1. Bill Idelson joined the US Navy in World War II and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals as a night fighter pilot.
10 Facts About Bill Idelson
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Bill Idelson later married actress Seemah Wilder with whom he had three sons, Paul, Howie and Jonathan as well as a daughter, TV writer and actress Ellen Idelson, who died in 2003.
3.
Bill Idelson died in 2007 from complications due to a hip injury.
4.
Bill Idelson made no big movements, and every time you cut to him you could get a laugh.
5.
Bill Idelson's acting career began in 1931 on Chicago's WGN radio, when he played Skeezix on Uncle Walt and Skeezix, a radio drama based on the Gasoline Alley comic strip.
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Bill Idelson had the title role on Cousin Willie and portrayed Bill Clark on Secret City, Hugo on The Trouble with the Truitts, and Chuck on That Brewster Boy.
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Bill Idelson received two Writers Guild Awards for best episodic comedy, one for an episode of Get Smart and the other for an episode of The Andy Griffith Show.
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Bill Idelson's producing credits included The McLean Stevenson Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Anna and the King and Love, American Style.
9.
Bill Idelson appeared as the head of a band organization in the film Pete Kelly's Blues.
10.
Bill Idelson was the author of three books, The Story of Vic and Sade, Gibby and Bill Idelson's Writing Class.