Biff McGuire
William Joseph McGuire Jr.; (October 25, 1926 – March 9, 2021), known as Biff McGuire, was an American actor, best known as Inspector Kramer in Nero Wolfe (1979).
Also recorded as William Joseph McGuire, Jr. · William Biff McGuire
Biff McGuire
- Name
- Biff McGuire
- Birth Name
- William Joseph McGuire Jr.
- Born
- 25 October 1926
- Birthplace
- New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
- Died
- 9 March 2021
- Spouse
- Jeannie Carson (m. 1960)
- Occupation
- Film and television actor
- Full name
- William McGuire.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
William Joseph McGuire Jr.; (October 25, 1926 – March 9, 2021), known as Biff McGuire, was an American actor, best known as Inspector Kramer in Nero Wolfe (1979).
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Biff McGuire (1926–2021) was an actor and musician, of American nationality. The actor was born William McGuire in New Haven.
Languages used include English. Works are held at Anne Frank House.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Biff McGuire • Birth Name — William Joseph McGuire Jr. • Born — 25 October 1926 • Birthplace — New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. • Died — 9 March 2021 • Spouse — Jeannie Carson (m. 1960) • Children — 2 • Occupation — Film and television actor • Years Active — 1950–2013 • Alma Mater — University of Massachusetts
Early years
Early years
McGuire attended Hamden High School and the University of Massachusetts, where he studied agricultural engineering. He acquired his nickname from playing football. McGuire left the university to join the U.S. Army. While stationed in England, he studied at Shrivenham University; while there he painted sets for and acted in a local theater's production. That experience led to a role in a play in London.
Career
Career
In a career that spanned 50 years, McGuire collected a number of theatrical credits. He debuted on Broadway in Bright Boy (1944). On October 9, 1955, McGuire starred in the episode "Number Seven, Hangman's Row" of the CBS anthology series, Appointment with Adventure. He also starred in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes "The Gentleman From America" (1956), "The Hidden Thing" (1956), "Crackpot" (1957), and "Don't Interrupt" (1958, as Larry Templeton). He appeared in such television series as The Secret Storm and All My Children. He was a regular on Herb Shriner Time (1951–1952) on ABC and portrayed Dr. Michael Malloy in the NBC drama Gibbsville (1976).
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
McGuire married English actress and singer Jeannie Carson in 1960. She starred in the CBS situation comedy Hey, Jeannie! (1956–1957). Carson co-starred with McGuire in Finian's Rainbow. Biff McGuire died on March 9, 2021, at the age of 94.
Recognition
Recognition
McGuire was nominated for two Tony Awards: • 1997 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for The Young Man From Atlanta • 2002 Actor (Featured Role—Play) for Morning's at Seven
Filmography
Filmography
• You're in the Navy Now (1951) as Sailor Messenger (uncredited) • The Phenix City Story (1955) as Fred Gage • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 31: "Gentleman from America") as Howard Latimer • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1956) (Season 1 Episode 34: "The Hidden Thing") as Dana Edwards • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1957) (Season 2 Episode 15: "Crackpot") as Ray Loomis • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1958) (Season 4 Episode 2: "Don't Interrupt") as Larry Templeton • Station Six-Sahara (1963) as Jimmy • The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) as Sandy • The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968) as Mr. Kelly • Paradise Lost (1971) as Phil Foley • The Werewolf of Washington (1973) as President • Serpico (1973) as Captain McClain • Gunsmoke (1974) as Potter season 20 episode 8 (the fourth victim) • John O'Hara's Gibbsville (a.k.a. The Turning Point of Jim Malloy) (TV movie, 1975) as Dr. Michael Malloy • Hawaii Five-O (1975 episode: "See How She Runs") as Babe Mandell • Midway (1976) as Captain Miles Browning • Gibbsville (TV series, 6 episodes, 1976) as Dr. Michael Malloy • In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (1977) as Father Tom • Child of Glass (1978) as Joe Armsworth • The Paper Chase (1979) as Smathers • The Last Word (1979) as Governor Davis • Nero Wolfe (1979) as Inspector Cramer • JAG (2000) as Admiral Caleb Stanton • Frasier (2001) as Mr. Smolenski • Hollywood Seagull (2013) as Bruce Sorensen
Theatre
Theatre
• Finian's Rainbow (1960 revival) – Broadway (Woody) • Camelot (1963) – national tour (King Arthur) • The Day Emily Married (2005) – Off-Broadway • Young Man From Atlanta (1997) – Broadway • Morning's at Seven (2002) – Broadway
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Biff McGuire was recorded at birth as William McGuire. His recorded language was English. He married Jeannie Carson.
Identity
Identity
Biff McGuire is recorded as actor and musician.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2021
Biff McGuire died.
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Auer, James. Pert Jeannie Carson, Spouse Biff McGuire Appear Monday Night. The Post-Crescent. 7. February 21, 1969.
- 2.William "Biff" McGuire, Two-Time Tony-Nominated Actor, Dies at 94, hollywoodreporter.com. Accessed May 15, 2025.
- 3.SAG-AFTRA necrology (Spring 2021). Accessed March 20, 2024.
- 4.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/william-biff-mcguire-two-time-tony-nominated-actor-dies-at-94-4160651/
- 5.Barnard, Ken. He Brought His Own Critic with Him. Detroit Free Press. 4 - B. June 7, 1963.
- 6.The Broadway League. Biff McGuire. Internet Broadway Database.
- 7.Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 390. 2011. 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- 8.The Evening News. Hyde Park Festival Theatre has celebrity-studded send-off. October 5, 1980.
- 9.William "Biff" McGuire, Two-Time Tony-Nominated Actor, Dies at 94, hollywoodreporter.com. Accessed May 15, 2025.
- 10.SAG-AFTRA necrology (Spring 2021). Accessed March 20, 2024.
- 11.Hal Erickson. Biff McGuire – Full biography. The New York Times. 2014.
- 12.Tony Awards Productions. ("Biff McGuire" search results). Tony Awards.
- 13.The Paper Chase, Season 1, Episode 22: "Scavenger Hunt" (YouTube)
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
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