our OwnNarrator
  6. 1991The Killing MindThomas Quinn
  7. 1987Less Than ZeroBradford Easton
  8. 1985Pee-wee's Big AdventureTerry Hawthorne
  9. 1983Running OutPaul Corsini
  10. 1982Washington MistressAlan
  11. 1981FreedomRichard
  12. 1980Portrait of an EscortBeau Simpson
  13. 1980The Little DragonsNiles
  14. 1980Heart BeatDick
  15. 1978Are You in the House Alone?Neil Osborne
  16. 1978With This RingPeter Turner
  17. 1978The Initiation of SarahPaul Yates
  18. 1977Having Babies IIAaron Canfield
  19. 1975Las Vegas LadyBob
  20. 1975ShampooJohnny Pope
  21. 1972Haunts of the Very RichLyle
  22. 1970FlapEleven Snowflake
  23. 1969Lanton MillsMute
  24. 1969Castle KeepLt. Amberjack
  25. 1968How to Steal the WorldSteven Garrow
  26. 1968Never a Dull MomentFlorian
  27. 1968Ice Station ZebraLt. Russell Walker
  28. 1966You're a Big Boy NowRaef del Grado
  29. 1966Death of a SalesmanBiff
  30. 1966Lee Oswald: AssassinLee Harvey Oswald
  31. 1965Marriage on the RocksJim Blake
  32. 1965None But the BraveAir Crewman Keller
  33. 1963Soldier in the RainJerry Meltzer
  34. 1963Come Blow Your HornBuddy Baker