Thank you for watching my channel! If you enjoyed this video, please SUBSCRIBE and HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL to my channel. I have fun talking about television from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s television shows and often with the stars of the shows..
You are absolutely the B E S T host of retro interview shows. Family shows of that era are still very popular. May I suggest folks like Bobby Sherman (last survivor of "Here Come the Brides") He did so many humanitarian projects. See him before he is gone, please.
Billy, your “Bud” made me laugh out loud harder than almost any other character on TV. You made it look easy, but I know better. Thank you, sir, for your priceless gift of laughter to all of us, and for your example of kindness and humility. 🙏🏻🌻
Billy Gray is a delight. He was a scene stealer on Father Knows Best. Your eyes go right to him in scenes involving other people. He was quite agile & athletic & was always doing slapstick type movements & physical comedy involving props. A wonderful actor! Loved him in BY The Light of The Silvery Moon & On Moonlight Bay with Doris Day. Will look for part 2. Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic I agree, did you catch the second episode of the interview where Billy talks about his time on The Day the Earth Stood Still, very interesting😀
I loved everything Billy Gray ever acted in. One of his best characters was Wesley Winfield in On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of the Silvery Moon. He was absolutely hilarious in those two movies. I was always jealous that he got to spend time with Doris Day and Eleanor Donahue. What a lucky guy! It is nice to see him doing well.
@@heartpaws519 I think Billy was just a natural so I could see how you would feel like that. Make sure to watch the second episode of the interview with Billy as well, enjoy 😀
@@ThatsClassicTV Great Interview!!! I just found your Channel - it's going to be difficult not staying up all night watching all of your videos 😄 New Subscriber.
@%F0%9F%98%80%F0%9F%98%80UCgbKZDcCat1A5UVTZRd75Yw Part of me I hope you stayed up all night but the other part hopes you got a good night's sleep:) Thank you for subscribing, enjoy!
I was so glad to see this. He would just crack me up sometimes with his comedic timing in Father Knows Best. I still watch it. He seems like such a nice guy..
Bud was my favorite character. He was the middle child sandwiched between the beautiful and perfect Betty and adorable, slightly bratty Kathy. Bill captured the irreverence of Bud and that was key to making the show real. Thank you Billy. Love hearing your story and I'm glad there's a Part 2 of this interview.
Damn good actor. My son and I were watching a movie with him in it a few years back my son remarked that he was really natural in the part...wish I could remember what we were watching but it wasn't the series
Definitely! Just in case you missed it please check out the second episode of the this interview where Billy talks about shooting The Day the Earth Stood Still😀
I will be seeing Billy this week and will try to remember to tell him that:) If you have a question for him let me know as we will be doing an interview where he answers fan questions.
A multi-talented man, Mr. Gray is one of those genuine guys who remains nonplussed at his fame and that's a very rare attribute when it comes to Hollywood! From THE DAY TH EEARTH STOOD STILL to a couple of charming Doris Day musical comedies to playing one of the SEVEN LITTLE FOYS, even as child actor he proved he could hold his own against heavyweights like Michael Rennie and Bob Hope. And there was never a more believable portrayal of a typical adolescent than his turn on FATHER KNOWS BEST. KUDOS for presenting a Mr. gray who has aged gracefully and on his own terms!
Thanks Gregory! Billy is as genuine as they come and humble. He portrayed the All American boy perfectly for the time. I am assuming based on the list of the films you stated that you saw the second episode of my interview with Billy so glad you enjoyed it.
I haven’t seen father knows knows best in years but when I did watch I always was so impressed with grays acting . He really should have had a much bigger career
Your interview with Billy Gray was amazing ! It was so nice to hear how things ran on the set of Father Knows best and the day to day happenings. I always watched the show and then .... I watched a movie that changed me and how I thought about life " The day the earth stood still ". Great cast and I have watched the movie well over a hundred times and know every scene and most of the dialog such as when Gray " Robbie Benson " said to Klatuu ...... boy Mr. Carpenter your a real screw ball. LOL That to me is one of the most thought provoking movies ever made and it still stands up today. But Father knows best was also a great show and I wish we had shows like that today. Thank you and Mr. Gray for a great look back.
My pleasure Richard and thanks for sharing those memories too. Be sure to watch the second episode of my interview with Billy Gray, he talks about The Day the Earth Stood Still, enjoy!
You are right about " The day the earth stood still ". One of my all time favorites. And that line, Mr. Carpenter your a real screw ball, I remember that well.
used to see Billy back in the day in the pit at the motorcycle races near Corona. strong silent type.. handsome ad humble... Always liked him.. nice to see he is still down to earth and still cool
That is awesome Barbara! There is not only a second episode to this interview but I just released a couple days ago a two episode interview with Billy answering fan questions that were sent to me, enjoy!
I watched Father knows best as a child years later when I got married I became an insurance salesman and I fondly remember that Robert Young was an insurance salesman it made me feel proud.. thx so much for this interview 😊
I was a regular watcher of Father Knows Best and I also loved The Day the Earth Stood Still, the 1951 standout UFO movie eith Patricia Neal, Michael Rennie and young Billy Gray.
