Musician: William Jesse Shirley (1921 – 1989)

William Jesse Shirley (1921 – 1989) was born in Indianapolis and attended Shortridge High School. His father, Luther, was a funeral director at Shirley Brothers Mortuaries, and his mother, Inez, was a professional pianist. When he was five years old, his mother discovered his singing talent when he began singing along while she played. She enrolled him in a local choir, and he often had solos when they performed around town, including during Christmas and Easter services on Monument Circle.

When he was 11, the family took him to Hollywood. After successful auditions, he appeared in a few films before coming back to Indianapolis. But after finishing high school, he and his mother returned to Hollywood, and he signed a seven-year contract with Republic Studios in 1941. His roles were usually small and supporting, and he was able to also serve in the Army, including its Signal Corps Training Film Division and a radio branch.

After the war, he found work in film, radio, Broadway, stage, summer stock, (including Starlight Musical productions in Indianapolis,) night clubs, and TV. His only lead role came in 1952, when he played the songwriter Stephen Foster in I Dream of Jeannie. In 1959, he provided the speaking and singing voice for the character Prince Phillip in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. One of his last roles, for which he did not receive credit until after his death, was to provide the singing voice of the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill in the film My Fair Lady.

William Jesse Shirley is entombed in the Community Mausoleum: Aisle B, C-18.