RIP Bill Macy

‘Maude’ Star Bill Macy Dies at 97

Not to be confused with William H. Macy, he's best-known as Maude Findlay's husband in "Maude," and I also remember him in "The Jerk" ("Damn, these glasses!") and "Analyze This." Also, he had a small role at the end of the original "The Producers"; I recognized him in that movie by the voice alone.

 

Wasn’t there an SNL bit where William H. Macy kept getting confused for Bill? If not, there should have been.

 

Great run. Says he met his wife in 1969. Another long run.

Always loved him in Maude.

 

Didn't "Maude" spin off from "All in the Family?" Seems a major continuity error.

 

Eh! No big deal. It's just a case of an actor playing a bit part and then being hired later as another character. See Harry Morgan in M*A*S*H among other examples.

 

Yeah, Harry Morgan was a most egregious example.

 

It was a really common thing back then. On big shows of the 70s there would be guest actors that popped up every single season playing different characters.

 

Still happens on Law & Order.

 

Edward Winter didn’t play Col. Flagg until his second MASH appearance
In his first he also was an intelligence guy and he played him like Flagg initially but when he learned Frank got him up there for nothing, he was dealt into the poker game featuring Trapper, Hawkeye, Henry, Radar, Father Mulcahy, Sidney Freedman and Pat Morita as an ROK colonel.
He delivered maybe the greatest setup line in MASH history
Winter sits next to Klinger, tales a look and says: “Hey. Up close you’re a guy.”
Klinger: “Far away, too.”