Bill Edwards (actor)
Encyclopedia
Bill Edwards was an American
film/television actor, championship rodeo
rider and a (Smithsonian exhibited) multi talented artist.
Born in New Jersey
, Edwards began drawing horses as a child and continued drawing as he grew up on a Wyoming
ranch. From this lifestyle Bill was to become a championship rodeo
rider. Broken bones brought his riding career to a halt, and the 6-foot-5 Bill Edwards became a model in New York City. An agent brought him to Hollywood in the early 1940s. He was under contract to Paramount Pictures
for nearly a decade, then turned to art. In addition to Western films, the blond, blue-eyed Edwards had featured roles in "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" and "Hail the Conquering Hero," both in 1944. From 1957 till 1987, while following his various artistic endeavors, he occasionally did small parts in film and television. In this genre he is probably best known for his recurring role of Steve McGarrett's State Department contact Jonathan Kaye in the TV series Hawaii Five-O
throughout the 1970s.
In the 1950s he became a painter
and commercial illustrator
, creating hundreds of covers for paperback books and designing paper dolls of movie stars. Some of his oil and acrylic paintings of Old West scenes were commissioned by the United States Air Force Art Program
and have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution
, the Pentagon
and a traveling Air Force exhibit.
Bill Edwards died December 21, 1999 at the age of 81 in Newport Beach of pneumonia due to an illness that affected his muscular system. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Allen Edwards, and a daughter.
Bill Edwards married for the second time in the 1980s. He married a woman called Beryl Margret Hunter born 5/5/1933 in England,she died on 25 December 1997 at their home in Calforonia. There was a Stepson Michael Hunter who was a Captain in the American Green Berets.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film/television actor, championship rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
rider and a (Smithsonian exhibited) multi talented artist.
Born in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Edwards began drawing horses as a child and continued drawing as he grew up on a Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
ranch. From this lifestyle Bill was to become a championship rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
rider. Broken bones brought his riding career to a halt, and the 6-foot-5 Bill Edwards became a model in New York City. An agent brought him to Hollywood in the early 1940s. He was under contract to Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
for nearly a decade, then turned to art. In addition to Western films, the blond, blue-eyed Edwards had featured roles in "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" and "Hail the Conquering Hero," both in 1944. From 1957 till 1987, while following his various artistic endeavors, he occasionally did small parts in film and television. In this genre he is probably best known for his recurring role of Steve McGarrett's State Department contact Jonathan Kaye in the TV series Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
throughout the 1970s.
In the 1950s he became a painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and commercial illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
, creating hundreds of covers for paperback books and designing paper dolls of movie stars. Some of his oil and acrylic paintings of Old West scenes were commissioned by the United States Air Force Art Program
United States Air Force Art Program
The USAF Art Program of the United States Air Force was begun in 1950, with the transfer of ~800 works of art from the United States Army.- History :...
and have been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
and a traveling Air Force exhibit.
Bill Edwards died December 21, 1999 at the age of 81 in Newport Beach of pneumonia due to an illness that affected his muscular system. He is survived by his wife, Hazel Allen Edwards, and a daughter.
Bill Edwards married for the second time in the 1980s. He married a woman called Beryl Margret Hunter born 5/5/1933 in England,she died on 25 December 1997 at their home in Calforonia. There was a Stepson Michael Hunter who was a Captain in the American Green Berets.