He is so great! I have no idea how such a young person could have had such excellent acting abilities as he did. His comedic timing was incredible too! Such a fascinating guy and talent!
"Father Knows Best" still is a WONDERFUL show. Hard to believe how the years flew by, and "Bud" is an elderly man. But, he is so articulate, and gracious and "with it!" He's also correct that the "Father" reunion movies looked horrible on video tape! Thank you for this amazing interview.
A very nice humble gentleman who was a nice wholesome young man on the Father Knows Best show. A great show to watch growing up in the late 50's to early 60's.
Nice to see a old well-known actor with a normal, healthy span of life. Too many fell victim to all sorts of tragedies esp. substance abuse and high risk behavior.
This was a favorite show of mine when I was a child and now I recommend it to my grandchildren! It holds up so well and kids are kids and still try the same antics. Bud was a favorite! Love this guy!
I loved Bud on the show! Great character brought to life by Billy Gray. So adorable, full of the dickens, all American brother I wished I had. As I got older, I became more aware of how cute he was in a non brotherly way. He was a natural in that part and I can’t see anyone else playing it. It was my favorite show. Thanks for the interview.
Fantastic interview! I always looked forward to watching "Father Knows Best" (reruns) when i got home after school. As I recall they aired (in Los Angeles) right after "Ozzie and Harriet". Great to see Billy Gray is alive & well and still looking good!
My pleasure Paul, make sure to watch the second episode of the interview with Billy as well. It is available now. Also, I am going to be releasing another interview with Billy soon where we just did where he answers fan questions.
This is a surprisingly good interview. I like that Mr. Gray was candid. Despite being a well-known person, the setting for the interview (presumably his yard) is not fancy or elegant, and that made me wonder about his financial status...which is none of my business. LOL. Anyway thank you "Bud" for giving us many hours of entertainment.
My ex-brotherinlaw's dad was Youngs Psychiatrist. He did indeed suffer severe depression. The Doctor supposedly gave him the Doctors bag he used on Marcus Welby
I watched and enjoyed the reruns so much. Great interview. Sad to see this neighborhood looks really in ruins. Look behind Mr. Gray😢 He was my favorite of course!
Mandy, Billy is very genuine and his stories really take you back. Catch the fan questions interview I released with Billy just recently, I think you will enjoy it.
Thanks for doing all these classic interviews. Great to get all these stories before these great people are gone. They all have so much to say and seem appreciated that you care about what they have to say
One of my favorite shows growing up in the 60’s. Glad to hear he’s a fellow atheist and not afraid to say so. Billy was in the episode that was interrupted by reports of JFK assassination.
This is great! Thank you! Billy was awesome today speaking on the show. It was a lot of fun listening to what he had to say, straight from the horse's mouth!
This new interview with Billy Gray from the TV series Father Knows Best (1954-1960) was fascinating from my perspective as someone who’s now 68 and a California native (so I kind of know the locations he mentioned and the studio business in general). I’m shocked that Billy is now 86, and I was very happy to hear his story that doesn’t include abuse or rank exploitation. Even though it’s considered impolite to talk about money I wish the interviewer had asked if he can summarize his lifetime earnings as an actor and where he lives today. Also, has he ever been married and does he have any children? It’s astonishing that he speaks with the same voice and inflection he had as a pre-teen 70 years ago! Did he ever cross paths with Johnny Crawford from The Rifleman (1958-1963)? This interview (even though it’s technically marginal) belongs in the Museum of TV and Radio!
Hi Rob, check out the second episode of the interview, I am sure you will enjoy it. It is available to view now. It will answer some of your questions. Enjoy and thanks for sharing😀
According to Wikipedia he lives in Topanga Canyon, in a home he purchased in 1957. He was type cast, as well as getting into trouble for smoking mj, and did a short stint.
Father Knows Best was my favorite show as a kid and Bud my favorite chatacter. Billy seems like such a down to earth guy. Its nice to see him living in such a peaceful place. Subscribed and will watch part 2
It's funny, When I saw you interviewed Paul Petersen, I thought, John needs to interview Bill Gray. LOL! Really enjoyed both parts of this. Bill is talented in just about everything he does. Glad to see he's doing well! Looking forward to your interview with Richard from Leave it to Beaver.
Great interview. Billy is truly an excellent, underrated actor. I thought he deserved a special Oscar for his role in The Day the Earth Stood Still - amazingly believable.
Thank you so much. Billy was such a natural. Just in case you missed it check out the second episode of this interview where Billy talks about The Day the Earth Stood Still, enjoy!
Your timing is pretty remarkable, I just did another interview with Billy which I intend to release in the next couple weeks and we talked about Dusty and Sweets McGee😀
I'm 78 & remember seeing Billy Gray in t.v. shows, before he was on "Father Knows Best"! He & his t.v sisters, were some of the most believable child characters of all 1950 sit-coms, (The Donna Reed Show, excluded)! He was already a true, professional movie actor.e.g. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" & they were lucky to get him! Sorry for his marijuana arrest!
This reminds me of my dad who had nothing in common with Jim Anderson as he was blue collar, but it still brings tears to my eyes when I hear the theme song of the show.
