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Bill Daily, the comic actor who found breakout success as Major Healey on the hit 1960s sitcomI Dream of Jeannieand also had notable roles onThe Bob Newhart ShowandAlf, has reportedly died. He was 91.
Daily’s son, J. Patrick Daily, confirmed the news toVarietyandThe Hollywood Reporter, saying that his fatherdied of natural causeson Sept. 4 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “He loved every sunset, he loved every meal,” J. Patrick toldVarietyof his father. “He just decided to be happy about everything.”
I Dream of Jeannietitle star Barbara Eden remembered Daily on Twitter. Major Healey was a supporting character on all five seasons of the show, as the goofy best friend to NASA astronaut Anthony Nelson (thelate Larry Hagman).
“Our favorite zany astronaut, Bill Daily has passed,” Eden, 87, tweeted, captioning a photo of them. “Billy was wonderful to work with. He was a funny, sweet man that kept us all on our toes. I’m so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy, xo.”
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AfterJeannie, Daily would spend all six seasons (and 140 episodes) onThe Bob Newhart Show,playing Newhart’s dotty neighbor, airline pilot Howard Borden.
“Bill Daily & I go back to Chicago in the 50s,” Newhart, 89, wrote on Twitter. “He and I were both trying to get into standup.”
“Later, he joinedThe Bob Newhart Show.He was our bullpen guy — you could always go to him,” Newhart remembered of their time on the show, which wrapped in 1978. “He was one of the most positive people I’ve ever known. I will miss him dearly.”
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Born Aug. 30, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa, Daily’s first credited television role was 1964’sBewitched.
He would also have credited roles onMary Tyler Moore;CHiPs;The Love Boat;My Mother the Car;Getting Together;Love, American Style;Aloha Paradise;Starting from Scratch;Caroline in the City; and two of Newhart’s other shows,NewhartandBob.
From 1987 to 1989, he recurred as psychiatrist Dr. Larry Dykstra onALF.
Daily would also have his own short-lived sitcom calledSmall & Frye.The 1983 series lasted for three months.
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As himself, Daily would become a staple on game shows likeMatch GameandHollywood Squaresover the years. He also hosted several magic specials.
source: people.com
