Biography
most particularly "The Match Game". more than a few may not be aware of his distinguished stage career as both actor and director. The Bronx-born, Connecticut-raised performer got his start in summer theater in 1950. Honing his craft in numerous productions and under the tutelage of Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen, Reilly was more than prepared when he made his NYC in a 1956 revival of the musical "Best Foot Forward". In 1960, he was featured in …
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Career Milestones
| After college, moved to NYC to pursue acting career | ||
| After his father suffered a nervous breakdown, moved with family to Hartford, Connecticut; sent to live with grandparents; lived in 2 1/2 room apartment with six other people and no heat or hot water | ||
| Born and raised in the Bronx | ||
| Made TV debut on the CBS variety series "Talent Scouts" | ||
| Worked in cabaret in Manhattan partnered with Eileen Brennan as "Brennan and Reilly" | ||
1944 | Attended a circus where a fire broke out that eventually killed 167 members of the audience; Reilly was unharmed | |
1950 | Stage debut in summer stock production of "Broken Dishes" in Tiverton, Rhode Island | |
1951 | Often performed in summer stock productions in New Jersey, Missouri and upstate New York | |
1956 | Made NYC stage debut in the revival of "Best Foot Forward" | |
1957 | Film acting debut "A Face in the Crowd" | |
1960 | Understudied both Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde in the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie" | |
1961 | Breakthrough stage role as Bud Frump in the award-winning musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"; won Tony Award | |
1964 | Had major supporting role of Cornelius Hackel in "Hello, Dolly!"; played opposite Eileen Brennan as Irene Malloy; received Tony Award nomination | |
1965 | Played supporting role in the short-lived musical "Skyscraper", starring Julie Harris | |
1965 | TV debut as series regular on the short-lived CBS variety program "The Steve Lawrence Show" | |
1967 | Last film for over 15 years, "The Tiger Makes Out" | |
1968 | Co-starred as Clayton Gregg, the owner of a haunted cottage, on the sitcom version of "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" (NBC, 1968-1969; ABC 1969-1970); received Emmy nomination in 1970 | |
1970 | Hosted the summer variety show "The Golddigers in London" (NBC) | |
1971 | Joined the cast of the CBS sitcom "Arnie" as a TV chef, 'The Giddyap Gourmet' | |
1971 | Played the evil magician Who Doo on the children's series "Lidsville" (ABC, NBC) | |
1971 | Was a regular on the syndicated "The Golddiggers" | |
1973 | Appeared as a regular panelist on the CBS game show "The Match Game" | |
1975 | Had title role in "Uncle Croc's Block" (ABC), a spoof of children's programming | |
1976 | Stage directing breakthrough, the one-person show "The Belle of Amherst", starring Julie Harris | |
1980 | Appeared opposite Uta Hagen in "Charlotte" on Broadway | |
1980 | Voiced Fran Frankenstone on the NBC animated show "The Flintstone Funnies" | |
1983 | Returned to films in "Cannonball Run II" | |
1988 | Hosted "Sweethearts", a syndicated game show | |
1989 | First collaboration with animator Don Bluth, providing character voice for "All Dogs Go to Heaven" | |
1990 | Acted in the ABC TV-movie "Grand Theft Hotel", an installment of "B.L. Styker", starring Burt Reynolds | |
1990 | Helmed episodes of the CBS sitcom "Evening Shade" | |
1990 | Made guest appearance on an episode of Reynolds' sitcom "Evening Shade" | |
1991 | Directed Piper Laurie in the one-person show "The Last Flapper", about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald | |
1996 | Introduced the character of author Jose Chung in an episode of the Fox series "The X-Files" written by Darin Morgan | |
1997 | Played Jose Chung in an episode of the short-lived CBS sitcom "Meego" | |
1997 | Staged Broadway revival of the Pulitzer-winning "The Gin Game", starring Julie Harris and Charles Durning; received Tony nomination as Best Director | |
1998 | Directed Ruby Dee's solo show "My One Good Nerve--A Visit With Ruby Dee" | |
1998 | Reprised role of Jose Chung in an episode of the Fox drama "Millennium" written and directed by Darin Morgan; received Emmy nomination | |
1999 | Acted with Julie Harris in the children's film "First of May", also featuring Jo Di Maggio (filmed in 1997); screened at the Cleveland Film Festival | |
1999 | Received third Emmy nomination for guest appearance on "The Drew Carey Show" (ABC) | |
1999 | Voiced 'The Dirty Bubble' on the animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants" (Nickelodeon) | |
2000 | Headlined one-man show "Save It for the Stage: The Life of Reilly", marking his 50 years in show business | |
2001 | Appeared in the Reprise! staging of "Strike Up the Band" in L.A. | |
2007 | Appeared in "The Life of Reilly," a feature documentary based on his stage show; film released after his death | |
Awards
1962 | Tony Award for Actor, Supporting or Featured (Musical) |
1970 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance By an Actor In a Supporting Role in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Drama Series in Millennium |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in The Drew Carey Show |