Billie Bird was a comedian and actress who appeared in many films and TV shows, such as Home Alone, The Odd Couple, and Dear John. She was known for her witty and humorous personality, as well as her long and successful career in show business. But how did she die, and what was her life story? Here is what we know about Billie Bird’s cause of death and her legacy.
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Early Life and Career
According to Wikipedia, Billie Bird was born as Berniece Bird Stowell on February 28, 1908, in Pocatello, Idaho. She was discovered at the age of eight while living at an orphanage, and started performing in vaudeville and theater. She later moved on to television and films, making her film debut in 1950. She worked with many famous actors and directors, such as Tom Hanks, John Hughes, and Judd Hirsch. She also entertained troops in Vietnam with her own variety act, “Flying High With Billie Bird”, and became an honorary member of the Green Berets.
Roles in Home Alone and Other Films
One of Billie Bird’s most memorable roles was in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone, where she played a woman who gave Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) a boarding pass at the airport. She also appeared in the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, as a woman who scared Kevin with her pigeons in Central Park. She had a knack for playing quirky and funny characters, such as a gangster’s wife in Angels With Filthy Souls, a spoof of a 1930s film noir that Kevin watched in Home Alone. She also starred in other films, such as Sixteen Candles, Police Academy 4, and Dennis the Menace.
TV Appearances and Awards
Besides films, Billie Bird also had a prolific career in television, appearing in many popular shows, such as Happy Days, Silver Spoons, The Facts of Life, and Who’s the Boss?. She was a regular cast member on the sitcoms It Takes Two, Benson, and Dear John, where she played Margie, a sarcastic and outspoken member of a support group for divorced people. She received two Emmy nominations for her role in Dear John, in 1989 and 1990. Her last acting role was in 1997, on the sitcom George and Leo, starring Bob Newhart and Judd Hirsch.
Personal Life and Death
Billie Bird was married to Edwin Sellen until his death in 1966. They had three children. She died on November 27, 2002, in Granada Hills, California, at the age of 94, after several years of Alzheimer’s disease, according to The Celebrity Deaths. She is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. She left behind a legacy of laughter and joy, and a remarkable body of work that spanned over seven decades. She will always be remembered as one of the funniest and most talented women in comedy.
