William Jay "Bill" Shirley (July 6, 1921 – August 27, 1989) was an American actor and tenor/lyric baritone singer, who later became a Broadway theatre producer. He is perhaps best known for providing the speaking and singing voice for Prince Phillip in Walt Disney's 1959 animated classic; Sleeping Beauty.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended Shortridge High School. Buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis.
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Best remembered for providing Prince Phillip's singing voice in the Walt Disney animated classic Sleeping Beauty (1959), Bill also sang Freddy Eynsford-Hill's vocals ("On the Street Where You Live") in the film version of My Fair Lady (1964) Actor Jeremy Brett, who played the role of Freddy in the film, long claimed that he himself sang the role and that Bill merely "sweetened the high tones." Brett finally admitted years later in the 1994 documentary The Making of 'My Fair Lady' (1995) that Bill indeed supplied the singing voice.
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Singer and actor who appeared in second-string Republic Pictures musicals during the wartime 40s. His career went nowhere and he became a better behind-the-scenes singing double.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sleeping Beauty
1959
Prince Phillip (voice)
Sweethearts on Parade
1953
Bill Gamble
Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
1952
Bruce Martingale
I Dream of Jeanie
1952
Stephen Foster
Nancy Goes to Rio
1950
Tenor in Operetta (uncredited)
Dancing in the Dark
1949
Singer of Title Song over Opening Credits (uncredited)
Three Little Sisters
1944
Pvt. Ferguson (as William Shirley)
Ice-Capades Revue
1942
Denny
Flying Tigers
1942
Dale
Hi, Neighbor
1942
Dick
Mercy Island
1941
Guide (uncredited)
Sailors on Leave
1941
Bill Carstairs
Doctors Don't Tell
1941
Tom Wayne
Ice-Capades
1941
Bit (uncredited)
Rookies on Parade
1941
Bill
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song
1992
Video documentary performer: "Once Upon a Dream"
My Fair Lady
1964
performer: "On the Street Where You Live" 1956, "On the Street Where You Live Reprise" 1956, "Show Me" 1956 - uncredited
Sleeping Beauty
1959
"Once Upon a Dream" 1958, uncredited / performer: "Once Upon a Dream" 1958 - uncredited
Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd
1952
performer: "Away Ay Aye Ay", "A Bachelor's Life", "Speak to Me of the Tall Pine", "North of Nowhere"
I Dream of Jeanie
1952
performer: "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", "Beautiful Dreamer", "I Can Still See Her in My Dreams"
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
1949
performer: "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine", "I Want You to Want Me", "When I Get You Alone Tonight", "Peg o' My Heart", "There's a Broken Heart for Every Light on Broadway"
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Oh, You Beautiful Doll
1949
singing voice: Mark Stevens - uncredited
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
1947
singing voice: Mark Stevens
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Ed Wynn Show
1950
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song
1992
Video documentary
Prince Phillip
DTV Valentine
1986
TV Movie
Prince Phillip
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1959
Grammy
Grammy Awards
Best Soundtrack Album, Original Cast - Motion Picture or Television
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Known for movies
Sleeping Beauty (1959) as Prince Phillip
Flying Tigers (1942) as Dale
Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd (1952) as Bruce Martingale
$7 Million
