Where are the ‘Father Knows Best’ stars now? Billy Gray makes rare appearance 46 years after leaving Hollywood

The 1950's popular sitcom ‘Father Knows Best’ is getting renewed attention on the internet owing to a recent and rather rare public sighting of Billy Gray, the former child star who played Bud Anderson. Gray, 88, was seen in Los Angeles after roughly 46 years since he stepped away from acting and Hollywood.

Gray, who is best known for his role in the much loved television series as a naughty member of the Anderson family, was seen leaving an event held in Los Angeles, according to PEOPLE.

Gray entered into the world of entertainment at only five years old. He revealed in an interview done by Fox News in February 2021 that he got his first opportunities because his mother's talent agent saw him at a play where his older brother was performing.


Recalling his early experiences, Gray said, “I seemed to get every interview I went on. The parts just kept coming.” He eventually secured the role of Bud after several young actors auditioned for the part.

Father Knows Best premiered on CBS on October 3, 1954, before moving to NBC and eventually returning to CBS. It ran for six seasons, producing 203 episodes before concluding in 1960. The show's official history records that it attracted 19 million households within a year of its move to NBC.

Gray's Hollywood career suffered a major setback in 1962, when he was arrested for marijuana possession. He served 45 days in prison and subsequently struggled to find acting opportunities.

Speaking about the aftermath, he recalled his agent telling him, “We can’t handle you anymore.”

“I got a few acting jobs after that, but nothing interesting. It was basically the end,” he said, as quoted by People.

Rather than continue pursuing acting, Gray developed an interest in motorcycle racing. According to his official website, he competed as a Class A Speedway motorcycle racer between 1970 and 1995.

He also explored inventing. His water hose lock, designed for boat deck fills, received recognition at the 2020 IBEX Innovation Awards, marking another chapter in his life away from television.

Who is still alive from Father Knows Best?

Gray's appearance has also renewed interest in the original Anderson family cast. According to Nacionale, two of the five principal cast members are still alive: Gray, 88, and Elinor Donahue, 89, who played eldest daughter Betty Anderson.

Robert Young, Jane Wyatt and Lauren Chapin, who played Jim, Margaret and Kathy Anderson respectively, have died. Chapin died on February 24, 2026, at 80, following a five-year battle with cancer, her son announced.