Billy De Wolfe

William Andrew Jones (February 18, 1907 – March 5, 1974), better known as Billy De Wolfe, was an American character actor. He was active in films from the mid-1940s until his death in 1974.

Early life and early stage career Born William Andrew Jones in the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy, Massachusetts, De Wolfe was the son of a Welsh bookbinder who encouraged him to become a Baptist minister. Instead, Billy developed an interest in the theatre. He found work as an usher before becoming a dancer with the Jimmy O'Connor Band. It was at this point that he changed his last name initially to "De Wolf" (the "e" was added later), which was the last name of the manager of the Massachusetts theatre where he worked. In 1925, De Wolfe landed chorus boy spots in the Broadway musicals Artists and Models and The Cocoanuts. He then went on to tour Europe with a dance team for most of the 1930s, appearing in a London revue called "Revels in Rhythm" During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy until he was discharged in 1944 for medical reasons, due to a reported arthritic condition.

Films De Wolfe signed with Paramount Pictures in 1943 and became a reliable comedian. His pencil-mustached and often pompous character contrasted humorously with the films' romantic leads. His best-known role of his Paramount tenure is probably the ham actor-turned-silent movie villain in the 1947 fictionalized Pearl White biography The Perils of Pauline. De Wolfe became known for his portrayal of fussy, petty men ("Never touch!," he would say imperiously whenever someone accosted him physically). The New York Times review of his 1948 film Isn't It Romantic strongly criticized the way the other actors' material limited their performances, contrasting their performances with his: "But Mr. De Wolfe is nothing daunted. He rips up the place with great delight. The material is at his mercy. Likewise the scenery. And he chews it to bits." Billy De Wolfe also played the role of Pemberton Maxwell, The American Embassy's chargé d'affaires in the 1953 musical Call Me Madam.

De Wolfe was a good friend of Doris Day for over two decades, from the time of their first meeting during the filming of the 1950 musical Tea for Two until his death. Their screen chemistry in that film led to De Wolfe being quickly recast as a supporting character of Day in the 1951 production Lullaby of Broadway.

Return to stage and television work After his Paramount contract lapsed, De Wolfe returned to the stage. He appeared in the revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac in 1953 and 1954, and starred in the last edition of the Ziegfeld Follies, in 1957.

He appeared regularly in guest roles on television, including the first two episodes of NBC's The Imogene Coca Show. He portrayed Mr. Jarvis on CBS's The Doris Day Show, and co-starred with Larry Storch in a short-lived TV sitcom, The Queen and I. in a 2010 biography of actress Doris Day by author David Kaufman, and in a 1998 article by Bruce Vilanch titled "America's favorite fruit" and featured in The Advocate.

On February 26, 1974, suffering from an advanced case of lung cancer, De Wolfe was admitted to the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center. He died there a week later, on March 5, two weeks after his 67th birthday. He was cremated at Hollywood Memorial Park (now Hollywood Forever Cemetery). His urn was sent in a private plane to be buried with his family in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Filmography