Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
December 2, 1914
Died
December 29, 2010 (age 96)
Place of Birth
Honey Grove, Texas, USA
Also Known As
William Erwin
Bill Erwin
Biography
William Lindsey Erwin was an American film, stage and television actor with over 250 television and film credits. A veteran character actor who appeared in Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Somewhere in Time and Home Alone. He was also a stage manager for Edgar Bergen and a security assistant for Clancy. He is widely known for his 1993 Emmy Award-nominated performance on Seinfeld, portraying the embittered, irascible retiree Sid Fields.
The Actor's Craft: Clowning With Bill Irwin
VideoKnown For
TV
The West Wing
Ronald Cruikshank
1999
TV
Perry Mason
A.J. Nelson - Paint Store Owner
1957
TV
Perry Mason
Morrison Findlay
1957
TV
Perry Mason
Superintendent
1957
TV
Perry Mason
Autopsy Surgeon
1957
TV
Perry Mason
Counterman
1957
TV
Seinfeld
Sidney Fields
1989
TV
Monk
Hiram Holling
2002
TV
Everwood
Ollie
2002
TV
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Doctor Dalen Quaice
1987
TV
Married... with Children
Hiram Massey
1987
TV
The Andy Griffith Show
George Sapley
1960
TV
Lassie
1954
TV
Maverick
Hotel Clerk
1957
TV
Maverick
Evans (uncredited)
1957
TV
Maverick
Pawn Shop Dealer (uncredited)
1957
TV
The King of Queens
Whitey
1998
TV
Full House
Mr. Ferguson
1987
TV
The Rifleman
Joe Flecker
1958
TV
Robert Montgomery Presents
Jens Nelson
1950
Filmography
2019FilmThe Twilight Zone: A 60th Anniversary Celebrationas Wilcox (archive footage)2005TVMy Name Is Earlas Old Man playing Ping Pong2002TVEverwoodas Ollie2002TVMonkas Hiram Holling2001FilmA Crack in the Flooras Harold2001FilmBoycottas Loading Dock Man #22001FilmCahootsas Frenchy2000FilmBack To "Somewhere In Time"as Self2000TVThe Michael Richards Showas Mr. Flaherty2000FilmStanley's Gigas Jules1999FilmInfernoas Eli Hamilton1999TVThe West Wingas Ronald Cruikshank1999FilmForces of Natureas Murray1998TVThe King of Queensas Whitey1998FilmChairman of the Boardas Landers1998FilmArt Houseas Monty1997FilmMenno's Mindas Mr. Lewis1997TVBeyond Belief: Fact or Fictionas Gus Hobbs (segment "The Bucket")1997TVJust Shoot Me!as Mr. King1996FilmJust Your Luckas Pops1996TVSuddenly Susanas Mr. Tidgely1996TVThe Louie Showas Cheating Husband1995FilmThings to Do in Denver When You're Deadas 70-Year-Old Man1995TVThe Drew Carey Showas Mr. Bradbury1995TVThe Naked Truthas Victor1995TVCybillas Bill1994TVMadman of the Peopleas William1994FilmNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insultas Conductor1994TVBurke's Lawas Noah Stark1993TVAgainst the Grainas Harold1993TVThe Mommies1993TVLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanas Andy Tucker1993TVThe John Larroquette Showas Man1993TVFallen Angelsas Chick1993FilmDennis the Menaceas Edward Little1993FilmAt Home with the Webbersas Horace1993FilmThe Magic Bubbleas Old Man1992TVMad About Youas Yankee Third Baseman1991FilmThe Entertainersas Sam1991FilmNight of the Warrioras Coco1991TVHarry and the Hendersonsas Guest #11990FilmThe Williesas Old Man1990FilmHome Aloneas Man in Airport1990FilmThe Color of Eveningas Priest1989TVSeinfeldas Sidney Fields1989TVQuantum Leapas Mr. Deever1988FilmThe Land Before Timeas Grandfather (voice)1988FilmSilent Assassinsas Dr. London1988FilmShe's Having a Babyas Grandfather1988TVHigh Mountain Rangers1987FilmPlanes, Trains and Automobilesas Man on Plane1987TVStar Trek: The Next Generationas Doctor Dalen Quaice1987TVSecond Chanceas Gus1987TVFull Houseas Mr. Ferguson1987TVMarried... with