So great to hear that Robert Young did not pull his weight as the co owner of the show , just another working actor . On a YT interview with Elinor Donohue she showed respect for Eugene Rodney's producing abilities .
Billy, still watching "Father Knows Best" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still." I grew up with the reruns in the1960s and 1970s. Now I stream them on Amazon. They're still so modern and fresh! Your poor FKB dad seemed puzzled by all the kids' shenanigans but Mom always got the family through! LOL! You are a literal genius and rank with the best comedians in cinema and TV history. Our generations Charlie Chaplin!
Thought he gave two wonderful performances as Doris Day's mischievous little brother in "On Moonlight Bay" and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". Stole the show in both cases. Thanks for this insightful interview; good to know all was well on the set of FKB.
Fantastic interview! Glad to see that Billy is in good health considering the health problem(s) he mentioned. For any other fans who are interested - Billy has an official website where you can contact him via his email. I emailed him 2 or 3 times and he always responded quickly!
Well, Billy is completely unrecognizable at this point in his cap in the wilderness of his backyard and this interview is the greatest thing ever! Billy Gray. Wow. One of the big guns. How did you ever get him? I have only begun listening but here I am commenting as I can not contain myself. Maybe this will be disproved as we go along but what delights me is that at this point in his life Billy seems to have dropped his cynicism reguarding the unreality of the idealized 1950s family life that FKB represented. I get it, Billy Gray, but just as a fantasy piece Father Knows Best is the most dignified, lovely presentation of the genre TV ever presented. Don't you think?. For all the wonder of a Leave It To Beaver, or this or that, nothing can take away from the quality and splendor of FKB. Admit it, Billy Gray. Walk proud. Be very, very proud. How delighted I am to hear of you palling around with the most unlikely of candidates(!) the ellegant Jane Wyatt. Taking you under her wing is the most heartwarming thing to listen to and for her to have recruited you as a one day pallbearer, its such a moving thing for a fan to hear. There WAS a family connection. Elinor Donahue! I once met her at a charity event rehearsal that a friend of mine was choreographing. She was everything I needed her to be, so warm, but somewhat remote as to her FKB experience. When I was little there was a special, completely unique dramatic episode for Betty, "Betty's Ticket To Nowhere" where B had a melt down identity crisis. She Did not know who she was or how she fit into this world and so went to the bus depot to purchase a ticket to anywhere, anywhere out of Springfield! (Springfield, Ohio, now in the news?) It was so dramatic it frightened me. I thought5 Elinor would surely remember filming this but she drew a complete blank. Still young, I purchased Lauren Chapin's startling biography and to this day it completely stands out in my mind as a little shocker. And now back to the interview,,,,
Billy, I am a straight arrow, but once in my vunerability some girl on the street seduced me into going over to a guru house for NOM RINGE QUO. I have such presence of mind I knew it was not for me - I could laugh at myself to imagine myself participating, but I am also nice & kind, looking very innocent and I could not hurt her by rejecting her. A comedy of errors. Seeing myself in the group, I laugh!
I am getting off course, but I hope this is interesting to somebody: In an interview the little boy who was DJ on Rosanne, Michael Feldman, was paid scale when he began in the series and a million years later when the show returned he was more than grown and they still paid him only scale! What he started with in the beginning. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IN THE MODERN AGE?
This does NOT need to be commented on, but OK. So Billy, medically speaking, gets a lump on his 'tit'. Get it, but it seems surprising that it would later appear in just the same way on the other one. Unfortunate, but perfect symmetry. GET WELL SOON, and you did!
I truly loved that show! I grew up a poor Hispanic kid with 7 brothers and sisters. And I remember always thinking, how is it that people can live in such grandeur, as a family. My favorite episode was when Bud & a buddy smoked a cigar through a trombone. They became near deathly sick. I’m laughing about it even now.😅
I'd be bitter about getting screwed financially too. This was a very honest and good interview. So interesting. FYI Note: Billy's pop surrealist artist, beat poet, etc. friend Wally (Wallace) Berman 1926-1976) became very successful. In 2010 a piece of his art auctioned for $170,000 and many for tens of thousands of dollars. In galleries that would be higher.
So happy to hear from Billy Gray. Such a nice guy and. smart ( has patents for inventions) the character of Bud was such a great role. He’s got a beautiful backyard. He was in movies with Doris Day,
One thing I remember about "Father Knows Best" was Billy's athleticism on the set. He was constantly vaulting over couches, tables & chairs. There were also a couple of scenes where he was boxing. I heard Elinor Donahue mention his athleticism one time in an interview. I'm sure Billy could have handled the running scenes in "Jim Thorpe All-American".
Yeah, Billy wasn't too happy that he wasn't given full rein on the running scenes for Jim Thorpe. Watch the second interview I did with him as well, he talks a bit more about his love of any physical moment in the show, enjoy!
Thank you for watching my channel! If you enjoyed this video, please SUBSCRIBE and HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL to my channel. I have fun talking about television from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s television shows and often with the stars of the shows..
You look like my old brother in law. Is your first name Al?
