William Tyrell Quinn (May 6, 1912 – April 29, 1994) was an American

character actor A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting character (arts), characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrie ...

of film and television.

Early years

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

Career

As a teenager, Quinn worked in films in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. He performed with touring stock theater companies during the 1920s. 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 ''

The Man Behind the Gun ''The Man Behind the Gun'' is a 1953 American Western film about the establishment of the city of Los Angeles. It was directed by Felix Feist and stars Randolph Scott.

'', '' Counterspy'', '' The FBI in Peace and War'', '' Gangbusters'', and '' Mr. District Attorney''. A prolific character actor, Quinn appeared in more than 150 roles over seven decades, beginning in silent films during the 1920s and ending with '' Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'' in 1989, in which he portrayed the father of Dr. McCoy. On television, he appeared as Mr. Van Ranseleer, the wise, blind bar patron, in '' Archie Bunker's Place''. His other TV roles include '' The Odd Couple'', in the recurring role of Felix and Oscar's dour physician, Dr. Melnitz; ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television series starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

'' as Frank Sweeney, the bartender; and Mary's father in three episodes of ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

''. From the 1950s through the 1980s, Quinn made guest appearances on several other TV series, including '' Perry Mason'', '' Honey West'', ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was filmed in black-and-white and broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seve ...

'', ''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

'', '' The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'', '' Bewitched'', ''

I Dream of Jeannie ''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American Fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series created by Sidney Sheldon and starring Barbara Eden as a beautiful but guileless 2,000-year-old Jinn, genie and Larry Hagman as an astronaut with whom s ...

'', '' Ironside'', '' Hawaii Five-O'', ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pe ...

'', ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...

'', '' Quincy, M.E.'', ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner, aired on NBC from September 13, 1974, to January 10, 1980. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in th ...

'', ''

The Bob Newhart Show ''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American television sitcom produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psychol ...

'', '' Trapper John, M.D.'' and ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. The show's ensemble cast stars Beatrice Arthur, Betty ...

''. His film appearances include '' The Birds'' (1963), '' The Reluctant Astronaut'' (1967), '' The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968), '' Hearts of the West'' (1975), '' Gable and Lombard'' (1976), '' Bustin' Loose'' (1981), and '' Twilight Zone: The Movie'' (1983).

Personal life and death

Quinn married Mary Catherine Roden in 1939, and they had three daughters. One of those is Virginia "Ginnie" Quinn Newhart, wife of comedian

Bob Newhart George Robert Newhart (September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024) was an American comedian and actor. Newhart was known for his deadpan and stammering delivery style. Beginning his career as a stand-up comedian, he transitioned his career to acting in ...

, on whose sitcoms, ''

Newhart ''Newhart'' is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from October 25, 1982, to May 21, 1990, with a total of 184 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons. The series stars Bob Newhart and Mary Frann as an author and his wife, respe ...

'' and ''

'', Quinn occasionally appeared in small supporting roles."Highlights Broadcast"
''Tampa Bay Times''. February 27, 1984. p. 4D. Retrieved March 2, 2023. Quinn died on April 29, 1994, at the age of 81 in

Camarillo, California Camarillo ( ) is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 70,741, an increase of 5,540 from the 65,201 counted in the 2010 Census. Camarillo is named for brothers Juan and ...

of natural causes. He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Filmography

*''No Mother to Guide Her'' (1923) - Billy Mills, as a child *''The New School Teacher'' (1924) - Pupil *'' The Last Angry Man'' (1959) - Andrew Lord (uncredited) *'' The Flying Fontaines'' (1959) - Al Bartlett (uncredited) *'' The Mountain Road'' (1960) - Colonel Magnusson *''

From the Terrace ''From the Terrace'' is a 1960 American DeLuxe Color romantic drama film in CinemaScope directed by Mark Robson from a screenplay by Ernest Lehman, based on the 1958 novel of the same name by John O'Hara. The film stars Paul Newman, Joanne Wo ...

'' (1960) - Lawrence Von Elm (uncredited) *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1961) (Season 7 Episode 7: "You Can't Be a Little Girl All Your Life") - Mr. Dutton *'' Cry for Happy'' (1961) - Alan Lyman *'' Go Naked in the World'' (1961) - Pete's Doctor (uncredited) *''

The Young Savages ''The Young Savages'' is a 1961 American crime drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usual ...

'' (1961) - Police Captain Larsen (uncredited) *'' Ada'' (1961) - Tom De Paul, Committee Man (uncredited) *'' Five Finger Exercise'' (1962) - Salesman *'' Advise & Consent'' (1962) - Senator Paul Hendershot *'' The Birds'' (1963) - Sam, man in Diner *''

It Happened at the World's Fair ''It Happened at the World's Fair'' is a 1963 American musical film, musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley as a Aerial application, crop-dusting pilot. It was filmed in Seattle, Washington, site of the Century 21 Exposition. The governor of ...

'' (1963) - Man Leaving Dispensary (uncredited) *'' Brainstorm'' (1965) - Psychiatrist at Sanity Hearing (uncredited) *''

Mirage A mirage is a naturally-occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays bend via refraction to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The word comes to English via the French ''(se) mirer'', from the Latin ''mirari'', mean ...

'' (1965) - Eddie, Bartender (uncredited) *'' Dark Intruder'' (1965) - The Neighbor *'' When the Boys Meet the Girls'' (1965) - Dean of Colby *''

Penelope Penelope ( ; Ancient Greek: Πηνελόπεια, ''Pēnelópeia'', or , ''Pēnelópē'') is a character in Homer's ''Odyssey.'' She was the queen of Homer's Ithaca, Ithaca and was the daughter of Spartan king Icarius (Spartan), Icarius and ...

'' (1966) - Bank Executive (uncredited) *'' The Ballad of Josie'' (1967) - Bobbitt (uncredited) *'' Doctor, You've Got to Be Kidding!'' (1967) - Executive at Meeting (uncredited) *'' The Reluctant Astronaut'' (1967) - Captain Ferguson (uncredited) *'' The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968) - U.S. Marshal Arthur Bates (uncredited) *'' Love Is a Funny Thing'' (1969) - Le passager *'' How to Frame a Figg'' (1971) - Assistant Attorney General John Carmoni *'' The Mad Bomber'' (1973) - Sergeant Quinn *'' Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies'' (1973) - Mortician *'' Hearts of the West'' (1975) - Customer at Cafe Rio (uncredited) *''

Psychic Killer ''Psychic Killer'' is a 1975 American supernatural horror film directed by Ray Danton and written by Greydon Clark, Mikel Angel and Ray Danton. The film stars Paul Burke, Jim Hutton, Julie Adams, Nehemiah Persoff, Neville Brand and Aldo Ray. ...

'' (1975) - Hospital Coroner *'' Matilda'' (1978) - Donohue * Archie Bunkers Place(1979-1983) - Mr.Van R *'' Bustin' Loose'' (1981) - Judge Antonio Runzuli *'' Dead & Buried'' (1981) - Ernie *'' Twilight Zone: The Movie'' (1983) - Mr. Leo Conroy (Segment#2) *'' Lucky Stiff'' (1988) - Emmet Kassler *'' Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'' (1989) - McCoy's Father (his final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Quinn, Bill 1912 births 1994 deaths American male television actors American male film actors Burials at San Fernando Mission Cemetery 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York City