William Heyes Jr., 78;Child Actor Played Penrod in Silent Series
William Heyes Jr., 78, child actor in the silent “Penrod and Sam” series, died Friday in Raleigh, N.C., after a long illness.
Show business approached the New Bedford, Mass., lad when he was 7. Because he looked like the comic character Skippy, he was asked to audition for a movie of that title. Jackie Cooper got the role, but Heyes landed a two-year movie career anyway. After starring as Penrod, in 1932 he played opposite Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle in Arbuckle’s first talkie, “Hey, Pop.” Heyes’ experience has been incorporated into a recently published children’s book.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. June 5, 2002 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday June 05, 2002 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 10 inches; 367 words Type of Material: Correction
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Heyes obituary--A May 8 obituary of child actor William Heyes Jr. incorrectly stated that the “Penrod” series of films in which he appeared were silents. Made in the 1930s, the movies were talkies. Heyes died May 3 in Raleigh, N.C., at 78.
After serving in the Army during World War II, Heyes settled in Los Angeles, studied engineering at USC and worked in the aerospace industry. He was involved in community theater, and the Masquers Club in Hollywood, performing in such plays as “Twelve Angry Men” and “Harvey.”