William Warren Bush (born November 7, 1935) is an American actor usually credited as Billy Green Bush, and sometimes as Billy Greenbush.

Billy Green Bush
Born
William Warren Bush

(1935-11-07) November 7, 1935 (age 89)
Other namesBilly Greenbush
OccupationActor
SpouseCarole Kay
ChildrenClay, Lindsay, Sidney

Typecast

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Bush is a character actor, typically projecting in his screen appearances the good-ol'-boy image. He portrays mostly sheriffs and state troopers, although in his repertoire there are the occasional villains.[1]

Film

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Bush's film work includes appearances in The Savage Seven (1968), Five Easy Pieces (1970), Monte Walsh (1970), The Jesus Trip (1971), The Organization (1971), Welcome Home, Soldier Boys (1972), The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972), 40 Carats (1973), Electra Glide in Blue (1973)[2] where his performance caused some critics to characterize his screen persona as "irrepressibly unique";[3] Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Mackintosh and T.J. (1975), The Call of the Wild (1976), The Beasts Are on the Streets (1978), The Jericho Mile (1979), Tom Horn (1980), The River (1984), The Hitcher (1986), Critters (1986), Rampage (1987) and Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993).[4]

Television

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Bush has appeared frequently on television, including a recurring role as Bobby Angel on Hill Street Blues and an episode of M*A*S*H, in which his character, “Cowboy”, tries to kill commanding officer Henry Blake.[4]

He twice portrayed Vernon Presley, the father of Elvis Presley, first in the 1988 TV movie Elvis and Me, which was based on the 1985 memoir of the same name by Presley's ex-wife Priscilla, and then in the short-lived weekly series Elvis in 1990.[5][6]

Personal life

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Bush is the father of twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (retired child actresses who alternately starred as Carrie in Little House on the Prairie) and actor Clay Greenbush.[4]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Biography, The New York Times; accessed September 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Greenspun, Roger (August 20, 1973). "Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Screen: Guercio's 'Electra Glide in Blue' Arrives:Director Makes Debut With a Mystery The Cast Police Officer Tracks Recluse's Killer". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Riding shotgun: Review of Electra Glide in Blue, DVD Outsider
  4. ^ a b c Billy Green Bush at IMDb
  5. ^ Bio Rotten Tomatoes
  6. ^ "Quality production fails to ignite audience", Elvis InfoNet, February 1, 2013.
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