George William Bailey, a talented individual, was born on August 27, 1944, in Port Arthur, Texas. Initially, he attended Lamar University in Beaumont, but later transferred to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he did not complete his studies.
Instead, Bailey pursued his passion for the performing arts, working with local theater companies during the mid-1960s. This led him to relocate to California in the 1970s, where he began his television career, landing roles in popular series such as Starsky and Hutch (1975),Charlie's Angels (1976),and CHiPs (1977).
Bailey's film debut came in 1979 with the Chuck Norris movie A Force of One, and he subsequently landed the role of Luther Rizzo in M*A*S*H (1972). After taking a break from his acting career, Bailey returned to Texas in 1993 to pursue higher education, enrolling at Southwest Texas State University. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Theatre, in 1994, and later served as the Artist in Residence for the 1999-2000 school year.
Bailey's distinctive prematurely gray hair led to him being cast in roles of characters much older than his actual age. While he is known for his dramatic acting, his most iconic role remains that of Captain Thaddeus Harris in Police Academy (1984).
In addition to his acting career, Bailey has been dedicated to philanthropic work, particularly with the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which he has been involved with since his goddaughter was diagnosed with leukemia. He has organized trips for young cancer sufferers and, in 2001, was announced as the executive director of the foundation.