You are absolutely the B E S T host of retro interview shows. Family shows of that era are still very popular. May I suggest folks like Bobby Sherman (last survivor of "Here Come the Brides") He did so many humanitarian projects. See him before he is gone, please.
Billy, your “Bud” made me laugh out loud harder than almost any other character on TV. You made it look easy, but I know better. Thank you, sir, for your priceless gift of laughter to all of us, and for your example of kindness and humility. 🙏🏻🌻
Fantastic sentiments😀
@@heyoka9012 agree..very real as Bud...the angst of being a teen..complex
That series had great stories, writing and an excellent cast of fine actors. I think Billy Gray was the best of them! Thanks for the interview.
My pleasure and I agree he really was a major part of the success of Father Knows Best.
Billy Gray is a delight. He was a scene stealer on Father Knows Best. Your eyes go right to him in scenes involving other people. He was quite agile & athletic & was always doing slapstick type movements & physical comedy involving props. A wonderful actor! Loved him in BY The Light of The Silvery Moon & On Moonlight Bay with Doris Day. Will look for part 2. Thanks for sharing!
Appreciate that, the second episode is out, enjoy!
The Day the Earth Stood Still. You were GREAT
Fantastic I agree, did you catch the second episode of the interview where Billy talks about his time on The Day the Earth Stood Still, very interesting😀
I totally forgot he was in that film. I need to rewatch it
@@marysue7165 Definitely, me too!
It's my favorite sci-fi movie. I loved you in it 👍
@@mruss04 It is at the top for so many sci-fi fans!
I loved everything Billy Gray ever acted in. One of his best characters was Wesley Winfield in On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of the Silvery Moon. He was absolutely hilarious in those two movies. I was always jealous that he got to spend time with Doris Day and Eleanor Donahue. What a lucky guy! It is nice to see him doing well.
Watch the second episode of the interview with Billy, he talks about the Doris Day films😀
Father Knows Best was one of my favorite shows and Bud was my favorite character on the show. Billy Gray made the character believable
I agree 100%
He was my favorite on the show also! He was so natural, I couldn't imagine that he could actually have a life outside the show!! GREAT to see him!❤❤❤
@@heartpaws519 I think Billy was just a natural so I could see how you would feel like that. Make sure to watch the second episode of the interview with Billy as well, enjoy 😀
@@ThatsClassicTV Great Interview!!! I just found your Channel - it's going to be difficult not staying up all night watching all of your videos 😄 New Subscriber.
@%F0%9F%98%80%F0%9F%98%80UCgbKZDcCat1A5UVTZRd75Yw Part of me I hope you stayed up all night but the other part hopes you got a good night's sleep:) Thank you for subscribing, enjoy!
Billy was incredibly kind and thoughtful.❤
Couldn't agree more Flynn.
I was so glad to see this. He would just crack me up sometimes with his comedic timing in Father Knows Best. I still watch it. He seems like such a nice guy..
Glad you found my interview with Billy as well, be sure to check out both episodes of the interview😀
Bud was my favorite character. He was the middle child sandwiched between the beautiful and perfect Betty and adorable, slightly bratty Kathy. Bill captured the irreverence of Bud and that was key to making the show real. Thank you Billy. Love hearing your story and I'm glad there's a Part 2 of this interview.
Thanks for your commentary and the second part is available now so enjoy!
Good to see you Billy! I always enjoyed your acting as Bud. I still watch your re-runs over and over. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed the interview👍
@@ThatsClassicTV I sure did. Thank you for creating it! It was 👍
@@m.hartyfool My pleasure!
Damn good actor. My son and I were watching a movie with him in it a few years back my son remarked that he was really natural in the part...wish I could remember what we were watching but it wasn't the series
@@stephaniehein7025 That's awesome!
The Day the Earth Stood Still is superb and prescient, Billy did a great job in this classic. That Billy is an open atheist is a cherry on the top.
Definitely! Just in case you missed it please check out the second episode of the this interview where Billy talks about shooting The Day the Earth Stood Still😀
A Darn Good Child Actor. Thank You Bill for being a Dick Dale Music Lover as well as giving your all in your incredible Film Work!
I will be seeing Billy this week and will try to remember to tell him that:) If you have a question for him let me know as we will be doing an interview where he answers fan questions.
Great to see Billy....Father Knows Best still stands up today, that speaks to the acting as much as writing
100% agree, just watched an episode last night. Unbelievable it still holds up so well😀
Billy is such a classy, honest, well spoken man. I love hearing the back-stories of my favorite shows and music.
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Love hearing that Jeff, the second episode of the interview is pretty interesting as well😀
A multi-talented man, Mr. Gray is one of those genuine guys who remains nonplussed at his fame and that's a very rare attribute when it comes to Hollywood! From THE DAY TH EEARTH STOOD STILL to a couple of charming Doris Day musical comedies to playing one of the SEVEN LITTLE FOYS, even as child actor he proved he could hold his own against heavyweights like Michael Rennie and Bob Hope. And there was never a more believable portrayal of a typical adolescent than his turn on FATHER KNOWS BEST. KUDOS for presenting a Mr. gray who has aged gracefully and on his own terms!