Childrenas Hiram Massey1987FilmOn Fireas Joe's Father1986FilmStewardess Schoolas Orchestra Conductor1985TVGrowing Painsas Buzz1985TVThe Golden Girlsas Mr. Hubbard1985FilmGenerationas John1985TVMoonlightingas Duncan Kennedy1984FilmQuest1984TVWho's the Boss?1984TVHighway to Heavenas Santa1984TVPunky Brewsteras Ben1984FilmHard Knoxas Gen. Garfield1984FilmInvitation to Hellas Walt Henderson1983FilmPardon and Peaceas Old Man1983FilmGhost Dancingas Joe Greyfeather1982TVVoyagers!as Eisenhowers' Neighbor1982FilmDrop-Out Fatheras Grandpa1982FilmMoonlightas Dr. Tucker1981TVFalcon Crestas Night Editor1981FilmThe Brady Girls Get Marriedas Reverend1980FilmSomewhere in Timeas Arthur Biehl1979TVKnots Landingas Mr. Wineke1979TVHart to Hartas Sir Gavin MacLaish1979TVStruck by Lightningas Glenn Diamond1979FilmElvis1978FilmHuckleberry Finnas Harvey Wilkes1977FilmTarantulas: The Deadly Cargoas Mr. Schneider1977TVLou Grantas Old Man1977FilmSixth and Main1975TVThe Jeffersons1974FilmCandy Stripe Nursesas Principal1973FilmHunteras Sam Pickering1972TVThe Waltons1972TVThe Rookies1971TVCannon1970FilmThe Christine Jorgensen Storyas Pastor1970TVDan Augustas Coroner1970FilmHow Awful About Allanas Dr. Ames1969TVMy World and Welcome to It1968TVMayberry R.F.D.as Man at Convention1967FilmCounterpoint1967TVMannix1967TVThe Guns of Will Sonnett1967TVThe Second Hundred Yearsas Salesman #21967TVThe Invadersas Manager1966TVShaneas Clerk1965TVThe F.B.I.as Paxton1965TVGet Smartas Mr. Smith1965TVThe Wild Wild Westas Jury Foreman1963FilmUnder the Yum Yum Treeas Teacher (uncredited)1963TVKraft Suspense Theatreas Father Daley1963TVBurke's Lawas Fire Marshal1963TVThe Fugitiveas Bar patron1963TVThe Greatest Show on Earthas Food Truck Cook1963TVArrest and Trialas Doctor1963TVThe Dakotas1962TVThe Virginianas Bevers1962FilmTerror At Black Fallsas Hugh 'Squint' Edwards1961TVBen Casey1961TV87th Precinctas George1961TVMister Edas Mr. Wood1960TVPeter Loves Mary1960TVStagecoach Westas Teller (uncredited)1960TVThe Andy Griffith Showas George Sapley1960TVMy Three Sonsas Joe Walters1960TVCoronado 91959TVThe Untouchablesas Auctioneer1959TVThe Twilight Zoneas Peter Kramer1959TVJohnny Ringoas Manners1959TVLaw of the Plainsmanas Dr. Palmer1959TVBlack Saddleas Kelly1959TVRawhideas Parker1958TVMan with a Camera1958TVThe Riflemanas Joe Flecker1958TVThe Texan1958FilmCry Baby Killeras Mr. Wallace1958TVSea Hunt1958FilmGun Feveras Bartender1957TVTrackdown1957TVLeave It to Beaver1957TVThe Walter Winchell Fileas Bellem1957TVMaverickas Hotel Clerk1957TVPerry Masonas A.J. Nelson - Paint Store Owner1957TVM Squadas Roger Jessop1957TVHave Gun, Will Travel1957TVRichard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Sgt. Riker1957FilmThe Night Runneras McDermott--Fingerprint Man (uncredited)1957FilmFight for the Titleas Newspaper Man1957FilmThe Shadow on the Windowas Policeman (uncredited)1957TVPanic!1956FilmMan from Del Rioas Roy Higgens1956TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Sam Townley1956TVState Trooper1956FilmClaireas Carl1956TVThe Man Called X1955TVHighway Patrol1955TVAlfred Hitchcock Presentsas Fireman (uncredited)1955TVCheyenne1955TVGunsmokeas Preacher1954TVLassie1953TVGeneral Electric Theater1951TVHallmark Hall of Fame1951TVI Love Lucyas Bum (uncredited)1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Stars1950TVLux Video Theatreas Reporter1950TVRobert Montgomery Presentsas Jens Nelson1949FilmEasy Livingas Minor Role (uncredited)1948TVThe Philco Television Playhouseas Herman1948FilmThe Velvet Touchas Howard Forman (as William L. Erwin)