My awareness of Bill also began with Great Performances showing of ' In regard of flight ' on HBO in the early 80s. Already a fan of Vaudeville history , humor, music, and stage effects...... I fell in love with the man's talent and values immediately. I recognized him in Popeye, and as Mr Noodle, but was otherwise unaware of his amazing range of celebrated performances. My sincere thanks to you for enlightening me. I must see ' Interstellar' at the earliest opportunity.
He came to my school in the 80s and performed for us at an assembly. 3 years later I recognized him in Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin... I was shocked! He's also in Popeye.
I actually have his email address. I met him 7 years ago or so while he was doing Old Hats at A.C.T. in SF and wrote him a letter to which I left my email address at the bottom and he responded to me! I email him once every six months or so. He's very kind.
Ah, I forgot he was in that. He played Ham Gravy, who was the original main character of Thimble Theatre, before he needed to hire a boat that one time. And guess whose boat Ham Gravy hired....
Brendan Fraser (who loves "clowning," physical performance, and silent acting) did an interview with Bill Irwin in a theater magazine, and he said Bill was a huge inspiration to him.
I saw 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝐹𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 on PBS in 1983 or '84, and it's still the most wonderfully hilarious thing I've ever seen. I never watched CSI, but from the brief clip here, I think Bill's character is scarier than Anthony Hopkin's Lector; not as over-the-top cartoonish, movie-monster a performance. Might be worth looking into.
