# Billie Bird

Billie Bird Sellen (February 28, 1908 – November 27, 2002), better known professionally as Billie Bird, was an American actress and comedian. She played Margie in Dear John (1988–1992).

## Early life

Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Bird was discovered at the age of eight while living at an orphanage. As a child, she worked in vaudeville, including the act known as the King Sisters, and later in theater/cabaret before moving on to television and films.

## Career

She is credited with an appearance in a 1921 film Grass Widowers, but it is not clear if this is accurate. Otherwise, she broke into films in 1950, later making a brief, uncredited appearance in The Odd Couple as a chambermaid. Her only line was "Goodnight", which was said to Felix Ungar, who responded, "Goodbye." Bird often was cast by director John Hughes and appeared in many of his 1980 and 1990s films, such as Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, and Dennis the Menace, the latter two of which both paired her with veteran Hughes actor Bill Erwin playing her husband. She also starred as Mrs. Lois Feldman in Police Academy 4. Her last film appearance was in 1995's Jury Duty, with Pauly Shore.
In addition to films, Bird made numerous appearances on various television series, including roles on Happy Days, Silver Spoons, Ironside, Eight Is Enough, The Facts of Life, Who's the Boss?, and Knots Landing. She was also a regular cast member on the sitcoms It Takes Two in 1982, Benson from 1984 to 1986, and in 1988 Dear John starring Judd Hirsch. Her last acting role was a brief appearance in 1997 on an episode of the sitcom George and Leo, which starred Bob Newhart and Bird's former co-star, Hirsch.
Bird entertained troops in Vietnam with her own variety act, "Flying High With Billie Bird." For her efforts, she was one of the few women to ever be made an honorary member of the Green Berets.

## Death

Bird died on November 27, 2002, in Granada Hills, California, at the age of 94 after several years of Alzheimer's disease.

## Filmography

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | Dallas | School Teacher | Uncredited |
| 1951 | The Mating Season | Mugsy | |
| 1951 | The Lemon Drop Kid | Racetrack Bettor on Iron Bar | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Darling, How Could You! | Rosie | |
| 1951 | Rhubarb | Mona Lizzie | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Journey into Light | Gertie | |
| 1952 | Anything Can Happen | Bus Passenger | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Just Across the Street | Pearl | |
| 1952 | My Man and I | Waitress | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Somebody Loves Me | Essie | |
| 1952 | My Wife's Best Friend | Katie | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Half a Hero | Ernestine | |
| 1954 | Woman's World | Woman in Bargain Basement | Uncredited Alternative title: A Woman's World |
| 1957 | The Joker Is Wild | Ticket Seller / Cashier | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Panama Sal | Woman Manager | |
| 1958 | Unwed Mother | Gertie | |
| 1959 | Born to Be Loved | Drunk's wife | |
| 1959 | Blue Denim | Woman | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Too Soon to Love | Mrs. Jefferson | Alternative title: Teenage Lovers |
| 1961 | The Cat Burglar | Mrs. Prattle | |
| 1961 | Secret of Deep Harbor | Mama Miller | |
| 1966 | The Las Vegas Hillbillys | Aunt Clem | |
| 1966 | This Property Is Condemned | Party Guest | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Barefoot in the Park | Drunken neighbor | Uncredited |
| 1968 | The Odd Couple | Chambermaid | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Getting Straight | Landlady | |
| 1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | | Uncredited |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Mrs. Greschler the Flower Lady | |
| 1983 | Max Dugan Returns | Older Woman | |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Dorothy Baker (Grandmother) | |
| 1986 | One Crazy Summer | Grandma | |
| 1986 | Ratboy | Psychic | |
| 1987 | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | Mrs. Lois Feldman | |
| 1988 | Ernest Saves Christmas | Mary Morrissey | |
| 1989 | That's Adequate | Old Lillian Darling | |
| 1989 | Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | Mrs. Stanwyck | |
| 1990 | The End of Innocence | Mrs. Yabledablov | |
| 1990 | Home Alone | Irene (woman in airport) | |
| 1993 | Dennis the Menace | Edith Butterwell | |
| 1995 | Jury Duty | Rose | |
Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Letter to Loretta | Mrs. Shubb | 1 episode |
| 1971 | Adam-12 | Winnie Goodrich | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Gunsmoke | Old Woman | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Apple's Way | Lillian | 1 episode |
| 1976–1977 | The Waltons | Mrs. Cox Shirley | 2 episodes |
| 1982 | House Calls | | 1 episode |
| 1982–1983 | It Takes Two | Mama | 22 episodes |
| 1983 | Goodnight, Beantown | | 1 episode |
| 1984–1986 | Benson | Mrs. Endicott / Rose Cassidy | Series Regular: Season 7 |
| 1984 | Newhart | Ella | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Happy Days | Mother Kelp (Marion Cunningham's Mother) | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Three's a Crowd | Aunt Mae (Jack Tripper's Aunt) | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Remington Steele | Anna Dix | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Mimi LeGrand | 1 episode |
| 1986–1987 | Brothers | Aunt Wilhelmina (Donald Maltby's aunt) | 3 episodes |
| 1986–1987 | Silver Spoons | Mildred | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Max Headroom | Florence | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Cheers | Lillian Miller | 1 episode |
| 1988–1992 | Dear John | Margie Philbert | 90 episodes |
| 1988 | Hunter | Marie Watson | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Murphy Brown | Ruthie | 1 episode |
| 1993 | The Wonder Years | Woman | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | George and Leo | | 1 episode, (final appearance) |