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Billie Bird

Billie Bird

Actor · Died November 27, 2002, aged 94 · Pocatello, Idaho, USA

Vaudeville comedienne Billie Bird Sellen was discovered at an orphanage at the age of eight years and hired to tour theater circuits with a vaudeville troupe. During the Vietnam War she accompanied 12 USO tours entertaining the troops in the war zone in the 1960s and 1970s. She had worked as recently as 1995 when she appeared in Jury Duty (1995), starring Pauly Shore. Other notable performances were in Dennis the Menace (1993) and Home Alone (1990). One of her best-known film appearances was in the 1968 movie The Odd Couple (1968). Her last appearance was a cameo in 1997 in the short-lived television comedy George & Leo (1997) with Judd Hirsch and Bob Newhart. She had also been a regular from 1988-1992 in the sitcom Dear John (1988), and in a series of performances as a cheerful and sassy senior citizen in such productions as Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) and Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987). Date of Death: 27 November 2002, Granada Hills (Alzheimer's disease)

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 28, 1908
Died
November 27, 2002 (aged 94)
From
Pocatello, Idaho, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

What are Billie Bird's films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
40%
Self
22%
Morality
13%
Society
10%
Power
9%
Survival
5%
Family bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Joyful
5
Warm
4
Melancholic
4
Absurd
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Billie Bird's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Billie Bird's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page.

  • George & Leo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Jury Duty(1995)

    as Rose

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Dennis the Menace(1993)

    as Edith Butterwell

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The End of Innocence(1990)

    as Mrs. Yabledablov

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Home Alone(1990)

    as Woman in Airport

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Police Academy 6: City Under Siege(1989)

    as Mrs. Stanwyck

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • That's Adequate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lillian Darling

  • Murphy Brown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ernest Saves Christmas(1988)

    as Mary Morrissey

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Dear John (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 83 episodes · as Margie Philbert

  • The Wonder Years(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Woman

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol(1987)

    as Mrs. Feldman

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Max Headroom(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Charmings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bronx Zoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ratboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Psychic

  • Starman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One Crazy Summer(1986)

    as Grandma

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Help Wanted: Kids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Bea

  • Who's the Boss?(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Tessie

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Marie Watson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Sixteen Candles(1984)

    as Dorothy Baker

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Goodnight, Beantown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Max Dugan Returns(1983)

    as Older Woman

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • It Takes Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 22 episodes · as Mama

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Ella Hayes

  • Remington Steele(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Anna Dix

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cheers(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Lillian Miller

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Young Doctors in Love(1982)

    as The Hospital Staff - Flower Lady

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sheila

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Benson(1979)

    Show 46 episodes · as Rose Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Facts of Life(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Apple's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Happy Days(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cox · as Shirley

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Stand Up and Be Counted(1972)

    as uncredited

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Getting Straight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Landlady

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Winnie Goodrich

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple(1968)

    as Chambermaid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Barefoot in the Park(1967)

    as Drunken Neighbor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • This Property Is Condemned(1966)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas Hillbillys(1966)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Young Marrieds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Gubbins

  • The Cat Burglar(1961)

    as Mrs. Prattle

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Secret of Deep Harbor(1961)

    as Mama Miller

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Too Soon to Love(1960)

    as Mrs. Jefferson

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Blue Denim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Woman (uncredited)

  • Born to Be Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Drunk's Wife

  • Unwed Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Gertie

  • The Joker Is Wild(1957)

    as Ticket Seller / Cashier (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Woman

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Shubb

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • My Wife's Best Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Katie

  • Somebody Loves Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Essie

  • Just Across the Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Pearl

  • Journey Into Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Gertie

  • Rhubarb(1951)

    as Mona Lizzie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Darling, How Could You!(1951)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Lemon Drop Kid(1951)

    as Racetrack Bettor on Iron Bar (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Mating Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mugsy

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1951 to 1997; peak year 1989.

Biggest box office

The Odd Couple (1968)

$45M worldwide

Highest rated

The Odd Couple (1968)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Benson (1979)

Film career

19511997

Peak 1989 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1951Screen debut· The Mating Season
  • 1979Career best· Benson
  • 1990Career best· Home Alone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting60 of 60: 60 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1950s14 · acting1960s9 · acting1970s8 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s5 · acting

Billing

usually 14th · top billed in 0% of 16 roles
5181

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Billie Bird's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 28th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

28thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Las Vegas Hillbillys (1966)

87th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Home Alone (1990)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Billie Bird work with?

People who share at least 2 of Billie Bird's MovieCove titles; Neil Simon shares the most, 2.