Actor, Entertainer. At the age of 19, Bill Shirley left his home in Indianapolis, and moved to Hollywood to study voice. Within the year he had signed a contract with Republic Studios to do small parts in seven pictures including Flying Tigers, Doctors Don't Tell, Rookies on Parade, Hi Neighbor, Ice-Capades Review and Sailors on Leave. In 1942, before he had completed his Republic contract, Shirley was drafted into the Army and after the war he had a difficult time restarting his career. In 1952 he appeared as Captain Kidd in Abbot and Costello Meet Captain Kidd and later that year got his only leading part as Stephen Foster in I Dream Of Jeanie. His final two appearances were voice only parts as the prince in Sleeping Beauty and the singing voice of Freddie in My Fair Lady. Through the 1950s Shirley made regular radio appearances and regularly performed on stage, night clubs and television. Died of lung cancer.
Actor, Entertainer. At the age of 19, Bill Shirley left his home in Indianapolis, and moved to Hollywood to study voice. Within the year he had signed a contract with Republic Studios to do small parts in seven pictures including Flying Tigers, Doctors Don't Tell, Rookies on Parade, Hi Neighbor, Ice-Capades Review and Sailors on Leave. In 1942, before he had completed his Republic contract, Shirley was drafted into the Army and after the war he had a difficult time restarting his career. In 1952 he appeared as Captain Kidd in Abbot and Costello Meet Captain Kidd and later that year got his only leading part as Stephen Foster in I Dream Of Jeanie. His final two appearances were voice only parts as the prince in Sleeping Beauty and the singing voice of Freddie in My Fair Lady. Through the 1950s Shirley made regular radio appearances and regularly performed on stage, night clubs and television. Died of lung cancer.
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William J. Shirley
1921 — 1989
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