Billy Gray

William Thomas Gray (born January 13, 1938) is an American actor, competitive motorcycle racer and inventor, known for his role as Bud Anderson on the television series Father Knows Best (1954–1960).

Career Gray began acting at five years old. He appeared with his mother in the 1949 horror comedy Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (in separated scenes). He acted in more than 200 movies. He acted with stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Doris Day, Bob Hope, William Holden, Michael Rennie, Judith Anderson, Pat O'Brien and Barbara Stanwyck. He did not attend school and was educated by teachers hired by the film studios, often having class in tents set up on studio lots. He portrayed a young Jim Thorpe in Jim Thorpe – All-American, and starred in the science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still. He also portrayed Tagg "Bull's Eye" Oakley, younger brother of Annie Oakley in the pilot episode of Annie Oakley.

From 1954 to 1960, Gray starred as son Bud Anderson in the television series Father Knows Best, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He was cast as Plato in Rebel Without a Cause, but had to exit the role when a delay in shooting interfered with his commitment to Father Knows Best. He was arrested for marijuana possession in 1962 and served 45 days in jail. He then turned to inventing and entrepreneurship, having invented the F-1 guitar pick. He is also a motorcycle collector and businessman.

Personal life Gray was born in Los Angeles, to William H. Gray (1899–1963) and Beatrice A. Gray (née-Kimbrough; 1911–2009). He lost his father when he was 25.

Gray was married to and divorced from Helena Kallianiotes (1967–1969) and Donna Wilkes (1977–1981). , Gray lives in Topanga, California, in the same house he bought in 1957 while working on Father Knows Best.

Filmography

Film Year Title RoleNotes 1943 Man of Courage Mike Wilson 1946 Suspense Little Boy at Zoo Uncredited 1948 Fighting Father Dunne Chip 1949 Bad Men of Tombstone Willie Stover Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff Boy with Bow and Arrow 1950 Father Is a Bachelor Feb Chalotte Singing Guns Albert In a Lonely Place Boy seeking autograph Uncredited Mister 880 Mickey UncreditedSierra PassageYoung Johnny York 1951 Jim Thorpe – All-American Young Jim Thorpe On Moonlight Bay Wesley Winfield The Day the Earth Stood Still Bobby Benson 1952 Talk About a Stranger Robert 'Bud' Fontaine Jr. 1953 All I Desire Ted Murdoch By the Light of the Silvery Moon Wesley Winfield The Girl Next Door Joe 1954 The Outlaw Stallion Danny Saunders 1955 The Seven Little Foys Bryan Lincoln Foy 1961 The Explosive Generation Bobby Herman Jr. 1966 The Navy vs. the Night Monsters CPO Fred Twining 1971 Dusty and Sweets McGee City Life Werewolves on Wheels Pill 1979 Love and Bullets Officer Durant 1980 Porklips Now Dullard

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1950 The Gene Autry Show (TV series) Jimmy Foster Season 1 Episode 5: "The Star Toter" 1950 The Gene Autry Show (TV series) Eddie Baker Season 1 Episode 17: "Twisted Trails" 1953 Adventures of Superman Young Alan Harper Season 2 Episode 5: "Shot in the Dark" 1954–1960 Father Knows Best James "Bud" Anderson Jr. 200 episodes 1957 The Thin Man Mike Edwards Episode: "Come Back Darling Asta" 1960 Stagecoach West 'Frankie Niles' Season 1 Episode 3: "Dark Return" Peter Gunn 'Eric Thorwald' Season 2 Episode 34: "The Semi-Private Eye" Bachelor Father David Ross Season 4 Episode 15: "Ginger's Big Romance" 1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Perry Hatch Season 7 Episode 1: “The Hat Box” The Deputy Johnny Blatner Season 2 Episode 24: "Two-Way Deal" 1964 The Greatest Show on Earth Nick Season 1 Episode 16: "Corsicans Don't Cry" Arrest and Trial Colin Martin Season 1 Episode 26: "Tigers Are for Jungles" 1965 Rawhide Lindsay McCullers Season 7 Episode 17: "Moment in the Sun" 1966 Combat! Candell Season 5 Episode 2: "The Losers" 1967 Custer Billy Nixon Season 1 Episode 9: "Desperate Mission" 1969 Medical Center Student at Party Season 1 Episode: "Operation Heartbeat" (uncredited) 1970 The Bold Ones: The Protectors Morgan Vontz Season 1 Episode 6: "Memo from the Class of '76" 1977 The Father Knows Best Reunion James "Bud" Anderson Jr. Television film Father Knows Best: Home for Christmas Television film