Thanks Gregory! Billy is as genuine as they come and humble. He portrayed the All American boy perfectly for the time. I am assuming based on the list of the films you stated that you saw the second episode of my interview with Billy so glad you enjoyed it.
I haven’t seen father knows knows best in years but when I did watch I always was so impressed with grays acting . He really should have had a much bigger career
I couldn't agree more:)
Your interview with Billy Gray was amazing ! It was so nice to hear how things ran on the set of Father Knows best and the day to day happenings. I always watched the show and then .... I watched a movie that changed me and how I thought about life " The day the earth stood still ". Great cast and I have watched the movie well over a hundred times and know every scene and most of the dialog such as when Gray " Robbie Benson " said to Klatuu ...... boy Mr. Carpenter your a real screw ball. LOL That to me is one of the most thought provoking movies ever made and it still stands up today. But Father knows best was also a great show and I wish we had shows like that today. Thank you and Mr. Gray for a great look back.
My pleasure Richard and thanks for sharing those memories too. Be sure to watch the second episode of my interview with Billy Gray, he talks about The Day the Earth Stood Still, enjoy!
You are right about " The day the earth stood still ". One of my all time favorites. And that line, Mr. Carpenter your a real screw ball, I remember that well.
used to see Billy back in the day in the pit at the motorcycle races near Corona. strong silent type.. handsome ad humble... Always liked him.. nice to see he is still down to earth and still cool
Thanks for sharing Ellen, I bet that was fun to see him on a race track.
My old man raced tt at Corona.
Billy still looks and sounds fantastic. I only got to see Father Knows Best in reruns but always had a crush on Bud. Now l have a crush on Billy. ❤😊
That is awesome Barbara! There is not only a second episode to this interview but I just released a couple days ago a two episode interview with Billy answering fan questions that were sent to me, enjoy!
I watched Father knows best as a child years later when I got married I became an insurance salesman and I fondly remember that Robert Young was an insurance salesman it made me feel proud.. thx so much for this interview 😊
Thanks Carl! Very cool story, love it.
Billy Gray has always been my favorite actor! He is the most awesome person ever. Would love to see him in more movies or television❤❤
Billy is extremely underrated for his acting that is for sure.
Great interview, I to grew up with Father Knows Best. Good to see Billy Gray.
Thank you Steve! Glad you enjoyed it😀
So great seeing "Bud" Billy.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Seeing you today, is such a delight. I can still see the younger Billy as you sit there. Bud was the show. Everyone else was the support cast.
Thanks Steven, great to hear! If you have a question for Billy send it tome as I will be asking him fan questions in the near future.
Wrong =Robert Young was the Anchor of that show
@@Steve-gx9ot Yeah, I know that. But, the best plots were always about Bud. Also, the completely unwatchable ones were about Kathy. (May she RIP.)
I ABSOLUTELY still love this show…thanks for the memories Billy❤….you were a fantastic actor..
Thanks Anna, glad you enjoyed the interview as well. hopefully you were able to see the second episode of the interview as well.
I was a regular watcher of Father Knows Best and I also loved The Day the Earth Stood Still, the 1951 standout UFO movie eith Patricia Neal, Michael Rennie and young Billy Gray.
He is so great! I have no idea how such a young person could have had such excellent acting abilities as he did. His comedic timing was incredible too! Such a fascinating guy and talent!
I completely agree, Billy seems to attribute it to the fact that he started acting at sucha young age.
I watch Father Knows Best often. We need more shows like this. ❤😊
What is really amazing is you can watch it today and it still holds up, really says a lot about how well it was produced.
AGREE
BG....happy to see u looking well ....thanks for the joy and memories ur performances brought...❤NM
Thanks for sharing and glad you enjoyed the interview😀
"Father Knows Best" still is a WONDERFUL show. Hard to believe how the years flew by, and "Bud" is an elderly man. But, he is so articulate, and gracious and "with it!" He's also correct that the "Father" reunion movies looked horrible on video tape! Thank you for this amazing interview.
My pleasure Alan. Hopefully you caught both episodes of the interview, enjoy!
A very nice humble gentleman who was a nice wholesome young man on the Father Knows Best show. A great show to watch growing up in the late 50's to early 60's.
Agreed and what is so amazing is that it is still a great show today😀
Nice to see a old well-known actor with a normal, healthy span of life. Too many fell victim to all sorts of tragedies esp. substance abuse and high risk behavior.
Glad you enjoyed the interview Susan, it is sad but true about so many young actors through the years.
This was a favorite show of mine when I was a child and now I recommend it to my grandchildren! It holds up so well and kids are kids and still try the same antics. Bud was a favorite! Love this guy!
Definitely a show that holds up even today. Great recommendation for the grandkids😀
I loved Bud on the show! Great character brought to life by Billy Gray. So adorable, full of the dickens, all American brother I wished I had. As I got older, I became more aware of how cute he was in a non brotherly way. He was a natural in that part and I can’t see anyone else playing it. It was my favorite show. Thanks for the interview.
My pleasure and thanks for sharing. I know it is impossible to see the Bud character being played by anyone else.
