Billy Lee (born William Lee Schlensker; March 12, 1929 – November 17, 1989) was an American

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage, television, or in film, movies. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associa ...

who appeared in many films from the mid-1930s through the early 1940s. He is probably best remembered for his performance in '' The Biscuit Eater''. Lee's first role was in the ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' comedy short ''

Mike Fright ''Mike Fright'' is a 1934 ''Our Gang'' short subject, short comedy film directed by Gus Meins. It was the 130th ''Our Gang'' short to be released. Plot When open auditions are announced for a radio variety program, the local station is besieg ...

'' as a tap dancer in a sailor suit. He was signed under contract with

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

from 1934 to 1941 and his first significant role was in '' Wagon Wheels'' when he was just four years old. Lee continued acting throughout the 1930s, appearing in a number of movies (among others: '' Too Many Parents'', '' Easy to Take'', ''

Three Cheers for Love ''Three Cheers for Love'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray McCarey, written by George Marion, Jr., and starring Eleanore Whitney, Robert Cummings, William Frawley, Elizabeth Patterson, Roscoe Karns and John Halliday. It was re ...

'', '' Silk Hat Kid'', '' The Big Broadcast of 1937'', '' Sons of the Legion'', '' Say It in French'', '' Boy Trouble'', '' Night Work'', '' Sudden Money'', ''Nobody's Children'', ''

Hold Back the Dawn Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (compartment), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also calle ...

'', '' Nevada City'', '' Road to Happiness'') and working alongside some of Hollywood's finest, including,

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred, in succession, with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talki ...

, Lon Chaney Jr.,

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, John Boles,

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and

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). He also did the voice of "The Boy" character in the animated portion of the Disney film, '' The Reluctant Dragon''. In addition to being an actor, he was also a singer and dancer, appearing and singing with Bobby Breen in '' Make a Wish'' and touring with vaudeville shows. For his role in '' Cocoanut Grove'' he learnt to play the drums and formed the Billy Lee Band. The band appeared in the 1941 film, ''

Reg'lar Fellers ''Reg'lar Fellers'' is a long-running newspaper comic strip adapted into a feature film, a radio series on the NBC Red Network, and two animated cartoons. Created by Gene Byrnes (1889–1974), the comic strip offered a humorous look at a gang ...

'', in which he starred with co-star Carl Switzer. Lee retired from film in 1943 after his last film '' War Dogs''. Lee died on November 17, 1989, of a sudden

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

Filmography

*''

'' (1934, short) as Tap Dancer *'' Wagon Wheels'' (1934) as Sonny Wellington *'' Behold My Wife!'' (1934) as Young Indian Boy at Meal (uncredited) *''One Hour Late'' (1934) as Junior (uncredited) *'' Silk Hat Kid'' (1935) as Tommy *'' Two Fisted'' (1935) as Jimmy Parker *''Babes in Hollywood'' (1935, short) as Jimmy *'' Too Many Parents'' (1936) as Billy Miller *'' Sky Parade'' (1936) as Jimmie Allen, age 4 (uncredited) *'' And Sudden Death'' (1936) as Bobbie Sanborn *''

'' (1936) as Johnny *'' The Arizona Raiders'' (1936) as Little Boy (uncredited) *''The Big Broadcast of 1937'' (1936) as Train Bearer *''Rose Bowl'' (1936) as Young Boy (uncredited) *'' Easy to Take'' (1936) as Bill Ardmore, Jr. *'' Arizona Mahoney'' (1936) as Kid *'' Wild Money'' (1937) as Malcolm West *''Exclusive'' (1937) as Beak’s Child (uncredited) *'' Make a Wish'' (1937) as Pee Wee *'' Thunder Trail'' (1937) as Bob at 8 *'' Cocoanut Grove'' (1938) as Half Pint *'' Sons of the Legion'' (1938) as Billy Lee *'' Say It in French'' (1938) as Boy with Lollipop *''

Ambush An ambush is a surprise attack carried out by people lying in wait in a concealed position. The concealed position itself or the concealed person(s) may also be called an "". Ambushes as a basic military tactics, fighting tactic of soldi ...

'' (1938) as Boy at Restaurant *'' Boy Trouble'' (1939) as Joe *'' Sudden Money'' (1939) as Junior Patterson *'' Let Us Live'' (1939) as Boy in Window *'' Outside These Walls'' (1939) as Little Boy (uncredited) *''

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a Maritime Security Regimes, maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with cust ...

'' (1939) as Seaman (uncredited) *'' Night Work'' (1939) as Joe Fitch *'' In Old Monterey'' (1939) as Jimmy Whittaker *''Jeepers Creepers'' (1939) as Skeeter *''

All Women Have Secrets ''All Women Have Secrets'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and written by Agnes Christine Johnston. The film stars Virginia Dale, Joseph Allen, Jeanne Cagney, Peter Lind Hayes, Betty Moran and John Arledge. Also appear ...

'' (1939) as Bobby *'' Parole Fixer'' (1940) as Jimmy Mattison *'' The Biscuit Eater'' (1940) as Lonnie McNeil *'' Nobody’s Children'' (1940) as Tommy *''The Reluctant Dragon'' (1940) as The Boy (segment “The Reluctant Dragon”) voice *'' Power Dive'' (1941) as Brad Coles *'' Nevada City'' (1941) as Chick Morrison *''The Reluctant Dragon'' (1941) The Boy (voice) *'' Reg’lar Fellers'' (1941) as Pinhead Duffy *''

'' (1941) as Tony *'' Road to Happiness'' (1941) as Danny Carter *'' Eyes of the Underworld'' (1942) as Mickey Bryan *'' Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' (1942) as Jimmy Wiggs *'' War Dogs'' (1942) as Billy Freeman *''The Ford Theater Hour'' (1950) *''Starlight Theater'' (1950) *''

Love Is Better Than Ever ''Love Is Better Than Ever'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy film directed by Stanley Donen from a screenplay by Ruth Brooks Flippen, starring Larry Parks and Elizabeth Taylor. The plot concerns a small-town girl who falls in love with a big-c ...

'' (1952) as Little Boy (uncredited) *''Limelight'' (1952) as Little Boy (uncredited) *'' Thy Neighbor’s Wife'' (1953) *''Medallion Theater'' (1954) *''Ponds Theater'' (1952) *''Ethel and Albert'' (1954) *''Kraft Theatre'' (1954)

References

Bibliography

* Holmstrom, John (1996). ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995''. Norwich, Michael Russell, p. 165-166. * Best, Marc (1971). ''Those Endearing Young Charms: Child Performers of the Screen''. South Brunswick and New York: Barnes & Co., p. 144-147. * Willson, Dixie (1935). ''Little Hollywood Stars''. Akron, OH, e New York: Saalfield Pub. Co., p. 133-142. * Lamparski, Richard (1986). ''Whatever Became of...?''. (Tenth Series). New York: Crown Publishers, p. 96-97. * Liebman, Roy (2009). ''Musical Groups in the Movies, 1929-1970''. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, p. 22.

External links

Classic Movie Kids: Billy Lee
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Billy American male film actors American male child actors Male actors from Indiana People from Beaumont, California 1929 births 1989 deaths 20th-century American male actors People from Vigo County, Indiana