Bill Chadney, 79; Jazz Pianist Who Opened Three Southland Restaurants Bearing His Name

Bill Chadney, a jazz pianist who for many years owned the popular Chadney’s restaurants in the San Fernando Valley and Santa Monica, died Tuesday at his Palm Desert home, his daughter Susan Chadney said. He was 79.

Chadney was a pianist at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City before opening his first Chadney’s on Ventura Boulevard in that community.

He later opened a Chadney’s in Santa Monica and, with Bob Hoeller, another in Burbank. Hoeller eventually became sole owner of the Burbank restaurant.

For many years, the Chadney’s restaurants, which featured nightly live jazz and specialized in prime rib and steaks, were frequented by people from Hollywood. At the Burbank Chadney’s, it was not unusual to see Johnny Carson, Bob Hope or Tom Brokaw hanging out with the denizens of the nearby NBC studios.

“You couldn’t have been at NBC for any time frame and not gone to Chadney’s,” one NBC producer said in 1999.

Hoeller sold the Burbank Chadney’s a decade ago, and it closed in 1998.

During the late 1950s, Bill Chadney was cast as the piano player, Emmett, in the television series “Peter Gunn.” Also on the series was actress Lola Albright, whom Chadney married in 1961 and later divorced.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Joy; daughters Susan, Alison and Lynn; sons Jake, Chris and Jeff; and eight grandchildren.