« I Dream of Jeannie » actor Bill Daily, who played Army Maj. Roger Healey in the popular 1960s sitcom, and who also played neighbor Howard Borden on « The Bob Newhart Show, » has died at the age of 91, his son said.
His father loved New Mexico, Daily said.
« One of his favorite ethos in life was, ‘Happiness is a decision that you make’ and he made the decision to be a happy guy, » Patrick says.
Daily also appeared on 140 episodes of « The Bob Newhart Show, » according to the Internet Movie Database.
Bill Daily told Larry King in 2003 that he was a standup comedian when « I Dream of Jeannie » was being cast and he was originally set to play a character of « My Mother the Car. »
« And I said, ‘Well, I’ll do it.’ I didn’t know what it was, » he told King. « He said, Well, I can’t because you’re going to do — they changed the whole thing around, and you’re — you’re going to — they sold « I Dream of Jeannie, » and you’re on it. That’s how I found out. »
Daily played an Army captain, later a major, in the space program, the funny sidekick to Larry Hagman’s Air Force Maj. Tony Nelson, on « Jeannie. » The title character, a 2,000-year-old genie, was played by Barbara Eden.
« Our favorite zany astronaut, Bill Daily has passed, » Eden tweeted. « Billy was wonderful to work with. He was a funny, sweet man that kept us all on our toes. I’m so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy, xo -B #RIPBillDaily. »
The show ran for five seasons, from 1965 to 1970, and aired many years in syndication.
On « The Bob Newhart Show, » Healy played the nervous neighbor and airline navigator Howard Borden.
« It was great. And Bob is not only the nicest, sweetest guy in the world, he is a comic genius. But I hated working with him because he doesn’t like to rehearse. He’s very quick and very bright, and I’m very slow, » he told King in 2003, with his typical humor at the end.
Newhart said he had known Daily for about 60 years.
« He and I were both trying to get into standup, » Newhart tweeted after news of Daily’s death. « Later, he joined the Bob Newhart Show. He was our bullpen guy – you could always go to him. He was one of the most positive people I’ve ever known. I will miss him dearly. »
Daily’s son said his father lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 30 years in a high rise that overlooks the Sandia Mountains.
« Every time I would come over he would say, ‘Look at that view of the Sandia Mountains. Isn’t it gorgeous?' »
He recently moved to Santa Fe.
Patrick Daily said he was happy he will carry on his father’s enduring wit.
« For me growing up with him, he gave me a great set of values of course, but, the best thing I got from my father was a sense of humor. I got his sense of humor, » Patrick said.
