Link (https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bill-daily-dead-dies-major-healey-i-dream-of-jeannie-1202933026/)

Bill Daily, the affable TV actor who starred as Major Roger Healey in “I Dream of Jeannie” as well as on “The Bob Newhart Show,” died Sept. 4 in Santa Fe, N.M., his son J. Patrick Daily confirmed. He was 91.

“He loved every sunset, he loved every meal — he just decided to be happy about everything,” said his son.

The longtime Albuquerque resident was a staple on series of the 1960s through 1980s. He appeared as Bob Newhart’s pilot neighbor Howard Borden on “The Bob Newhart Show” and as psychiatrist Dr. Larry Dykstra on “ALF.”

On “I Dream of Jeannie,” he co-starred with Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden on all five seasons of the NBC sitcom as Captain and then Major Healey, the best friend and fellow astronaut to Hagman, who at one point steals Jeannie but later returns her to her master.


In 1980, Daily briefly had his own TV series, “Small & Frye,” but it lasted only three months. A longtime magic fan, he hosted several magic specials.

His other TV appearances included “Bewitched,” “Love Boat,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and “Love, American Style,” as well as recurring roles in the 1980s on “Aloha Paradise” and “Starting from Scratch.”

He returned for several “I Dream of Jeannie” and “The Bob Newhart Show” reunion specials in the 1980s and ’90s. Daily also served as director of the New Mexico Film Commission in the late 1980s.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Daily was raised in Chicago and started out doing stand-up and announcing at a Chicago TV station.

He is survived by his son J. Patrick Daily, a key grip for motion pictures

He was so funny on IDOJ.

May he reast in peace.

I just read Barbara Eden's beautiful memorial post to Bill on her official Instagram account... :( :( :( So very sad. He was such a funny actor who brought so much laughter to his performances on I Dream of Jeannie and The Bob Newhart Show. He will be missed...

He was such a great character actor. He just felt like a good friend. R.I.P. Bill. :(

R.I.P. :(

Oh no! So sad. He was a very actor. Now Barbara Eden is the sole survivor of the show. R.I.P. Bill.

He was such a great character actor. He just felt like a good friend. R.I.P. Bill. :(

Yeah, Totally! ;):wave: I loved him as Howard on Bob Newhart! ;)

Sad to hear of his passing!:( ! RIP Mr.Daily!

Very sad :(

:( This is devastating to hear. :( He was such a funny man and great actor.

RIP

:rip:

:rip:

I was so saddened to hear the news about Mr. Bill Daily who was our loveable Major Healy. The friendship between Major Healy and Major Nelson is one of my all-time favorites. And I loved Major Nelson, Major Healy, and Jeannie as a trio. RIP Major Healy/Bill Daily. You will be missed.

In addition to all of Mr. Daily's great onscreen work, I imagine that he was a was a bit of 'rodeo clown' and peacemaker which likely was sorely needed to keep things from getting too tense between Mr. Hagman and the rest of the cast & crew.

(Yes, I have to feel sorry for Miss Eden [now the last surviving cast member] who seemed to be very easy to get along with but ALSO had to be a peacemaker re Mr. Hagman's temper and stunts- despite the fact that it was HER show)

At least on 'Bob Newhart', there doesn't seem to have been any egomaniac divas despite the talent and pedigrees of the performers (including Miss Pleshette) so I imagine he was able to relax a bit.

RIP, Major Healy and Howard Borden!

RIP. :(

May he rest in peace.

Sorry to learn about the loss of the amazing Bill Daily. We got to talk with him for about an hour 12 years ago and he was a smart and generous man who was enthusiastic about acting

So we all know that Barbara Eden is the only surviving cast member of "I Dream of Jeannie," but besides Newhart himself, how many cast members of "The Bob Newhart Show" are still alive?

He was also a talented musician. He played jazz on the show.

Daly had the perfect timing - and like Gracie Allen was the king of confusing everyone especially on Bob Newhart Show !

Coming into this thread late, but to answer the question:

Barbara Eden is, indeed, now the only surviving member of the regular cast of I Dream of Jeannie.

For TBNS, Bob Newhart is still around, just turned 90, I believe. Suzanne, Marcia, and Jack Riley are all gone. AFAIK, Peter Bonerz (Jerry) is the only other surviving regular member of the cast. I'm not sure of Pat Finley. I had asked Bill Daily once, if he ever heard from her, and the last he'd heard she was in the Midwest somewhere and out of the business completely.

I was extremely sad when Bill passed. He passed 5 weeks (to the day) after my dad -- 2018 was a sad year for me.

R.I.P. Bill