Who doesn’t remember Billy Mumy, that iconic child actor who starred in the CBS sci-fi television series “Lost in Space” from 1965 to 1968? I remember him playing the role of heroic boy astronaut Will Robinson, son of Professor John and Dr. Maureen Robinson (played by Guy Williams and June Lockhart respectively). Billy was only a year younger than me when he played the youngest of the three Robinson children, starring opposite Angela Cartwright as Penny and Marta Kristen as Judy. Rounding out the cast were Mark Goddard as Major Don West, Bob May as Robot, and Jonathan Harris as Dr. Zachary Smith, the pompous spaceship stowaway. I never missed an episode!
Billy was a multi-talented child actor of the 1960s whose prolific entertainment career began at the age of five. I have always been a big fan. I’ll never forget his appearance in the March 1961 episode of “The Twilight Zone” titled “Long Distance Call,” in which he plays a boy named Billy Bayles who talks to his dead grandmother through a toy telephone. I can still hear Rod Serling’s closing narration:
‘A toy telephone, an act of faith, a set of improbable circumstances, all combine to probe a mystery, to fathom a depth, to send a facet of light into a dark after-region, to be believed or disbelieved depending on your frame of reference. A fact or fantasy, a substance or a shadow, but all of it very much a part of the “Twilight Zone.”’
“Long Distance Call” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
Who remembers when Billy was cast in October 1961 on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” as pistol-toting protagonist little Jackie in the episode “Bang! You’re Dead,” featuring Marta Kristen, who later played his sister Judy on “Lost in Space?” I do. Hitchcock directed this one and his closing narration as host still echoes in my mind:
‘On rare occasions, we have stories on this program which do not lend themselves to levity. "Bang! You're Dead" is a case in point. We only hope that this play has dramatized for parents the importance of keeping firearms and ammunition out of reach of children. Accidents of this type occur far too frequently nowadays and the tragic fact is that with proper precaution, it could be avoided. That is all for tonight. Please join us next week when we shall return with another story. Until then, good night.’
“Bang! You’re Dead” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
With puberty on the horizon, Billy was cast in the 1965 film “Dear Brigitte” as Erasmus Leaf, a child mathematical genius who develops a crush on Brigitte Bardot (played by herself in the film). Who didn’t have a crush on Bardot?! James Stewart and Glynis Johns starred as his parents in director Henry Koster’s film adaptation of the novel “Erasmus with Freckles.”
“Dear Brigitte” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
So Billy, like me, was growing up. He was one of a few successful child actors who transitioned into an adult career that was less public but perhaps even more successful as he continued to appear in TV shows and movies. After “Lost in Space” ended in 1968, Billy was cast in the sentimental 1969 Disney film, “Rascal,” which was based on Sterling North’s 1963 memoir of the same name. Director Norman Tokar’s film was set in 1918 Wisconsin. Billy portrayed Sterling North, a lonely teenager with a pet raccoon, a ring-tailed rapscallion named Rascal.
“Rascal” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
I was a junior in high school when 17-year-old Billy Mumy starred in the 1971 film “Bless the Beasts and Children.” He played Teft, the leader of a group of misfit teenage boys on a crusade to save a herd of bison from hunters while away at summer camp. I went to see director Stanley Kramer’s film mainly because I loved The Carpenters, who sang the theme song bearing the same name as the film (Oscar nominee for Best Original Song). But I also wanted to see a grown-up Billy Mumy who, with maturity, was now being credited as Bill Mumy.
“Bless the Beasts & Children” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
By the time Bill appeared in 1973’s “Papillon,” starring Steve McQueen as Henri Charrière and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega, he was already a young man of 19 and I was attending college. Bill was cast as Lariot, a young and frail prisoner who is shot by a prison guard shortly after arriving in Guiana where he dives from the quay into the sea in a desperate attempt to escape. The screenplay for director Franklin J. Schaffner’s prison drama was based on the 1969 autobiography by the French convict Henri Charrière. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score.
“Papillon” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
Having graduated from high school, Bill went into early retirement as an actor and pursued a musical career as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. He concentrated on recording and touring with Redwood, one of several rock bands he sang and played with during the 70s and 80s. As Bill matured he acted only occasionally, devoting most of his time in the 90s to voiceovers for cartoons and commercials and performing as one-half of the music duo Barnes and Barnes. Bill received an Emmy nomination in 1991/1992 for his original song composition for “Adventures in Wonderland” for Disney. He wrote 105 songs for 100 episodes. Then between 1994 and 1998, Mumy returned to television and played the role of ambassadorial aide Lennier in all five seasons of the syndicated science fiction series “Babylon 5.” Commenting on his multifaceted career, Bill said, “I’m very lucky to work in so many different arenas of the entertainment industry and I do enjoy them all, but making music – original music – in the studio or live onstage is definitely my favorite thing to do.”
