BILLY DE WOLFE, American actor, born (d: 1974); A character actor, he was active in films from the mid-1940s until his death and was a good friend of Doris Day.

De Wolfe signed with Paramount Pictures in 1943 and became a reliable comedian. His pencil-mustached and often pompous character contrasted humorously with the films’ romantic leads. His best-known role of his Paramount tenure is probably the ham actor-turned-silent movie villain in the 1947 fictionalized Pearl White biography The Perils of Pauline. De Wolfe became known for his portrayal of fussy, petty men (“Never touch!,” he would say imperiously whenever someone accosted him physically). The New York Times review of his 1948 film Isn’t It Romantic? strongly criticized the way the other actors’ material limited their performances, contrasting their performances with his: “But Mr. De Wolfe is nothing daunted. He rips up the place with great delight. The material is at his mercy. Likewise the scenery. And he chews it to bits.”

De Wolfe was a good friend of Doris Day for over two decades, from the time of their first meeting during the filming of the 1950 musical Tea for Two until his death. Their screen chemistry in that film led to De Wolfe being quickly recast as a supporting character of Day in the 1951 production Lullaby of Broadway.

De Wolfe was different from the other comedians who played harried, effeminate, prissy characters. He had a silly mustache that became his veritable trademark at a time when most men were smooth-faced. His favorite shtick was playing middle-class matrons taking tea, and in full drag, complete with hat and polka-dotted eye-veil. With the mustache a distinctive touch of incongruity, he was really very, very funny- looking, like Alice Toklas in late middle age, only better dressed.