Bill Daily, Comic Foil on 'I Dream of Jeannie' and 'The Bob Newhart Show,' Dies at 91

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Hollywood Reporter

He started out as a bass player and a stage manager on live television before getting big breaks from Mike Douglas and Steve Allen.

Bill Daily, the funnyman known for his supporting work on the sitcoms I Dream of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show, has died. He was 91.

Daily, who employed Bob Newhart as his accountant in Chicago before the two went on to show-business fame, died Tuesday of natural causes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, his son, J. Patrick Daily, told The Hollywood Reporter.

A self-described "second banana," Daily spent five seasons (and 131 episodes) on NBC's I Dream of Jeannie, which aired from 1965-70, then worked for six seasons (and 140 episodes) on CBS' The Bob Newhart Show, which ran from 1972-78. The whole time, he battled dyslexia and had to memorize all his lines to keep going.

Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-daily-dead-i-dream-jeannie-newhart-show-star-was-91-939514

[area51]

1. RIP

[Rhiannon12866]

2. The Bob Newhart Show: The Infamous Thanksgiving Episode (1972)

[Auggie]

6. Season Four, aired in November 1975 ...

My favorite episode, perhaps the best of the series. I saw it when it originally aired.

Bill Daily was wonderful. Not just in this episode but all of them. He under-played the part of Borden IMO, keeping the eccentric character lovable, not annoying. Since Newhart's comedy was just a subdued and nuanced they made a great team.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. Classic scene!!

RIP Bill!

[peekaloo]

14. I loved this one!

Still funny today.

another favorite was when Howard was trying to win over his son on the prospect of him marrying Bob's sister and they go to an ice cream parlor. Bob was the odd man out on ordering and got humiliated when his order was served. "Single scooper, single scooper, this man is a party pooper!"

RIP Mr. Daily.

[hlthe2b]

3. Ohhh... IDOJ and Bewitched were such classic shows from the period. Daily was perfect with Larry

Hagman and of course Barbara Eden in "Jeanie"...

I liked him in Bob Newhart show as well.

RIP You brought a lot of pleasure and will continue to in "reruns"...

[Coventina]

4. I loved him in both!

RIP, sir

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Wow R.I.P.

I didn't think too many of the old cast of these shows were still around.

Loved "I Dream of Jeannie" although haven't seen episodes in years and years.

R.I.P. and condolences to his family!

[lostnfound]

8. RIP We enjoyed your character.

He added his own appeal to those shows.

[marble falls]

9. The best second banana on TV. He was much missed before his passing.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. R.I.P.

[turbinetree]

11. Bill Daily a veteran ............................

[rickford66]

12. I will retire my padded coat hangers out of respect.

RIP Bill.

[HoosierDebbie]

13. I was lucky enough to speak with him on numerous occasions.

I used to work in a store in Albuquerque NM that Mr. Daily and his wife would frequent, between 10 and 15 years ago. He was friendly and very down-to-earth, and would visit with employees while he waited for his wife to look around. The majority of people probably didn't even realize who he was, because he seemed like such a regular guy. He may not have known names, but there were several of us that he always acknowledged. I was thrilled to get to talk to him about everyday things. RIP.

[keopeli]

15. I'm so sad to see American's who not only were famous but were in the Armed Forces pass away. RIP

[Tikki]

16. Mr. Daily and a very beautiful wife were in line in front of us at...

Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood to see the movie Silent Running (1972).

They were the first notable people I saw up close after moving to So Cal. He looked so casual.

I was aware of how much he must have felt at home there.

Tikki

[ellie]

17. I loved him

RIP

[B Stieg]

18. RiP Bill!

Grew up watching Daily's original wingman in "Jeannie" and then again on Bob Newhart.
Always enjoyed his work.

[TomSlick]

19. I loved him In 'Jeannie" and "Newhart.'

More of my youth dying.

[lunamagica]

20. RIP

[BigmanPigman]

21. My dad always laughed at the description of his brother

on the Bob Newhart Show..."Gorden Borden, the Game Warden".