“Babylon 5” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
Through the years Bill has shared my love of comic books and superheroes: ‘From the age of four I was a huge comic fan and still am. When "Lost in Space" came along it was like being in a huge comic, so we jumped at the chance of being part of that project and it proved to be a good choice. It was watching George Reeves as Superman when I was 3 and 4 years old, along with Guy Williams as Zorro that inspired me to "get inside the TV" and drive my parents crazy to make that happen in the first place...’ For me it was such a thrill to see Superman, my favorite superhero, leap from the pages of my comic books to the small screen (and later the big screen). Superman’s words of wisdom inspired me to pursue my artistic dreams: “It’s not about where you were born or the powers you have or what you wear on your chest; it’s about what you do. Do good to others and every man can be a Superman. There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape.”
“Supermumy: Homage to Superman” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
In the 60s I remember rushing to the local drug stores and searching frantically through the comic book stands for the latest Superman issues. Spending 10 or 12 cents for each comic was a lot of money to me at the time, but I wanted to start my own comic book collection. At home I spent a lot of time drawing Superman and his family, friends, foes, and fellow superheroes. Bill had been collecting comics since he was 5 years old and in 1986 began writing them. By 2013 he was the co-creator and writer of Bluewater Productions’ “Curse of the Mumy,” a comic book version of Bill Mumy who saves the world one mission at a time by enlisting the services of avatars representing his many past lives from TV, film, and music. Impressive undertaking for Bill…just wish he could have done something about the price inflation.
Original “Curse of the Mumy” Cover from Bluewater Comics
In 2018 Bill Mumy made a cameo at the end of the first episode of the Netflix reboot of “Lost in Space,” which played out like the 1965 pilot episode, “No Place to Hide.” But long gone was the 11-year-old pre-adolescent Mumy who played Will Robinson in the original Irwin Allen series. This time 64-year-old Mumy was cast as a character named Dr. Z. Smith, clearly paying homage to the character played by Jonathan Harris in the 1965 television series. Mumy had come full circle in a reimagining of the space adventure that had made him famous over 50 years ago.
“Lost in Space” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
‘from “Lost in Space” to Mumy Music’ Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN
At this point you may be asking yourself, “What’s happening right now with Bill Mumy?” “Good Grief,” that’s what! “Good Grief…the brand new solo album...written, performed, recorded and produced by Bill Mumy...Hard Hitting songs for Hard Hitting times...” was released in December of 2020. The design and layout were done by Angela Cartwright, who played his sister on “Lost in Space,” using a photo taken by Mumy almost 50 years ago and hand-tinted by Cartwright. Released during the 2020 pandemic, Mumy noted: “This is a fully produced ambitious album. I’m grateful to have a recording studio and instruments I can play and I’m especially appreciative that the muse continues to visit and inspire me... Especially during this stressful year where we’ve been pretty much alone at home.” Bill remains very productive these days, and I have to say “Mumy music” is worth checking out.
“Good Grief” Album Cover Design by Angela Cartwright
And if “Good Grief” wasn’t enough to round out 2020, Bill also created “Bill Mumy’s Real Good 2021 Calendar” featuring some of his paintings done during the pandemic. “I painted a lot this year [2020]. My multi-talented iconic pal Angela Cartwright suggested turning some of my artwork into a calendar, so we did. It’s a very limited edition and I’ve signed them. Personally, I’m ready to start a new year!” Mumy’s first batch of calendars sold out quickly, which was a nice way to start off 2021.
“Bill Mumy’s Real Good 2021 Calendar” and 2020 Art
So as Bill Mumy and I ease into our senior years, remember there are more great adventures to come for both of us…mine with RDEnochs DESIGN and Bill with any one of his many talents. It makes me think of how the “Lost in Space” episodes used to conclude in a “live action freeze” or a cliffhanger anticipating the following week, with the ominous promise: “To Be Continued NEXT WEEK! SAME TIME SAME CHANNEL.”
Stay tuned!
“Life Goes On” Poster by RDEnochs DESIGN