Fantastic interview! I always looked forward to watching "Father Knows Best" (reruns) when i got home after school. As I recall they aired (in Los Angeles) right after "Ozzie and Harriet". Great to see Billy Gray is alive & well and still looking good!
Hope you were able to catch the second episode of the interview as well. It is always fun to relive those memories of our past.
Lyle Talbot (the neighbor on Ozzie & Hariet) was a wondeful actor
Thank you.....Billy Gray sounds great....Loved this interview....
Appreciate it Mary Jo, check out the second episode of the interview if you haven’t already, enjoy😀
Thanks for another top Interview John .Billy has had quite a career.
No problem Paul, I loved every minute of it.
Great interview what a terrific man thank you so very much...
My pleasure Paul, make sure to watch the second episode of the interview with Billy as well. It is available now. Also, I am going to be releasing another interview with Billy soon where we just did where he answers fan questions.
Oh wow l love Billy Gray .
I loved him in Meet Me in Saint Louis also and so many more.
This interview is over two episodes and there is another interview with Billy where he answers fan questions, enjoy!
I had such a crush on him! He was adorable! Still looks great.
He still has the smile😀
I'm happy you asked him about being in "Jim Thorpe: All American". That's a really great motion picture. And I remember him being in it!
Glad to hear Steve, I have always been a fan of that movie. My Dad was the one who told me about it.
This is a surprisingly good interview. I like that Mr. Gray was candid. Despite being a well-known person, the setting for the interview (presumably his yard) is not fancy or elegant, and that made me wonder about his financial status...which is none of my business. LOL. Anyway thank you "Bud" for giving us many hours of entertainment.
Thank you for watching and hope you caught the second episode of the interview as well😀
Billy you look great & yes Robert Young suffered from severe depression most of his life which he kept perfectly in-check!!
Pretty wild about R.obert Young's depression but you never would have known on screen
My ex-brotherinlaw's dad was Youngs Psychiatrist. He did indeed suffer severe depression. The Doctor supposedly gave him the Doctors bag he used on Marcus Welby
So great to see you Billy! Thanks for the interview. Fun to hear your stories. Your character on the show was my favorite.
Glad you enjoyed the interview. Billy is a classic.
The Day the Earth Stood Still was my first introduction to his exceptional acting talents.
David be sure to watch the second episode of this interview with Billy that is available now as he talks about shooting The Day the Earth Stood Still
I watched and enjoyed the reruns so much. Great interview. Sad to see this neighborhood looks really in ruins. Look behind Mr. Gray😢 He was my favorite of course!
Billy is so sharp and a great communicator. So conversational. Excellent interview because you allowed Billy to tell his story with no interruptions.
Glad you enjoyed it Bill, thanks!
You were so real in whatever role you took! I always believed you. You were great! Bravo!
Well said Gary!
Dam, Billy has literally worked with some legendary people in showbiz. Its great that his memory is so good.
Couldn't agree more Michael.
What a terrific interview, so enjoyable! So nice to see Billy and hear his memories.
@@JILL0704USA Thank you. Billy has the best stories as well😀
Great interview, Billy looks great. Very interesting.
Mandy, Billy is very genuine and his stories really take you back. Catch the fan questions interview I released with Billy just recently, I think you will enjoy it.
Great interview, raw and unfiltered.
@@kdnorse4109 Thank you so much😀
Thanks for doing all these classic interviews. Great to get all these stories before these great people are gone. They all have so much to say and seem appreciated that you care about what they have to say
It’s my pleasure, I love doing the interviews and sincerely care😀
One of my favorite shows growing up in the 60’s. Glad to hear he’s a fellow atheist and not afraid to say so.
Billy was in the episode that was interrupted by reports of JFK assassination.
Interesting about that episode.
This is great! Thank you! Billy was awesome today speaking on the show. It was a lot of fun listening to what he had to say, straight from the horse's mouth!
Thank you so much, Billy’s stories are pretty interesting 😀
Thank you for the memories.
@@wmryan9646 So glad it brought back some good memories for you 😀
Nice to hear a positive remembrance of Bobby Driscoll from Billy.
That was pretty cool. In my interview with Paul Petersen he spoke of Bobby's final days.
I grew up on Father Knows Best repeats. It was long of the air before I saw it. I loved that show especially, Billy and Eleanor
It is still on the air, incredible how it has held up.
I grew up with this show. Kitten was my age. Thanks for a great family story.
Glad you enjoyed it Irene😀
This new interview with Billy Gray from the TV series Father Knows Best (1954-1960) was fascinating from my perspective as someone who’s now 68 and a California native (so I kind of know the locations he mentioned and the studio business in general). I’m shocked that Billy is now 86, and I was very happy to hear his story that doesn’t include abuse or rank exploitation. Even though it’s considered impolite to talk about money I wish the interviewer had asked if he can summarize his lifetime earnings as an actor and where he lives today. Also, has he ever been married and does he have any children? It’s astonishing that he speaks with the same voice and inflection he had as a pre-teen 70 years ago! Did he ever cross paths with Johnny Crawford from The Rifleman (1958-1963)? This interview (even though it’s technically marginal) belongs in the Museum of TV and Radio!
