Trivia

Mispronounced "Bee-Van" in several Robert Youngson compilations, his last name actually rhymes with "seven".

He appeared in three Best Picture Academy Award winners: Cavalcade (1933), Rebecca (1940) and Mrs. Miniver (1942). He was also in four other Best Picture nominees: A Tale of Two Cities (1935), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), The Long Voyage Home (1940) and Suspicion (1941).

Appeared in Mack Sennett films/shorts, 1919 to 1929.

Possibly the first to film the "Oyster Stew" gag, later performed by Lou Costello and Curly Howard. In it, a live oyster grabs Billy's spoon, crackers, and even his tie as they battle for supremacy.

Second wife, Betsy Rees, was in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922.

First wife, Leona Kohn was a sister of actress Edith Roberts but was a different person from Leona Roberts. The marriage produced two daughters.

Upon his death, his remains were interred at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, San Diego County, California. His location plot is Section 5, Lot 24, Grave 4.