Bill Mumy

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his nearly five-hour Archive interview, Bill Mumy discusses his early years in television, recalling roles on live shows and series like National Velvet. He describes acting in three different episodes of the classic anthology series The Twilight Zone, including "It's a Good Life", which is generally regarded as one of the series very best. He recounts his less than ideal experience working with Alfred Hitchcock on Alfred Hitchcock Presents in the classic episode "Bang, You're Dead." Mumy then details his three-year run as "Will Robinson" on the science fiction series Lost in Space, discussing the evolution of the show from serious space drama to camp and sharing what it was like to be, along with Jonathan Harris as "Dr. Smith", the breakout star of the show. He talks about playing "Lennier" on Babylon 5 and speaks to the unusual amount of input he had in creating the character and the character's story arcs. Mumy describes the children's series he created for Nickelodeon, Space Cases and concludes by discussing the novelty song "Fish Heads" from his band Barnes and Barnes, which premiered on Saturday Night Live in 1980. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on September 3, 2013 in North Hollywood, California. 

"There was such variety in the opportunities of playing all these different characters. The sick kid on 'Ben Casey,' the evil mutant in 'The Twilight Zone,' the little brat in 'Bewitched.' It was a great opportunity to learn a craft, even if you're a little kid and you're not thinking about learning a craft."

People Talking About ...
Bill Mumy
Highlights
Bill Mumy on his experiences with NASA and schooling on the set of Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on "Will Robinson's" relationship with "Dr. Smith" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on his attempt to launch a Lost in Space reunion show
Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone  episode "It's a Good Life"
Bill Mumy on the process of putting on the make-up for "Lennier" on Babylon 5
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his interests growing up; on his early primetime television work
On acting in live television; on appearing on the series National Velvet; on his acting style
On his education on the set; on his commercial work
On acting in the Twilight Zone episode "Long Distance Call"; on acting in the Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life"; on acting in the Twilight Zone episode "In Praise of Pip"

Chapter 2
On acting in Alfred Hitchcock Presents
On working with Lucille Ball on Desilu Playhouse; on turning down the role of "Eddie" on The Munsters; on appearing on Bewitched, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and I Dream of Jeannie
On getting the role of "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space; on working with Guy Williams and Irwin Allen on Lost in Space; on the plot and tone of the show
On his experiences with NASA and schooling on the set of Lost in Space; on his Lost in Space character "Will Robinson"

Chapter 3
On the wardrobe of Lost in Space; on playing guitar and singing on Lost in Space; on a typical production week for the show
On the special effects of Lost in Space; on the robot on Lost in Space; on the show focusing on "Will Robinson" and "Dr. Smith"
On working with Guy Williams and June Lockhart on Lost in Space
On working with Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, and Angela Cartwright on Lost in Space

Chapter 4
On "Will Robinson's" relationship with "Dr. Smith" on Lost in Space and "Debbie the Bloop"; on doing promotion for Lost in Space and his public image; on his favorite episode of the show and his efforts to launch a Lost in Space reunion
On various post- Lost in Space projects; on guest-starring on The Rockford Files; on his Emmy nomination for writing the music for Adventures in Wonderland
On being cast as "Lennier" on Babylon 5; on the make-up process of becoming "Lennier" on Babylon 5; on the development of "Lennier" on the show
On the story arc of his Babylon 5 character "Lennier"; on the atmosphere on the set of Babylon 5

Chapter 5
On the experience of filming Babylon 5; on the fans of Babylon 5; on the legacy of the show
On doing voiceover for the series Biography; on his children's series, Space Cases
On guest-starring on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; on his novelty song "Fish Heads" and his music career
On his proudest achievements and regrets; on where he sees himself in the future
Shows

Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The

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Bill Mumy on appearing on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

Adventures of Superman

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Bill Mumy on his interests growing up

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

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Bill Mumy on acting in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Bang, You're Dead"

Babylon 5

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Bill Mumy on being cast on Babylon 5
Bill Mumy on accepting the role of "Lennier" on Babylon 5 
Bill Mumy on the process of putting on the make-up for "Lennier" on Babylon 5
Bill Mumy on the development of his Babylon 5 character "Lennier"
Bill Mumy on the story arc of his Babylon 5 character "Lennier"
Bill Mumy on his "Lennier" costume and the atmosphere on the set of Babylon 5
Bill Mumy on the experience of filming and his favorite season of Baylon 5
Bill Mumy on the fans of Babylon 5
Bill Mumy on the legacy of Babylon 5

