TYLER McVEY

February 14, 1912

William Tyler McVey was born Bay City, Michigan. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was one year old and his father allowed his maternal grandparents to raise him. He gained early acting experience in amateur productions in his hometown.

McVey also acted on radio programs, including Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, Glamour Manor, and One Man’s Family.

McVey played hundreds of roles on TV and film, dozens of them sheriffs.

His first screen role, uncredited, came in 1951, where he portrayed Brady in The Day the Earth Stood Still.

That same year (1951) he also made his TV debut as Simon Peter in “The Living Christ Series”. 

McVey did four episodes of “I Love Lucy.”  His first was playing Bill Hall in “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15) filmed on December 10, 1953 and first aired on January 25, 1954. Vivi Jannis played his wife, Luanne. 

Bill Hall (McVey, right) leans in to eagerly light Eve Whitney’s cigarette with Ricky, Fred and Tom Williams (Maurice Hill, left).  

McVey returned to play a ship’s officer (right) in “Bon Voyage” (ILL S5;E13) filmed on December 1, 1955 and first aired on January 16, 1956. A the time, it was the most expensive television episode ever filmed. 

He would also appear (seated) in the very next episode on board the S.S. Constitution, “Second Honeymoon” (ILL S5;E14) arranging young Kenneth Hamilton as Lucy’s shuffleboard partner. McVey is verbally credited by the  announcer over the final credits.

He would return to the series as a reporter (center) from House and Garden in “Lucy Raises Chickens” (ILL S6;E19).

He takes one look at Lucy herding the baby chicks through the living room and says “I don’t think so!”

In 1955 and 1957, McVey appeared in two episodes of Desilu’s “December Bride”.  His second episode featured Lucy glamour girls Barbara Eden and Hillary Brooke. 

From 1957 to 1959 he did three episodes of Desilu’s helicopter series ”Whirlybirds”. 

In 1959 he played a police chief on Desilu’s “The Untouchables.” 

For the next twenty years, McVey continued acting on television and in films retiring in 1986 after a final appearance on “Highway To Heaven” playing a minister. 

McVey was married three times with three children;

• Lorraine Budge ~ 1937-1949
• Rita Ann Stickelmaier ~ 1950-1970
• Esther Geddes ~ 1971-2003

He died of leukemia in Rancho Mirage, California on July 4, 2003, age 92.