Hi Rob, check out the second episode of the interview, I am sure you will enjoy it. It is available to view now. It will answer some of your questions. Enjoy and thanks for sharing😀
According to Wikipedia he lives in Topanga Canyon, in a home he purchased in 1957. He was type cast, as well as getting into trouble for smoking mj, and did a short stint.
Great cast....thx Billy
Couldn’t agree more👍
Billy, you are such an interesting professional and it has been a delight to listen to you. Thank you for this wonderful interview.
Glad you enjoyed the interview Kate, hopefully you also saw the second episode of the interview with Billy as well.
Father Knows Best was my favorite show as a kid and Bud my favorite chatacter. Billy seems like such a down to earth guy. Its nice to see him living in such a peaceful place. Subscribed and will watch part 2
Awesome! Also, thanks for subscribing, enjoy!
Bud really made the show great! He was always into something, just like most boys his age. I’m a mother of 3 sons and I know boys🤣😂🤣
Linda, I couldn’t agree more, Billy played Bud so truthfully.
Absolutely, positively fantastic interview !!!
Thanks so much James!
The boy in the best SciFi ever made
Just want to make sure you saw the second episode of my interview with Billy because he talks about shooting TheDay the Earth Stood Still.
You look great Billy!
I couldn't agree more😀
It's funny, When I saw you interviewed Paul Petersen, I thought, John needs to interview Bill Gray. LOL! Really enjoyed both parts of this. Bill is talented in just about everything he does. Glad to see he's doing well! Looking forward to your interview with Richard from Leave it to Beaver.
That is funny, I am always working on certain interviews so glad this one fell into place😀Hopefully I will release the Rich Correll interview soon.
Man I just saw this I'm so excited to watch this I love Billy Gray
Hope you loved it and caught both episodes of the interview!
Great interview. Billy is truly an excellent, underrated actor. I thought he deserved a special Oscar for his role in The Day the Earth Stood Still - amazingly believable.
Thank you so much. Billy was such a natural. Just in case you missed it check out the second episode of this interview where Billy talks about The Day the Earth Stood Still, enjoy!
Billy Gray is the only reason I watched FNB. He was, I thought, a pretty witty guy. Good luck, health, peace BG.
Love the kind sentiments😀
86?…WoW..Amazing..great to see he’s doing so well..
Billy is pretty impressive😀
I just watched the series for the first time around 2020. I laughed at Bud's acrobats - jumping or doing flips sometimes! 😄
Wow isn't it amazing how well Father Knows Best has held up over time.
I also enjoyed Mr. Gray's performance in Dusty and Sweets McGee. I remember him driving the Mustang Boss 302.
Your timing is pretty remarkable, I just did another interview with Billy which I intend to release in the next couple weeks and we talked about Dusty and Sweets McGee😀
I'm 78 & remember seeing Billy Gray in t.v. shows, before he was on "Father Knows Best"!
He & his t.v sisters, were some of the most believable child characters of all 1950 sit-coms,
(The Donna Reed Show, excluded)! He was already a true, professional movie actor.e.g.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" & they were lucky to get him! Sorry for his marijuana arrest!
That is cool to hear Ron😀In case you missed it there is a second episode to the interview.
You look great Billy! Keep on keeping on......
Well said Vincent!😀Enjoy the interview!
My favorite episodes were BUD learns the bongos! And Just like the one in the book!
Great episode Rick!
Mr. Gray looks great!😊
Incredible enter his age😀
This reminds me of my dad who had nothing in common with Jim Anderson as he was blue collar, but it still brings tears to my eyes when I hear the theme song of the show.
Thanks for sharing and although it brings tears to your eyes I am sure it brings you fond memories and that is wonderful💕
Another fascinating interview. Must have been quite a challenge setting it up out there but you pulled it off beautifully.
I appreciate it James, it took some planning but we figured it out👍
So great to hear that Robert Young did not pull his weight as the co owner of the show , just another working actor . On a YT interview with Elinor Donohue she showed respect for Eugene Rodney's producing abilities .
Thanks for sharing that about Elinor on Rodney's producing.
Billy, still watching "Father Knows Best" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still." I grew up with the reruns in the1960s and 1970s. Now I stream them on Amazon. They're still so modern and fresh! Your poor FKB dad seemed puzzled by all the kids' shenanigans but Mom always got the family through! LOL! You are a literal genius and rank with the best comedians in cinema and TV history. Our generations Charlie Chaplin!
Sounds good and please remember to watch the second episode of this interview, you will enjoy it!
Thought he gave two wonderful performances as Doris Day's mischievous little brother in "On Moonlight Bay" and "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". Stole the show in both cases. Thanks for this insightful interview; good to know all was well on the set of FKB.
Glad you enjoyed it Patrick and hope you caught the second episode of the interview as well:)
Fantastic interview! Glad to see that Billy is in good health considering the health problem(s) he mentioned. For any other fans who are interested - Billy has an official website where you can contact him via his email. I emailed him 2 or 3 times and he always responded quickly!
Thank you and thank you for sharing the information too😀
Well, Billy is completely unrecognizable at this point in his cap in the wilderness of his backyard and this interview is the greatest thing ever! Billy Gray. Wow. One of the big guns. How did you ever get him? I have only begun listening but here I am commenting as I can not contain myself.
