Bill Erwin

Prolific stage and screen actor Bill Erwin earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a masters in theater arts from California's Pasadena Playhouse. He then served as an Air Force captain in World War II. Returning to Hollywood to pursue acting, he also worked as ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's touring stage manager. Erwin booked his first film, "You're in the Army Now" with Phil Silvers, in 1941. In the 1950s and 1960s, Erwin accumulated a raft of TV credits, including spots on the comedy show "The Andy Griffith Show" and the eerie anthology series "Twilight Zone," while continuing to act in films. A frequent collaborator with John Hughes, Erwin has made several cameos in films such as "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." Erwin's TV stardom continued to climb into the 1980s and 1990s with roles on "Seinfeld" as Jerry's "Foster-Grandpa" and on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," where he played Dr. Dalen Quaice. While continuing to guest star on TV and in film, earning over 200 credits, Erwin channeled his passion for words into a children's book.