John Hillerman

Birthplace: Dennison, Texas
Birthday: December 21, 1932

Uptight, diminutive, mustachioed, often "veddy" (though faux) British and unfailingly urbane, the Texas-born Hillerman created this classic supporting character for 1970s TV. After making an impression as arrogant 1940s radio show detective Simon Brimmer on the NBC revival of "Ellery Queen" (NBC, 1975-76), he further refined the character as the cold fish boss of Bonnie Franklin during the 1976-77 season of the long-running CBS sitcom "One Day at a Time". (He always addressed Franklin as "M S Romano".) Hillerman fared well trading sarcastic qui…more

Full Biography

Credits

Actor

Gossip
Mr Dempster; the editor
Hands of a Murderer
Dr John Watson
Magnum, P.I.
Jonathan Higgins
The Betty White Show
John Elliott
Beane's of Boston
John Peacock

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Career Milestones

1996
Had small role in "A Very Brady Sequel"
1990
Portrayed Dr. John Watson (to Edward Woodward's Sherlock Holmes) in the CBS TV-movie "Hands of a Murderer"
1982
TV miniseries debut, "Little Gloria . . . Happy at Last"
1975
Played pompous radio show detective-cum-amateur criminologist Simon Brimmer in "Too Many Suspects", the TV-movie pilot for the NBC revival of "Ellery Queen"
1971
Feature debut, Bogdanovich's "The Last Picture Show"; first of four collaborations with the filmmaker