Bill Mumy
Charles William “Bill” Mumy, Jr. (born February 1, 1954), is an American actor, musician, pitchman, instrumentalist, voice-over artist and a figure in the science-fiction community. He is known primarily for his roles in movies and television, character-type roles, and his work in television production.
The red-headed Mumy came to prominence in the 1960s as a child actor, most notably as Will Robinson, the youngest of the three children of Prof. John and Dr. Maureen Robinson (played by Guy Williams and June Lockhart respectively) and friend of the nefarious and pompous Dr. Zachary Smith (played by Jonathan Harris), in the cult 1960s CBS sci-fi television series Lost in Space.
He later appeared as a lonely teenager, Sterling North, in the 1969 Disney movie, Rascal, and as Teft in the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children. In the 1990s, he had the role of Lennier in the syndicated sci-fi TV series Babylon 5, and he also served as narrator of A&E Network’s Emmy Award-winning series, Biography. He is also notable for his musical career, as a solo artist and as half of the duo Barnes & Barnes.
Trivia:
Wife is a childbirth instructor.
Father of Seth Mumy and Liliana Mumy
Last name is pronounced “Moomy” not “Mummy”
Performed with Robert Haimer as “Barnes & Barnes”, recording the hit novelty song “Fish Heads” in 1978. It is currently the most requested song in the history of the Dr. Demento Show.
Had a recurring role as “Lennier” on “Babylon 5″ (1994). Mumy had also repeatedly tried to land a guest role on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (1993), but the producers always wanted him to play an alien. He held out until they allowed him to play a human, which he did in the DS9 episode “The Siege of AR-558″ (he was the Starfleet engineer who worked on trying to decode a Dominion communications array).
Acted in a recent episode of the newly-revived “The Twilight Zone” (2002) TV series with his actress-daughter Liliana. As a child, Mumy appeared in three of Rod Serling’s classic TZ episodes (“Long-Distance Call,” “It’s a Good Life,” and “In Praise Of Pip”) during the 1960s.
Wrote a screenplay back in the late 1970s in which the “Lost in Space” (1965) family would have found their way back to Earth. 20th Century Fox was committed to the project, but series creator Irwin Allen wasn’t interested in reviving the series. The plan dissolved completely after the death of space patriarch Guy Williams in 1989.
Was the original choice to play “Eddie Munster,” in the cult 1960s TV series “The Munsters” (1964). However, his parents did not approve of the makeup young Bill would have to wear for the role; they turned it down. Butch Patrick ended up playing the part. Today, Patrick and Mumy are very good friends and sometimes collaborate on music.
On the “Babylon 5″ (1994) episode “Eyes,” he used his album title “Zabagabee” as an alien word.
Was a lifelong friend of James Stewart, with whom he co-starred in the film Dear Brigitte (1965). The Stewart and Mumy families knew each other well off-screen, Stewart’s wife Gloria having been Mumy’s Sunday school teacher. He can still do a perfect imitation of Stewart’s voice, one that frequently cracked Stewart up during his lifetime.
Is an only child.
Credits his “Lost in Space” (1965) co-star Guy Williams with inspiring him to become an actor. Mumy grew up watching Williams on Disney’s “Zorro” (1957) TV series; young Bill broke his leg attempting to recreate one of the show’s stunts in his bedroom.
‘”Weird Al’ Yankovic’ was a big fan of “Lost in Space” (1965) growing up, and he and Mumy later became good friends. Mumy reportedly introduced Al to his wife Suzanne.
Best known by the public for his role as Will Robinson on “Lost in Space” (1965).
Along with Cloris Leachman, he is one of only two actors to appear in both “The Twilight Zone” (1959) and its second television revival, “The Twilight Zone” (2002).
