<Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> December 5, 1979 (1979 - 12 - 05) (aged 49) Monroe, Louisiana </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Actor and screenwriter </Td> </Tr> <P> Bobby Wayne Pearson (August 18, 1930, Seminole, Oklahoma--December 5, 1979, Monroe, Louisiana), known as Jesse Pearson, was an American actor, singer, director, and writer . </P> <P> After releasing two singles on Decca Records with little success, Pearson was heard by composer Charles Strouse, who recommended him for the national tour of the musical Bye Bye Birdie . When Dick Gautier, the original actor playing Conrad Birdie, fell ill, Pearson took the role of the rock idol inspired by Elvis Presley . He repeated his hilarious characterization in the 1963 film version, Bye Bye Birdie . This was followed by another funny performance in the Glenn Ford comedy Advance to the Rear (1964), but as he had no more film offers, he turned to television, appearing in shows such as Bonanza, The Andy Griffith Show, McHale's Navy, The Great Adventure and The Beverly Hillbillies . In the next decade, Pearson narrated the film The Norseman (1978), a Viking saga starring Lee Majors and Cornel Wilde and, as expressions of sexuality became more free and frequent, he directed The Legend of Lady Blue (1978) and wrote Pro-Ball Cheerleader (1979), under the name A. Fabritzi . </P>

Who played birdie in the movie bye bye birdie
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