William Phipps
Encyclopedia
William Edward "Bill" Phipps (born February 4, 1922 in Vincennes, Indiana
) is a retired American
actor
and producer
, perhaps best known for his roles in dozens of classic sci-fi and westerns, both film
and television
, from the late 1940s through the mid 1960s. From then, until his retirement in 2000, his work was mainly in television.
, and by high school he was using his stepfather's last name of Couch. He developed a love of acting at a young age, performing in several plays in grade school and high school. One of the plays he was in, during his junior year of high school in 1937, was "Before Morning", a 1933 play which was made into a movie that same year.
as an accounting major. He was voted freshman class president and served as head cheerleader. After two years of college, he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting, and went back to his original last name of Phipps.
, and Phipps enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a radio operator on several ships all across the Pacific. He served three years, then settled in Los Angeles
to begin his career. He enrolled in the Actors Lab in Hollywood, alongside fellow actor Russell Johnson
.
. Laughton was impressed by Phipps' performance, and came backstage afterwards to ask Phipps to perform in his own play. Phipps' career took off, and he was soon in his first feature film
, Crossfire
(1947).
After a little more than five years in Hawaii, he returned to Hollywood to portray President Theodore Roosevelt
in the 1976 television movie Eleanor and Franklin
.
in Disney's Cinderella
(1950), the post-apocalyptic Five
(1951) (his only leading role), The War of the Worlds
(1953), Eleanor and Franklin
(1976), narrating the television version of Dune
(1984), and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
(1993).
, in which he also served as one of the film's producers.
In 2005, several of Phipps' films were the subject of an EIU film festival in his honor. He received an honorary doctorate
from the university the following year.
He currently resides in Malibu, California.
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, perhaps best known for his roles in dozens of classic sci-fi and westerns, both film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, from the late 1940s through the mid 1960s. From then, until his retirement in 2000, his work was mainly in television.
Hometown
Phipps grew up in St. Francisville, IllinoisSt. Francisville, Illinois
St. Francisville is a city in Lawrence County, Illinois, United States. The population was 759 at the 2000 census.-Geography:St. Francisville is located at ....
, and by high school he was using his stepfather's last name of Couch. He developed a love of acting at a young age, performing in several plays in grade school and high school. One of the plays he was in, during his junior year of high school in 1937, was "Before Morning", a 1933 play which was made into a movie that same year.
College
After graduating high school in 1939, he attended Eastern Illinois UniversityEastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
as an accounting major. He was voted freshman class president and served as head cheerleader. After two years of college, he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in acting, and went back to his original last name of Phipps.
The War
During that same year, the United States entered into World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and Phipps enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a radio operator on several ships all across the Pacific. He served three years, then settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to begin his career. He enrolled in the Actors Lab in Hollywood, alongside fellow actor Russell Johnson
Russell Johnson
Russell David Johnson is an American television and film actor best known as "The Professor" on the CBS television sitcom Gilligan's Island...
.
Hollywood
Phipps' big break came when he and Johnson were double-cast in a play at the Actors Lab. They drew straws to see which actor would perform in the matinée, and which would take the evening show. Phipps drew the evening show, which was attended that same evening by actor Charles LaughtonCharles Laughton
Charles Laughton was an English-American stage and film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.-Early life and career:...
. Laughton was impressed by Phipps' performance, and came backstage afterwards to ask Phipps to perform in his own play. Phipps' career took off, and he was soon in his first feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
, Crossfire
Crossfire (film)
-External links:* review at DVD Savant by Glenn Erickson* film trailer at YouTube...
(1947).
Career break
After more than 20 years in the business, performing in film and television in a wide variety of roles, Phipps took a break from Hollywood and moved to Hawaii. While there, he hosted a movie presentation program called "Hollywood Oldies", on Maui's Cable 7.After a little more than five years in Hawaii, he returned to Hollywood to portray President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in the 1976 television movie Eleanor and Franklin
Eleanor and Franklin
Eleanor and Franklin is a television movie released on January 11, 1976, starring Edward Herrmann as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jane Alexander as Eleanor Roosevelt. It is the first part in a two-part biopic based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling biography with the same...
.
Highlights
Phipps' career highlights include the speaking voice of Prince CharmingPrince Charming
Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...
in Disney's Cinderella
Cinderella (1950 film)
Cinderella is a 1950 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the fairy tale "Cendrillon" by Charles Perrault. Twelfth in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film had a limited release on February 15, 1950 by RKO Radio Pictures. Directing credits go to Clyde Geronimi,...
(1950), the post-apocalyptic Five
Five (1951 film)
Five is a post-apocalyptic science fiction film produced, directed and written by Arch Oboler. The title refers to the number of survivors of an atomic bomb disaster that wipes out the rest of the human race...
(1951) (his only leading role), The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds (1953 film)
The War of the Worlds is a 1953 science fiction film starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It was the first on-screen loose adaptation of the H. G. Wells classic novel of the same name...
(1953), Eleanor and Franklin
Eleanor and Franklin
Eleanor and Franklin is a television movie released on January 11, 1976, starring Edward Herrmann as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Jane Alexander as Eleanor Roosevelt. It is the first part in a two-part biopic based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling biography with the same...
(1976), narrating the television version of Dune
Dune (film)
Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
(1984), and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a 1993 American remake of the 1963 film The Incredible Journey, which was based on the best-selling novel The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford. Directed by Duwayne Dunham, it was released on February 3, 1993...
(1993).
Retirement and post-career
Phipps' last movie role to date was in the 2000 independent film Sordid LivesSordid Lives
Sordid Lives was a 2000 independent film, written and directed by Del Shores. The movie is based on Shores' play of the same name and includes elements of his life, according to the director's DVD commentary...
, in which he also served as one of the film's producers.
In 2005, several of Phipps' films were the subject of an EIU film festival in his honor. He received an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the university the following year.
He currently resides in Malibu, California.