Billy Gray Birthday & Fun Facts

Billy Gray Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

William Thomas Gray

Place Of Birth

Los Angeles, USA

Age

85 years old

Birth Date

January 13 1938

Billy Gray Facts

Child Star?

yes

Occupation

Actor

Education & Qualifications

Net Worth

$1,500,000

Parents

William H., Beatrice Gray

Billy Gray is a former American child actor who is best known for his role as Bud Anderson on the popular '50s American sitcom 'Father Knows Best'.
Gray was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1938 and got his start in show business at a young age. In 1951, Billy Gray bagged the role of young Jim Thorpe in the film 'Jim Thorpe -- All-American, alongside lead Burt Lancaster.
Gray was just 13 when he got his role in the biographical film. In 1954, he won the role of Bud Anderson on 'Father Knows Best' and starred in the television series until it ended in 1960. After 'Father Knows Best', Billy Gray continued to act but retired from show business in 1980.
Billy played this character for six seasons and also starred in two movies during his time on Father Knows Best: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and On Moonlight Bay (1951).
He currently resides in Topanga, California.
In this article, we will take a look at Billy's life and work, and explore some of the most notable parts of his career.

What is Billy Gray’s net worth?

Billy Gray's net worth has been estimated to be around $1.5 million.

How much does Billy Gray earn per year?

His annual income is not mentioned anywhere by the media.

How tall is Billy Gray?

Billy Gray is about 5.94 ft (181 cm) tall.

How old is Billy Gray?

Born on January 13, 1938, Billy Gray is a Capricorn and is 84 years old as of 2022. He was 13 when he starred in 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'.

Billy Gray was born in 1938 to William H. and actress Beatrice Gray.
He appeared in the film 'Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff' along with his mother, although they were in separate scenes in the film.
Growing up on the film set, Gray had a rocky education. The school he attended consisted of a canvas tent where he would have to spend three hours of his day, separated into 15-minute segments.
'High school' was no different. Education wasn't pushed on to kids as it would be at a regular school. While he does acknowledge that his schooling could have been better, Billy Gray firmly states that he wouldn't trade his time as a child star for anything.

Who is Billy Gray’s partner?

Billy Gray was married to Greek actress Helena Kallianiotes from 1967 to 1969.
He remarried in 1977 to Donna Consuelos Wilkes, an actress known for her role as Jackie in 'Jaws 2' (1978) and Molly 'Angel' Stewart in 'Angel' (1983). They married when Donna Wilkes was 18 and Billy Gray was 39, which means that there is an age difference of 21 years between the two!
They weren't married for long and the pair divorced at some point.

Best Known For…

Billy Gray is probably best known for his role as James 'Bud' Anderson Jr, or Bud Anderson, on the popular TV sitcom 'Father Knows Best', which ran from 1954 to 1960. He appeared on the very first episode of the show that aired on October 3, 1954.
The character of Bud Anderson was the son of the lead character, Jim Anderson (played by Robert Young). The show was set in the fictional town of Springfield and revolved around the everyday lives of the Anderson family. Starting out at the age of 16, Billy played the role of Bud Anderson for six seasons and a total of 203 episodes.
Some other well-known roles played by Billy Gray include Bobby Benson in 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951) and Wesley Winfield in 'On Moonlight Bay' (1951).
Before he retired in 1980, one of Gray's last appearances on the screen was in the short movie 'Porklips Now'. The 16-minute parody of  'Apocalypse Now' (1979) outlines the events surrounding gardener Will Dullard, played by Billy Gray, as he goes up to Chinatown to settle some 'business'.

What awards has Billy Gray won?

Billy Gray has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Continuing Character) in a Comedy Series, for the Primetime Emmy Awards 1959. He was nominated for his role as Bud Anderson in 'Father Knows Best'.

Billy Gray’s Hobbies And Interests

Here's a fact you wouldn't have seen coming: Billy Gray was once a Class A Speedway motorcycle racer! He rode his motorcycle from 1970 to 1995, well into his 40s. He won the 8 Lap at the 8 Rider Handicap Main event, Costa Mesa Speedway.
Motorcycles had always been a childhood passion of the child actor, so much so that he received his very own 500cc Matchless British racing bike at just 15.
Other than being a successful actor, Billy Gray is also an innovator. He has a patent for the Sea-Dog Line Hose Klip™, a hose clamp that works on all sizes of hoses and is widely used by boaters across the world.
He also designed jack-o-lanterns candleholders and the 'Love’n’Thumb' a self-massager.

Billy Gray enjoyed competitive motorcycle racing, especially on the dirt tracks of Southern California. 'I always did better when there was ample dirt on the track', he said.
In 1998, Billy Gray pressed charges of defamation against film critic Leonard Maltin. Maltin had wrongly listed Gray as a drug addict in his critique of 'Dusty and Sweets McGee' (1971). Maltin later publicly apologized at a press conference.
Gray's beloved motorcycle was called 'Orange Blossom Special', originally 'Orange Crate Special'. An announcer at Irwindale Raceway came up with the name after noticing the bike's vibrant orange rims.
'Father Knows Best' initially got such bad ratings that it had to be canceled by CBS just after the first season was aired. But after protests from fans, the show was picked up once again by NBC.
Billy Gray has been living in his apartment at Topanga since 1957. He rented it out at $75 a month at just 19. He calls it the, ' smartest thing he's ever done'. Today, it serves as his home and the site for his motorcycle collection!
Main image credit: wikimedia