Resting place Cremation Role Character actor Name Bill McCutcheon | Years active 1941-1992 Occupation Actor | |
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Full Name James William McCutcheon Spouse Anne McCutcheon (m. 1952–2002) Children Carol McCutcheon, Kenna McCutcheon, Jay McCutcheon Parents Robert Kenna McCutcheon, Florence Louise Movies Santa Claus Conquers, Steel Magnolias, Tune in Tomorrow, Mr Destiny, Family Business Similar People Olympia Dukakis, James Orr, Richard B Shull, Howard McGillin, Jon Amiel | ||
James William McCutcheon (May 23, 1924 – January 9, 2002) was an American character actor known for his roles in film, television, and theatre, several of which won him Emmy and Tony awards.
Contents
Early life
McCutcheon was born in Russell, Kentucky, the son of Robert Kenna McCutcheon, who was a railroad conductor and Florence Louise (née Elam). McCutcheon's first major role was Leo the Leprechaun on The Howdy Doody Show. He followed this appearance with a recurring role (from 1984 to 1992) as Uncle Wally on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street, for which he won an Emmy. He also had a prominent role in the 1989 movie, Steel Magnolias, in which he played Owen Jenkins, beau of Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine).
Career
He was also active in film and on the stage. His first film appearance was in 1964's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians; later on, he was seen in movies including Family Business and Steel Magnolias. McCutcheon was a familiar face to young audience in the 1960s when he appeared on several Tootsie Roll television commercials. His theatre credits include a role as Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, which won him a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. Other stage appearances include You Can't Take It with You and The Man Who Came to Dinner.
Death
A resident of Mahwah, New Jersey, McCutcheon died on January 9, 2002, of natural causes, aged 77. He had three children, Carol, Jay, and Kenna.
Filmography
Actor
1984
Sesame Street (TV Series) as
Uncle Wally / Cousin Henry Heartstrong (Uncle Wally) / Mr. Throckbottom
- Slimey Returns from the Moon to Sesame Street (1998) - Uncle Wally
- Granny Bird Might Visit Sesame Street (1996) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird Goes Fishing with Kids for Wolfgang (1996) - Uncle Wally
- The Grand High Triangle Lover's success story (1992) - Uncle Wally
- An African Lullaby by Lillian (1992) - Uncle Wally
- Alice Needs to Take a Nap (1992) - Uncle Wally
- Elmo's Nespaper Covers Prairie Dawn's Birthday (1992) - Uncle Wally
- Ruby and Tatyana Imagine Growing Up (1991) - Uncle Wally / Mr. Throckbottom
- Montana Day 5: Francis' Ceremony (1991) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird goes to Frances' house (1991) - Uncle Wally
- Floyd the Fluter-tooter needs a new home (1991) - Uncle Wally
- La Grouchiata (1991) - Uncle Wally
- Elmo and the Beanstalk (1991) - Uncle Wally
- Remembering times of sadness (1991) - Uncle Wally
- The Count counts at day care (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Telly's Furcut (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Grouch Appreciation Day (1990) - Uncle Wally
- 2745 (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Another Day at the Library (1990) - Uncle Wally
- What will Gina do when she graduates high school? (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Oscar tries proving Gabi is a Grouch (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Ruby and Tatyana Hang Out (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Irvine at Daycare (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Athena won't go to sleep (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird's Toy Car (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Finding someone to watch Preposterous (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Telly plays with an empty carton/Mr. Johnson's Dilemma (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Snuffy and Hiroshi read a looping book (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Fire at 123, part 2 (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Fire at 123, part 1 (1990) - Uncle Wally
- The Golden Cabbage of Snufertiti (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Fluter-tooters, Pancakes, Flying, and More (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Telly's old tuba (1990) - Uncle Wally
- Another day with Bob and Friends (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Ruby Experiments with Eyes (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Maria and Luis Find a Babysitter (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Did Gabi Say Oscar? (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Irvine has the grouch flu (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Oscar and Grundgetta Spend the Day with Gordon (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Gina Writes in Her Journal (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Hatching an Egg (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Snuffleupagus picnic in Central Park (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Oscar cooperates (1989) - Uncle Wally
- David's peanut butter (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird's Sesame Street map (1989) - Uncle Wally
- Maria and Luis prepare to go on their honeymoon (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Maria and Luis get married (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Maria and Luis Get Engaged (1988) - Uncle Wally
- A visit from Little Jerry and the Monotones (1988) - Uncle Wally
- The Count gives up counting (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Introducing Snuffy's sister Alice (1988) - Uncle Wally (credit only)
- Jay Leno visits/Luis Sends Emails to Linda (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Maria and Luis in Love (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Planet Zingo (1988) - Uncle Wally
- Miss Blechman Visits with Oscar the Grouch (1987) - Uncle Wally
- Gordon brings Elmo and Miles to the zoo (1987) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird runs (1987) - Uncle Wally
- A Day with the Two-Headed Monster (1987) - Uncle Wally
- Elmo Hangs Out with Luis Dr. Nobel Price Invents Something Original (1986) - Cousin Henry Heartstrong (Uncle Wally)
