Bill Daily, ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’ Star, Dies at 91
Bill Daily, the comic actor best known for his roles in the long-running sitcoms “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Bob Newhart Show,” died Tuesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at age 91, according to his official Facebook page.
The Iowa native served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War when he was transferred to the entertainment unit.
He then worked in a local Chicago television, where he collaborated on comedy bits with a young Bob Newhart — later his co-star in the 1970s sitcom “The Bob Newhart Show.”
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After landing a series of one-episode roles on 1960s shows like “Bewitched” and “My Mother the Car,” Daily was cast as Major Roger Healy, the girl-crazy best friend of Larry Hagman’s Army major, in “I Dream of Jeannie.”
The sitcom, which also starred Barbara Eden as a female genie discovered by Hagman’s character, ran for five seasons. Eden paid tribute to her long-time friend on Twitter.
Our favorite zany astronaut, Bill Daily has passed. Billy was wonderful to work with. He was a funny, sweet man that kept us all on our toes. I'm so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy, xo -B #RIPBillDaily pic.twitter.com/OVZjaWB9CP
— Barbara Eden (@Barbara_Eden) September 8, 2018
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Two years later, Daily reteamed with Newhart on the hit sitcom “The Bob Newhart Show” — playing the perpetually jet-lagged airline navigator and co-pilot Howard Borden who was a next-door neighbor of Newhart’s shrink.
Bill Daily & I go back to Chicago in the 50's. He and I were both trying to get into standup. Later, he joined the Bob Newhart Show. He was our bullpen guy – you could always go to him. He was one of the most positive people I've ever known. I will miss him dearly
— Bob Newhart (@BobNewhart) September 8, 2018
He later had recurring roles on such shows as the ’80s cult hit “ALF” and the ’90s comedy “Caroline in the City.”
Read original story Bill Daily, ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ and ‘Bob Newhart Show’ Star, Dies at 91 At TheWrap
