Billie Burke
Billie Burke was born Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke on August 7, 1885 in Washington, D.C. Her father was a circus clown, and as a child she toured the United States and Europe with the circus (before motion pictures and after the stage, circuses were the biggest form of entertainment in the world). One could say that Billie was bred for show business. Her family ultimately settled in London, where she was fortunate to see plays in the city's historic West End, and decided she wanted to be a stage actress. At age 18, she made her stage debut and her career was off and running. Her performances were very well received and she became one of the most popular actresses to grace the stage. Broadway beckoned, and since New York City was now recognized as the stage capital of the world, it was there she would try her luck. Billie came to New York when she was 22 and her momentum did not stop. She appeared in numerous plays and it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came calling, which is exactly what happened. She made her film debut in the lead role in Peggy (1916). The film was a hit, but then again most films were, as the novelty of motion pictures had not worn off since The Great Train Robbery (1903) at the turn of the century. Later that year, she appeared in Gloria's Romance (1916). In between cinema work, she would take her place on the stage because not only was it her first love, but she had speaking parts. Billie considered herself more than an actress--she felt she was an artist, too. She believed that the stage was a way to personally reach out to an audience, something that could not be done in pictures. In 1921, she appeared as Elizabeth Banks in The Education of Elizabeth (1921), then she retired. She had wed impresario Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. of the famed Ziegfeld Follies and, with investments in the stock market, there was no need to work. What the Ziegfelds did not plan on was "Black October" in 1929. Their stock investments were wiped out in the crash, which precipitated the Great Depression, and Billie had no choice but to return to the screen. Movies had become even bigger than ten years earlier, especially since the introduction of sound. Her first role of substance was as Margaret Fairlfield in A Bill of Divorcement (1932). As an artist, she loved the fact that she had dialog, but she had to work even harder because her husband had died the same year as her speaking debut - and work she did. One of her career highlights came as Mrs. Millicent Jordan in David O. Selznick's Dinner at Eight (1933), co-starring Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, John Barrymore and Jean Harlow - heady company to be sure, but Billie turned in an outstanding performance as Mrs. Jordan, the scatterbrained wife of a man whose shipping company is in financial trouble and who was trying to get someone to loan his company money to help stave off disaster. Her character loved to give dinner parties because a dinner affair at the Jordans had a reputation among New York blue-blood society as the highlight of the season. With all the drama and intrigue going on around her, her main concern is that she is one man short of having a full seating arrangement. The film was a hit and once again Billie was back on top. In 1937, she had one of her most fondly remembered roles in Topper (1937), a film that would ultimately spin off two sequels, and all three were box-office hits. In 1938, Billie received her first and only Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live (1938). This was probably the best performance of her screen career, but she was destined to be immortalized forever in the classic The Wizard of Oz (1939). At 54 years of age - and not looking anywhere near it - she played Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. The 1940s saw Billie busier than ever--she made 25 films between 1940 and 1949. She made only six in the 1950s, as her aging became noticeable. She was 75 when she made her final screen appearance as Cordelia Fosgate in John Ford's Western Sergeant Rutledge (1960). Billie retired for good and lived in Los Angeles, California, where she died at age 85 of natural causes on May 14, 1970.
Billie Calmeau
Billie Calmeau is known for Warm Bodies (2013), L'autre maison (2013) and Baby for Sale (2004).
Billie D. Merritt
Merritt was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her career in film, dance and music spans over 20 years, though her professional acting career began at age ten working regionally in TV and Film. Known for roles that showcase and support the amplification of Native, Indigenous and Black narratives and voices, Merritt's work ranges from Sundance Film Festival favorites, popular award-winning independent features centered on African diaspora, to network TV where her previous roles acted as representation of indigenous communities. She is most recognized for her leading role on the sequel to pop gymnastics film on Netflix titled "Full Out 2: You Got This", as AJ Jackson - a 2x National Champion and member of the 2016 Oklahoma University gymnastics team. "The Glorias", directed by Julie Taymor, is another title in which Merritt has a notable role - performing a dramatic monologue and sharing a scene with Alicia Vikander in the 2020 Gloria Steinem biopic. Merritt played the romantic interest opposite Abraham Attah in the 2020 ABFF official selection "Tazmanian Devil". She acts as the supportive sorority sister. Her vocal and musical talents are showcased as the church choir singing, line-dancing, sensual "it girl". Merritt can be seen in FOX's "Deputy" as misguided teen "Tina". She co-starred on season 1 of AMC's "The Son" and season 3 of USA's "Queen of the South"- performing exclusively in the Comanche language in "The Son". Her hobbies and specialties lie in multi-style dance, music (playing the violin and singing), training in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, fishing, hiking, figure-skating, studying languages and psychology, playing tennis, surfing and always being ready to learn, or experience a new adventure in life.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell is an American musician, singer and actress from Los Angeles. She performed hit songs such as "Bad Guy" and "No Time to Die", which was used in the James Bond film of the same name. She provided ADR for Ramona and Beezus, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and X-Men: Apocalypse.
Billie Faiers
Billie Faiers was born on January 15, 1990 in England. She is known for The Only Way Is Essex: All Back to Essex (2014), The Only Way Is Essex (2010) and The Sam & Billie Show (2021). She has been married to Greg Shepherd since March 5, 2019. They have two children.
Billie Fairchild
Billie Fairchild is known for Krisha (2015) and Krisha (2014).
Billie Gadsdon
Billie Gadsdon is known for Cruella (2021), Tales of Babylon and The Midwich Cuckoos (2022).
Billie Hayes
Billie Hayes was born August 5, 1924 in the small town of DuQuoin, Illinois. She started in show business at 9 years old as a tap dancer in local clubs. She was encouraged but not "pushed" by her parents after she expressed the desire to do so. By the time she was in her teens, Hayes had joined a 14-piece orchestra and was working throughout the Midwest. After performing her own act in Chicago, she was cast in a New York revue which toured the United States and Canada. Hayes landed a part in a Leonard Sillman Broadway production, "New Faces of 1956", at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It ran for 220 performances between June 14, 1956 and December 22, 1956. One of her songs was "The Greatest Invention". The producers of the Broadway production of "Li'l Abner" wanted her for the role of Mammy Yokum but the producers of "New Faces" wouldn't release her from her contract and the part went to Charlotte Rae (best known for playing Mrs. Garrett on the television show The Facts of Life (1979)). Hayes would later succeed Rae in the role and went on to play the part in the 1959 film version and in the 1971 television version, as well. A fellow cast member in a Las Vegas show in which Hayes was appearing recommended her to Sid Krofft, who was preparing for production for the television show H.R. Pufnstuf. Only two actresses auditioned to play "Witchiepoo". The first was then an unknown Penny Marshall, but it was felt that she was not right for the part. When Hayes auditioned for the part, she created a maniacal cackle and hopped up on a desk and was given the part on the spot. Hayes also appeared in the next Krofft brothers television show Lidsville (1971) and made other guest appearances on other live-action television shows through the rest of the 1970s and until the mid-1980s when she effectively made the transition to voice acting.
Billie J Bradford
Billie J Bradford was born in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for On My Block (2018) and All Souls (2023).
Billie J. Green