- Another Cold Day on Sesame Street (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Miles' First Birthday (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Elmo does magic; a blackout happens (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Wynton Marsalis Visits (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Uncle Wally recalls his sailor days (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Forgetful Jones loses his numbers (1986) - Uncle Wally
- Snuffy finally meets Big Bird's friends (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Oscar and His Grouchketeers (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Blackout on Sesame Street (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Uncle Wally and Bob (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Big Bird counts backwards (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Don Music is Flabbergasted (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Computers, Teeth, and More (1985) - Uncle Wally
- A Day with The Count (1985) - Uncle Wally
- Snuffy's Puppet, Gus (1984) - Uncle Wally
1991
Big Bird's Birthday or Let Me Eat Cake (TV Movie) as
Uncle Wally
1990
Mr. Destiny as
Leo Hansen
1990
Tune in Tomorrow... as
Puddler
1989
Family Business as
Doheny
1989
Steel Magnolias as
Owen Jenkins
1988
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (Short) as
Man on TV
1988
Vibes as
Mr. Van Der Meer
1988
Magic on Sesame Street (Video short) as
Uncle Wally
1988
Sesame Street, Special (TV Movie) as
Uncle Wally
1986
Sesame Street: Play-Along Games and Songs (Video) as
Uncle Wally
1985
Spenser: For Hire (TV Series) as
Court Officer
- Children of a Tempest Storm (1985) - Court Officer
1985
What Comes Around as
Store Owner
1984
Tales from the Darkside (TV Series) as
Dr. Snodgrass
- A Case of the Stubborns (1984) - Dr. Snodgrass
1984
Great Performances (TV Series) as
Mr. De Pinna
- You Can't Take It with You (1984) - Mr. De Pinna
1982
Search for Tomorrow (TV Series) as
Detective Winslow / Doc
- Episode #1.8287 (1983) - Detective Winslow (credit only)
- Episode #1.8285 (1983) - Detective Winslow
- Episode #1.8279 (1983) - Detective Winslow (credit only)
- Episode #1.8278 (1983) - Detective Winslow
- Episode #1.8272 (1983) - Detective Winslow (credit only)
- Episode #1.8271 (1983) - Detective Winslow (credit only)
- Episode #1.7905 (1982) - Doc (credit only)
1981
Nurse (TV Series)
- Margin for Error (1981)
1979
Hot Stuff as
Paully Albadecker
1978
Kojak (TV Series) as
Fred Starrett
- The Captain's Brother's Wife (1978) - Fred Starrett (as Bill Mc Cutcheon)
1976
Ball Four (TV Series) as
Coach Pinky Pinkney
- Closet-Phobia (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- Rookie in Love (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- What's a Nice Watch Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- A Quiet Day at the Iroquois Hotel (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- High-Flying Rookie (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- The Unpractical Joke (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
- Work in Progress (1976) - Coach Pinky Pinkney
1975
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings as
Good Ole Boy #1
1972
The Stoolie as
Gas Station Proprietor (as William McCutcheon)
1972
Deadhead Miles as
Used Car Salesman
1969
Viva Max as
Desmond Miller
1964
Mister Mayor (TV Series) as
Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 18 September 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 28 August 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 14 August 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 7 August 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 26 June 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 10 April 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 3 April 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode dated 16 January 1965 (1965) - Dudley D. Dudley
- Episode #1.1 (1964)
1964
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians as
Dropo
1959
Startime (TV Series) as
Teller #1
- The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks (1959) - Teller #1
1955
Studio One (TV Series) as
Murchison
- Shakedown Cruise (1955) - Murchison
1953
Johnny Jupiter (TV Series) as
Oscar Latham
- The Surprise Birthday Party (1953) - Oscar Latham
- Detective (1953) - Oscar Latham
1953
Dark of Night (TV Series)
- Episode #1.16 (1953)
- Episode #1.15 (1953)
1950
Musical Comedy Time (TV Series) as
Donkey
- Hit the Deck (1950) - Donkey
Soundtrack
1964
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (performer: "Jingle Bells")
Self
2003
9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV Special) as
Self - In Memoriam
1989
Sesame Street: 20 Years & Still Counting! 1969-1989 (TV Special) as
Uncle Wally
1988
The 42nd Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Winner & Performer
1985
Dom DeLuise and Friends (TV Series)
- Part 3 (1985)
1971
The David Frost Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #4.79 (1972) - Self
- Episode #3.248 (1971) - Self
1968
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Betsy Palmer, George Plimpton, Moms Mabley, Bill McCutcheon, Phyllis Inez, Inez Kaiser (1968) - Self
1968
The Dom DeLuise Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.16 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.15 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.12 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.9 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.8 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.7 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.5 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.4 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.2 (1968) - Self
- Episode #1.1 (1968) - Self
1964
The Entertainers (TV Series) as
Self
- Musical Chairs; Gambling Wife; Ben Franklin (1964) - Self
- Imogene Coca, Dom DeLuise, Art Buchwald, John Davidson, Caterina Valente, Don Crichton, Tessie O'Shea (1964) - Self
1953
Person to Person (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Episode #1.4 (1953) - Self
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
Self
- Let's Face It with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis (1950) - Self (as William McCutcheon)
1941
Personal Hygiene (Short documentary) as
Soldier
Archive Footage
2004
The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (Video documentary)
1991
Sesame Street: Elmo's Sing-Along Guessing Game (Video short) as
Uncle Wally
References
Bill McCutcheon Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA