Billy Wells

Billy Wells was born on December 7, 1931 in Menominee, Michigan, the adopted son in a long-time lumber family by John and Dorothy (Tilly) Wells. He was briefly an actor on four television programs: on Colt .45 (1959), Bat Masterson (1961), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1961), and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962). Prior to becoming an actor he was an outstanding athlete (football, basketball, and track) and played football at Menominee High. His varsity football team won two mythical Upper Peninsula championships and attained a three-year record of 19-4-1. Wells, a halfback for Clarence "Biggie" Munn's Michigan State team, scored two touchdowns--one a 62-yard punt return in the fourth quarter-- in the Spartans' 28-20 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl 38 years ago. Michigan State had rallied from a 14-0 deficit before a crowd of 101,100. He was drafted in the 5th round (56th) in the 1954 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins (1954-57). He also later played professionally (halfback) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1957), Philadelphia Eagles (1958), and ended his career in 1960 with the AFL Boston Patriots. Wells holds the Washington Redskins record for the longest run from scrimmage (88 yards). Before he began acting Wells founded and led a Southern California Dixieland band called Billy and His Bachelors. He played banjo and did the vocals. After his acting experience he worked as a Chicago sportscaster and produced movie shorts, then as a field supervisor for a security guard company.