Billie Bird


Billie Bird Sellen, better known professionally as Billie Bird, was an American actress and comedian.

Early life

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Bird was discovered at the age of eight while living at an orphanage. As a child, she worked in vaudeville, and later in theater/cabaret before moving on to television and films.

Career

She is credited with an appearance in a 1921 film Grass Widowers, but it is not clear if this is accurate. Otherwise, she broke into films in 1950, later making a brief, uncredited appearance in The Odd Couple as a chambermaid. Her only line was "Goodnight", which was said to Felix Ungar, who responded, "Goodbye." Bird often was cast by director John Hughes and appeared in many of his 1980 and 1990s films, such as Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, and Dennis the Menace, the latter two of which both paired her with veteran Hughes actor Bill Erwin playing her husband. She also starred as Mrs. Lois Feldman in . Her last film appearance was in 1995's Jury Duty, with Pauly Shore.
In addition to films, Bird made numerous appearances on various television series, including roles on Silver Spoons, Ironside, Eight Is Enough, The Facts of Life, Who's the Boss?, and Knots Landing. She was also a regular cast member on the sitcoms It Takes Two in 1982, Benson from 1984 to 1986, and in 1988 Dear John starring Judd Hirsch. Her last acting role was a brief appearance in 1997 on an episode of the sitcom George and Leo, which starred Bob Newhart and Bird's former co-star, Hirsch.

Personal life

Bird was married to Edwin Sellen until his death in 1966; they had three children.

Death

Bird died on November 27, 2002, in Granada Hills, California, at the age of 94 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1958Letter to LorettaMrs. Shubb1 episode
1971Adam-12Winnie Goodrich1 episode
1973GunsmokeOld Woman1 episode
1974Apple's WayLillian1 episode
1976–1977The WaltonsMrs. Cox
Shirley		2 episodes
1982House Calls1 episode
1982–1983It Takes TwoMama22 episodes
1983Goodnight, Beantown1 episode
1984–1986BensonMrs. Rose CassidySeries Regular: Season 7
1984NewhartElla1 episode
1984Happy DaysMother Kelp 1 episode
1984Three's a CrowdAunt Mae 1 episode
1985Remington SteeleAnna Dix1 episode
1986Hardcastle and McCormickMimi LeGrand1 episode
1986–1987BrothersAunt Wilhelmina 3 episodes
1986–1987Silver SpoonsMildred2 episodes
1987Max HeadroomFlorence1 episode
1987CheersLillian Miller1 episode
1988–1992Dear JohnMargie Philbert90 episodes
1988HunterMarie Watson1 episode
1992Murphy BrownRuthie1 episode
1993The Wonder YearsWoman2 episodes
1997George and Leo1 episode,