Bewitched

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Bill Mumy on appearing on Bewitched

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Bill Mumy on writing music for Adventures in Wonderland  and his Emmy nomination

I Dream of Jeannie

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Bill Mumy on appearing on I Dream of Jeannie

Loretta Young Show, The

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Bill Mumy on acting on The Loretta Young Show

Lost in Space

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Bill Mumy on being cast as "Will Robinson" in Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with Guy Williams and Irwin Allen on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on the plot and tone of Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on his experiences with NASA and schooling on the set of Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on his Lost in Space character "Will Robinson"
Bill Mumy on his Lost in Space character "Will Robinson"
Bill Mumy on the wardrobe of Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on his interest in playing music and playing his guitar on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on what it was like on the set of Lost in Space and a typical production week
Bill Mumy on the special effects of Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on the robot on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on the focal point of Lost in Space shifting from the family to "Will Robinson" and "Dr. Smith"
Bill Mumy on working with Guy Williams as "John Robinson" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with June Lockhart as "Maureen Robinson" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with Mark Goddard as "Don West" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with Marta Kristen as "Judy Robinson" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with Angela Cartwright as "Penny Robinson" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on "Will Robinson's" relationship with "Dr. Smith" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on "Debbie the Bloop" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on doing promotion for Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on "Will Robinson" and his public image
Bill Mumy on his favorite Lost in Space episode 
Bill Mumy on his attempt to launch a Lost in Space reunion show

Munsters, The

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Bill Mumy on turning down a role on The Munsters

Riverboat

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Bill Mumy on his early primetime television work

Rockford Files, The

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Bill Mumy on guest-starring on The Rockford Files

Romper Room

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Bill Mumy on his interests growing up

Saturday Night Live

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Bill Mumy on his music career and the novelty song "Fish Heads"

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

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Bill Mumy on appearing on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Twilight Zone, The

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Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone episode "Long Distance Call"
Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life"
Bill Mumy on appearing in the Twilight Zone episode "In Praise of Pip"

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

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Bill Mumy on working with Lucille Ball on Desilu Playhouse

Zorro

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Bill Mumy on his interests growing up
Topics

Advertising and Sponsorship

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Bill Mumy on doing commercials 

Characters & Catchphrases

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Bill Mumy on his Lost in Space character "Will Robinson"

Classic TV series episodes

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Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone  episode "It's a Good Life"
Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone  episode "Long Distance Call"

Emmy Awards

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Bill Mumy on writing music for Adventures in Wonderland  and his Emmy nomination

Pop Culture

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Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone  episode "It's a Good Life"
Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone  episode "Long Distance Call"
Bill Mumy on his Lost in Space character "Will Robinson"

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

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Bill Mumy on acting on The Twilight Zone

Television Industry

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Bill Mumy on doing commercials 
Professions

Actor

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Bill Mumy on the kinds of roles he got as a child actor and his acting style

Performers

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Bill Mumy on the kinds of roles he got as a child actor and his acting style
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

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Bill Mumy on acting on The Twilight Zone
Bill Mumy on acting in Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Commercials

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Bill Mumy on doing commercials

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

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Bill Mumy on playing "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space  (Part One)
Bill Mumy on playing "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space (Part Two)
Bill Mumy on playing "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space (Part Three) 
Bill Mumy on playing "Lennier" on Babylon 5  (Part One)
Bill Mumy on playing "Lennier" on Babylon 5 (Part Two)
People

Irwin Allen

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Bill Mumy on being cast as "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space
Bill Mumy on working with Guy Williams and Irwin Allen on Lost in Space

Lucille Ball

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Bill Mumy on working with Lucille Ball on Desilu Playhouse

James Garner

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Bill Mumy on guest-starring on The Rockford Files

Jonathan Harris

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Bill Mumy on what it was like on the set of Lost in Space and a typical production week
Bill Mumy on the focal point of Lost in Space  shifting from the family to "Will Robinson" and "Dr. Smith"

Alfred Hitchcock

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Bill Mumy on acting in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "Bang, You're Dead"

Cloris Leachman

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Billy Mumy on acting on The Loretta Young Show

June Lockhart

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Bill Mumy on working with June Lockhart as "Maureen Robinson" on Lost in Space

Rod Serling

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Bill Mumy on appearing in the classic Twilight Zone episode "Long Distance Call"

Jimmy Stewart

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Bill Mumy on being cast as "Will Robinson" on Lost in Space

Loretta Young

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Bill Mumy on acting on The Loretta Young Show

All Interviews

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