Patrick Paul Billingsley (May 3, 1925 – April 22, 2011) was an American mathematician and stage and screen actor, noted for his books in advanced

probability theory Probability theory or probability calculus is the branch of mathematics concerned with probability. Although there are several different probability interpretations, probability theory treats the concept in a rigorous mathematical manner by expre ...

and

statistics Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data. In applying statistics to a s ...

. He was born and raised in

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...

, and graduated from the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

in 1946. In '' Young Men and Fire'', fellow University of Chicago professor

Norman Maclean Norman Fitzroy Maclean (December 23, 1902August 2, 1990) was an American professor at the University of Chicago who, following his retirement, became a major figure in American literature. Maclean is best known for his Hemingwayesque writing, h ...

wrote about Billingsley that "he is a distinguished statistician and one of the best amateur actors I have ever seen".

Academic career

After earning a Ph.D. in mathematics at

Princeton University Princeton University is a private university, private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial ...

in 1955, he was attached to the

NSA The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

until his discharge from the Navy in 1957. In 1958 he became a professor of mathematics and statistics at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, where he served as chair of the Department of Statistics from 1980 to 1983, and retired in 1994. In 1964–65 he was a

Fulbright Fellow The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States cultural exchange programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people o ...

and visiting professor at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen (, KU) is a public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia, after Uppsala University. ...

. In 1971–72 he was a

Guggenheim Fellow Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated d ...

and visiting professor at the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

(

Peterhouse Peterhouse is the oldest Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England, founded in 1284 by Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely. Peterhouse has around 300 undergraduate and 175 graduate stud ...

). From 1976 to 1979 he edited the

Annals of Probability ''Annals of Probability'' is a leading peer-reviewed probability journal published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, which is the main international society for researchers in the areas probability and statistics. The journal was started ...

. In 1983 he was

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

of the

Institute of Mathematical Statistics The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is an international professional and scholarly society devoted to the development, dissemination, and application of statistics and probability. The Institute currently has about 4,000 members in all parts ...

. He was given the

Lester R. Ford Award ''The American Mathematical Monthly'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal of mathematics. It was established by Benjamin Finkel in 1894 and is published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Mathematical Association of America. It is an expositor ...

for his article "

Prime Number A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a Product (mathematics), product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime ...

s and

Brownian Motion Brownian motion is the random motion of particles suspended in a medium (a liquid or a gas). The traditional mathematical formulation of Brownian motion is that of the Wiener process, which is often called Brownian motion, even in mathematical ...

." He was elected a Fellow of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

in 1986.

Books

* ''Statistical Inference for Markov Processes'' (1961) * ''Ergodic Theory and Information'' (1965) * '' Convergence of Probability Measures'' (1st Edition 1968, 2nd Edition 1999) * ''The Elements of Statistical Inference'' (with David L. Huntsberger, 1986) * ''Probability and Measure'' (1st Edition 1976, 2nd Edition 1986, 3rd Edition, 1995, Anniversary Edition 2012 )

Stage plays

* ''Three Magic Keys'', Taliesin (1964) * ''

The Pirates of Penzance ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 3 ...

'', Pirate (1966) * ''Read Me a Story'' (1966) * ''Clue of the Circus Clowns'', Circus Master (1968) * ''

Finian's Rainbow ''Finian's Rainbow'' is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane, produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was re ...

'', Buzz Collins (1968) * ''Beadle-Levi Show'' (parody of ''The Homecoming'') (1968) * ''

Guys and Dolls ''Guys and Dolls'' is a musical theater, musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" (1933) and "Blood Pressure", which are two short stories by Damon Run ...

'', Arvide Abernathy (1969) * ''We Bombed in New Haven'' (Court Theatre, 1970) * ''Victorian Children'' (1970) * ''Vaudeville Show'', singer (1970) * ''

The Threepenny Opera ''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a 1928 German "play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, '' The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François V ...

'', street singer (1970) * ''Four Plays of Fantasy and the Unusual'' (1970) * ''Moulin Rouge'' (1971) * ''

Oh, What a Lovely War! ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' is an epic musical developed by Joan Littlewood and her ensemble at the Theatre Workshop in 1963. It is a satire on World War I, and by extension on war in general. The title is derived from the "somewhat satirical" ...

'' (1973) * ''

Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...

'', Theseus (Court Theatre, 1973) * '' The Caretaker'', Aston (Court Theatre, 1973) * ''The Father'', The Captain (1974) * ''

Murder in the Cathedral ''Murder in the Cathedral'' is a verse drama by T. S. Eliot, first performed in 1935 (published the same year). The play portrays the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral during the reign of Henry II in 1170. El ...

'', First Knight (1974) * ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...

'', Feste (Court Theatre, 1974) * ''The Same Room'', Tom Ferris (1975) * ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

'', Dr. Seward (1975) * ''

Much Ado about Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' (W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. ...

'', Balthazar and Friar Frances (Court Theatre, 1975) * ''Exits and Entrances'' (1976) * '' Trifles'', Sheriff Peters (1976) * '' The Lover'', Richard-Max (Court Theatre, 1977) * ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'', Alonzo (Court Theatre, 1977) * ''

She Stoops to Conquer ''She Stoops to Conquer'' is a comedy by Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith, first performed in London in 1773. The play is a favourite for study by English literature and theatre classes in the English-speaking world. It is one of the few plays ...