Maybe this will be disproved as we go along but what delights me is that at this point in his life Billy seems to have dropped his cynicism reguarding the unreality of the idealized 1950s family life that FKB represented. I get it, Billy Gray, but just as a fantasy piece Father Knows Best is the most dignified, lovely presentation of the genre TV ever presented. Don't you think?. For all the wonder of a Leave It To Beaver, or this or that, nothing can take away from the quality and splendor of FKB. Admit it, Billy Gray. Walk proud. Be very, very proud.
How delighted I am to hear of you palling around with the most unlikely of candidates(!) the ellegant Jane Wyatt. Taking you under her wing is the most heartwarming thing to listen to and for her to have recruited you as a one day pallbearer, its such a moving thing for a fan to hear. There WAS a family connection. Elinor Donahue! I once met her at a charity event rehearsal that a friend of mine was choreographing. She was everything I needed her to be, so warm, but somewhat remote as to her FKB experience. When I was little there was a special, completely unique dramatic episode for Betty, "Betty's Ticket To Nowhere" where B had a melt down identity crisis. She Did not know who she was or how she fit into this world and so went to the bus depot to purchase a ticket to anywhere, anywhere out of Springfield! (Springfield, Ohio, now in the news?) It was so dramatic it frightened me. I thought5 Elinor would surely remember filming this but she drew a complete blank.
Still young, I purchased Lauren Chapin's startling biography and to this day it completely stands out in my mind as a little shocker. And now back to the interview,,,,
Imagine NOT asking Elinor Donahue out on a date, Billy Gray? But of course she wouldn't go...
Billy, I am a straight arrow, but once in my vunerability some girl on the street seduced me into going over to a guru house for NOM RINGE QUO. I have such presence of mind I knew it was not for me - I could laugh at myself to imagine myself participating, but I am also nice & kind, looking very innocent and I could not hurt her by rejecting her. A comedy of errors. Seeing myself in the group, I laugh!
I am getting off course, but I hope this is interesting to somebody: In an interview the little boy who was DJ on Rosanne, Michael Feldman, was paid scale when he began in the series and a million years later when the show returned he was more than grown and they still paid him only scale! What he started with in the beginning. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IN THE MODERN AGE?
The Odd Couple: Billy Gray & Jane Wyatt. Thumbs up!
This does NOT need to be commented on, but OK. So Billy, medically speaking, gets a lump on his 'tit'. Get it, but it seems surprising that it would later appear in just the same way on the other one. Unfortunate, but perfect symmetry. GET WELL SOON, and you did!
I truly loved that show! I grew up a poor Hispanic kid with 7 brothers and sisters. And I remember always thinking, how is it that people can live in such grandeur, as a family.
My favorite episode was when Bud & a buddy smoked a cigar through a trombone. They became near deathly sick.
I’m laughing about it even now.😅
Awesome memories from Father Knows Best. Thanks for sharing your story😀
I'd be bitter about getting screwed financially too. This was a very honest and good interview. So interesting. FYI Note: Billy's pop surrealist artist, beat poet, etc. friend Wally (Wallace) Berman 1926-1976) became very successful. In 2010 a piece of his art auctioned for $170,000 and many for tens of thousands of dollars. In galleries that would be higher.
Thanks for sharing the info!
So happy to hear from Billy Gray. Such a nice guy and. smart ( has patents for inventions) the character of Bud was such a great role. He’s got a beautiful backyard. He was in movies with Doris Day,
@@georgemallory401 Enjoy both episodes
Praying that fence doesn't fall down during the interview
From Father Knows Best to Gramps Knows Best! A big part of my childhood.
Too funny, older but still has that smile!
Excellent interview - Thank you!
My pleasure!
I still watch Anentena TV father knows best.
It's still a good show even now, enjoy Lisa!
So cute!
Thanks Sally!
Besides “father knows best“, Billy was so funny as Doris Day’s brother in “On Moonlight Bay” and “by the light of the silver moon”.❤
Make sure you watch the second episode of the interview with Billy available now, I think you will enjoy it.
I loved that show and bud
Father Knows Best is still a great show and Billy is a huge reason why😀
Great interview!
Thank you so much, appreciate it.
I loved this show growing up. Sympathized with Bud. Had a crush on Betty.
Awesome bringing back those memories, too fun:)
I used to see him race speedway motorcycles at Costa Mesa fair grounds in the late 70's
Definitely envious, that would have been cool!
I love watching this guy on the show I had a crush
Tina, I think many women did also😀
One thing I remember about "Father Knows Best" was Billy's athleticism on the set. He was constantly vaulting over couches, tables & chairs. There were also a couple of scenes where he was boxing. I heard Elinor Donahue mention his athleticism one time in an interview. I'm sure Billy could have handled the running scenes in "Jim Thorpe All-American".
Yeah, Billy wasn't too happy that he wasn't given full rein on the running scenes for Jim Thorpe. Watch the second interview I did with him as well, he talks a bit more about his love of any physical moment in the show, enjoy!