Billy Chapin obit

Billy Chapin, Child Actor in ‘The Night of the Hunter,’ Dies at 72

His sister, Lauren Chapin, announced the news Saturday afternoon, citing a long illness as the cause of death.

 

He was not on the list.

Billy Chapin, a former child actor best known for starring opposite Robert Mitchum in 1955’s The Night of the Hunter, has died. He was 72.

His sister Lauren Chapin, also a child star who appeared on the sitcom Father Knows Best, announced the news Saturday afternoon in a Facebook post.

“It is with a saddened heart that I say goodbye to my precious brother Billy Chapin,” her message, posted to her personal page, reads. “He passed away last night after a long illness but now is in the arms of his Savior. … He will be greatly missed.”

Chapin got his start as an infant, appearing in uncredited roles in such films sasch 1944’s Casanova Brown and 1946’s The Cockeyed Miracle before making his stage debut in the Broadway musical Three Wishes for Jamie.

The young actor landed his big break starring alongside Dan Dailey, Anne Bancroft and Lloyd Bridges as “Diaper Manager” Christie Cooper in 1953’s The Kid From Left Field. He is best remembered for his role as young John Harper in Charles Laughton’s film noir Night of the Hunter.

Chapin last appeared on the TV series Fury, which ended its run in 1959.

He also played the young Steve Donahue in There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954.) MM fans may recall an early scene where Steve and his younger brother are caught trying to run away from boarding school. The older Steve was played by Johnnie Ray.

He also is survived by his brother Michael Chapin.

A memorial service for family, friends and fans will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 26 at the Monroe Street Christian Church at 4160 Monroe St. in Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Salvation Army.

Actor (37 credits)

 1956-1959 Fury (TV Series)

Vic Rockwell / Louis Baxter Jr. / Lewis Baxter

- The Rocketeers (1959) ... Vic Rockwell

- The Test (1956) ... Louis Baxter Jr.

- The Boy Scout Story (1956) ... Lewis Baxter

 1959 Leave It to Beaver (TV Series)

Pete Fletcher

- The Grass Is Always Greener (1959) ... Pete Fletcher

 1958 The Californians (TV Series)

Joey

- The Marshal (1958) ... Joey

 1958 The Adventures of McGraw (TV Series)

Tommy Cassady

- Friend of the Court (1958) ... Tommy Cassady

 1954-1957 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)

Buddy / Gaston / Jeremy

- Old Witch, Old Witch (1957) ... Buddy

- The Last Confession (1955) ... Gaston

- Pick of the Litter (1954) ... Jeremy

 1957 Panic! (TV Series)

Tommy Williams

- The Boy (1957) ... Tommy Williams

 1957 Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series)

Billy Morrison

- Black Creek Encounter (1957) ... Billy Morrison

 1957 The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series)

Billy Curran

- Ringside Seat (1957) ... Billy Curran

 1955-1956 Crossroads (TV Series)

Jerry / Tommy Langley

- Tenement Saint (1956) ... Jerry

- The Gambler (1955) ... Tommy Langley

 1956 Telephone Time (TV Series)

Charles Faulk, Jr.

- Vicksburg, 5:35 PM (1956) ... Charles Faulk, Jr.

 1956 Tension at Table Rock

Jody Burrows

 1956 Climax! (TV Series)

Billy

- A Trophy for Howard Davenport (1956) ... Billy

 1956 TV Reader's Digest (TV Series)

Christopher Kent

- Lost, Strayed, and Lonely (1956) ... Christopher Kent

 1956 Ford Star Jubilee (TV Series)

Tad Lincoln

- The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1956) ... Tad Lincoln

 1955 Matinee Theatre (TV Series)

- Elisha and the Long Knives (1955)

 1955 My Friend Flicka (TV Series)

Billy Rawlins

- Silver Saddle (1955) ... Billy Rawlins

 1955 The Millionaire (TV Series)

Tommy Bryan

- The Tom Bryan Story (1955) ... Tommy Bryan

 1955 General Electric Theater (TV Series)

Jeff Wheeler

- Outpost at Home (1955) ... Jeff Wheeler

 1955 Cheyenne (TV Series)

Tommy Scott

- Julesburg (1955) ... Tommy Scott

 1955 Celebrity Playhouse (TV Series)

- Day of the Trial (1955)

 1955 The Night of the Hunter

John Harper

 1955 Violent Saturday

Steve Martin

 1955 A Man Called Peter

Peter John Marshall

 1955 Stage 7 (TV Series)

Todd Jennings

- The Greatest Man in the World (1955) ... Todd Jennings

 1954 There's No Business Like Show Business

Steve - Age 10 (uncredited)

 1954 Naked Alibi

Petey

 1954 Waterfront (TV Series)

Teddy / Teddy Herrick

- Cap'n Long John (1954) ... Teddy

- A New Whistle for the Cheryl Ann (1954) ... Teddy

- Sunken Treasure (1954) ... Teddy Herrick

 1954 Tobor the Great

Brian Roberts

 1954 The Loretta Young Show (TV Series)

Robbie Thorne

- The New York Story (1954) ... Robbie Thorne

 1953-1954 Dragnet (TV Series)

Richard Kessler / Joseph Heffernan

- The Big Children (1954) ... Richard Kessler

- The Big Little Jesus (1953) ... Joseph Heffernan

- The Big White Rat (1953)

 1953 Topper (TV Series)

Tiny Tim / neighborhood boy / Timmy Welch

- Christmas Carol (1953) ... Tiny Tim / neighborhood boy (uncredited)

- The Kid (1953) ... Timmy Welch

 1953 The Kid from Left Field

Christy Cooper

 1953 Affair with a Stranger

Timmy

 1952 Chevron Theatre (TV Series)

- Right to Hate (1952)

 1952 Celanese Theatre (TV Series)

Pud

- On Borrowed Time (1952) ... Pud

 1946 The Cockeyed Miracle

Boy (uncredited)

 1944 Casanova Brown

The Brown's Baby Girl (uncredited)