'', Mr. Hardcastle (Court Theatre, 1978) * ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604. It was published in the First Folio of 1623. The play centers on the despotic and puritan Angelo (Measure for ...

'', The Duke (Court Theatre, 1979) * '' Mrs. Warren's Profession'', Rev. Samuel Gardiner (Court Theatre, 1980) * '' Equus'', Dr. Dysart (Court Theatre, 1980) * ''

The Seagull ''The Seagull'' () is a play by Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov, written in 1895 in literature, 1895 and first produced in 1896 in literature#Drama, 1896. ''The Seagull'' is generally considered to be the first of his four major plays. It dramati ...

'', Sorin (Court Theatre, 1981) * ''

'', Antonio (Body Politic Theatre, 1981) * ''

Under Milk Wood ''Under Milk Wood'' is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh people, Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. The BBC commissioned the play, which was later adapted for the stage. The first public reading was in New York City in 1953. A Under Milk Wood (1972 film), f ...

'', Rev. Eli Jenkins et al. (Court Theatre, 1982) * '' The First Night of Pygmalion'', Beerbohm-Tree et al. (Court Theatre, 1982) * ''

'', Peter Quince (Court Theatre, 1983) * ''

'', Leonato (Court Theatre, 1984) * ''

Heartbreak House ''Heartbreak House: A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes'' is a play written by Bernard Shaw during the First World War, published in 1919 and first performed in November 1920 at the Garrick Theatre, New York, followed by a West ...

'', Mazzini Dunn (Court Theatre, 1985) * '' Every Good Boy Deserves Favor'', KGB colonel (Court Theatre, 1985) * '' The Birthday Party'', Petey (1978 and 1985) * ''

Arms and the Man ''Arms and the Man'' is a comedy by George Bernard Shaw, whose title comes from the opening words of Virgil's ''Aeneid'', in Latin: ''Arma virumque cano'' ("Of arms and the man I sing"). The play was first produced on 21 April 1894 at the Av ...

'', Major Petkoff (Court Theatre, 1985) * ''Moonlight Daring Us to Go Insane'', J. Earl Sheets (Body Politic Theatre, 1987) * '' Coastal Disturbances'', R. Hamilton Adams (Body Politic Theatre, 1987)

Films

* '' The Fury'' (1978) - CIA agent Lander * ''

My Bodyguard ''My Bodyguard'' is a 1980 American family comedy drama film directed by Tony Bill (his directorial debut), and written by Alan Ormsby. The film stars Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin (in his first film role), Matt Dillon, Martin Mull, and Ruth ...

'' (1980) - Biology Teacher * '' Somewhere in Time'' (1980) - Professor * '' One More Saturday Night'' (1985) - Mr. McGrath * ''

The Untouchables Untouchable or Untouchables may refer to: People * Untouchability, the practice of socially ostracizing a minority group of very low social status * Untouchables, word for the Dalits or Scheduled Castes of India * Untouchables (law enforcement), ...

'' (1987) - Bailiff #2

Television

* '' Dummy'' (1978, TV Movie) - Dr. Morris * ''Flesh and Blood'' (1978) - Boxing official * '' The Children Nobody Wanted'' (1981) - Preacher * ''

The Dollmaker ''The Dollmaker'' is a 1984 American made-for-television drama film starring Jane Fonda and based on the 1954 novel written by Harriette Arnow. It was originally broadcast on ABC on May 13, 1984. Fonda was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award ...

'' (1983) - Cooper * ''The Last Leaf – A Parable of Easter'' (1983, Short) - Dr. Winchester * ''The Private Eye'' (1983) - Guard * '' Murder Ordained'' (1986) - Ray Call * '' Jack and Mike'' (episode) (1986) - Judge * ''

Sable The sable (''Martes zibellina'') is a species of marten, a small omnivorous mammal primarily inhabiting the forest environments of Russia, from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, and northern Mongolia. Its habitat also borders eastern Kaz ...

'' (1987) - Sullivan * '' The Father Clements Story'' (1987, TV Movie) - Father Donovan (final film role)

Death

He died in 2011, aged 85, in his

Hyde Park, Chicago Hyde Park is a neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago, South Side of Chicago, Illinois, located on and near the shore of Lake Michigan south of Chicago Loop, the Loop. It is one of the city's 77 community areas of Chicago, community areas. ...

home. He was survived by his children, Franny, Patty, Julie, Marty and Paul, and his companion, Florence Weisblatt. His wife of nearly 50 years, social activist Ruth Billingsley, died in 2000.

References

External links

*
Obituary
in the

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

Patrick Billingsley, probability theorist and actor, 1925–2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billingsley, Patrick 1925 births 2011 deaths Male actors from South Dakota American male stage actors American male film actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American mathematicians 21st-century American mathematicians Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Writers from Sioux Falls, South Dakota Presidents of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics Princeton University alumni American probability theorists University of Chicago faculty American textbook writers United States Naval Academy alumni Annals of Probability editors American mathematical statisticians Actors from Sioux Falls, South Dakota