Danger Will Robinson: The Full Mumy

by Bill Mumy

In his candid and entertaining memoir Danger, Will The Full Mumy , Bill Mumy shares the personal stories and memories of his journey as an actor, musician, author, artist, and family man. Stepping into the limelight at the wise old age of four and never turning back, Bill has worked and connected with a veritable Who's Who , of both Hollywood and the Laurel Canyon music scene, and has the tales to tell - and tell he does. Like reminiscing with an old friend, the stories flow freely and dance back and forth between the decades, vividly painting a picture of some of our favorite pop culture from Walt Disney, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Brigitte Bardot, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve McQueen, Cloris Leachman, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Montgomery, Rosemary Clooney, Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jones, George Clooney, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill to the casts of Lost in Space and Babylon 5, to James Taylor, Brian Wilson, America, John Stewart, Harry Nilsson, Carole King, The Monkees, David Cassidy, Steve Lukather, Shaun Cassidy, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and Ringo Starr, the list (and the stories) go on and on. Loaded with photos from his personal archive Danger, Will The Full Mumy is a fascinating peek behind the curtain into the reality of a child star who has led a "Real Good Life."

Genres: Memoir

450 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2022

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this book an honorary 4*. It may deserve it or not but as I really like the actor, I have a hard time being unbiased. Bill is very positive so if you are looking for a deep dive into the nitty gritty of Hollywood this book is not for you. The book is not in any specific order so sometimes I did skip pages. Best for fans of Twighlight Zone or Lost in Space.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book an almost five. I "grew up" around the same time Bill Mumy was a child actor. Formerly "Billy Mumy" I was and still am a fan of his. It was a great chance to read his memoir. I was pleased he did spend a good part of his book writing about the roles he played. He is known for the role of "Will Robinson" from Lost in Space. He is also famous for a well known Twilight Zone episode called "It's a Good Life" playing an evil little six year old named Anthony Freemont who could read your mind and wish you into the cornfield if you displeased him.
He wrote about other occupations he has had over his busy career, A talented musician. A voice over performer on many shows like Biography, and ancient aliens. He is good at writing of the many actors and actresses He has worked with. I was happy with his memoir and enjoyed reading about is life as a child actor and the rest of his life.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bill Mumy has had an extraordinary career, which started at the age of 4. Before he even reached adulthood he had worked with the likes of Jimmy Stewart, Alfred Hitchcock, Shirley Jones, James Garner, and dozens of other renowned people in the entertainment industry. Unlike many child stars, he seemed to have had grounded, practical parents and a personal drive that allowed him to transition successfully into adult acting roles, and other creative roles - in particular, in music, writing and producing and, of all things, comic books.

Such a busy and abundant life is fascinating, but is also challenging to concisely boil down into a pithy narrative. Mumy, who prides himself for doing things on his own terms, could have used just a bit of editorial input in this memoir. The stories were great, but sometimes were repeated somewhat in various areas of the book, and were often top-heavy with detail - at least for the casual fan. Still, it was engaging and moved along pretty well. I've certainly read a lot worse.

Mumy, who is a few years older than I, could have easily been one of my brothers' friends from our old neighborhood. Aside from the whole acting thing, he came across as a regular kid from the 60s, with all the same cultural touchstones. I was very comfortable in his world. He made acting with Brigitte Bardot and playing on stage with Ringo Starr seem like very cool, but not THAT extraordinary, experiences, and as kids from the neighborhood, we were invited along to be flies on the wall.

When you start at age four and work regularly, it's not name-dropping to share your memories, and while Mumy has forgotten more than many actors will ever even experience, his stories don't come across as exploitative. As he points out, he was too young to even have known about the careers of many of the big names he worked with, and was, therefore, not awed by them. His recollections are based on honest, childhood impressions. Happily, most of those impressions were positive, and the few that weren't seemed honest, but had no grudge or professional jealousy. Correction... there was, perhaps, one lingering grudge, but it seemed legit, and not petty. No spoilers, though.

So, while I personally had no interest in the comic book bits, and knew next to nothing about his music career (aside from "Fish Heads" - that was a blast from the past I didn't realize was a project of his), I still found the whole book an interesting read. And, while I was aware of it, of course, I never watched "Lost in Space"! Mumy was so ubiquitous back then, that one didn't have to watch his hit shows to know his work. I can say, without reservation, that Mumy was Real Good.

[Brenda Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great memoir! Bill Mumy ( moo me) has definitely had a fascinating life. I was spell bound and entertained as well. If you watched 60s TV you probably saw Bill Mumy in a variety of roles from shows like Perry Mason, Bewitched, Lost in Space, Babylon 5, The Twighlight Zone, etc. On top of that, he has played music with and known some of the greatest musicians of our time. There is so much more to this talented actor, musician, song writer, comic book author, narrator, and Pez collector than meets the eye. I highly recommend this book!

[Syd Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Mumy’s "Danger Will Robinson: The Full Mumy" is an extraordinary memoir that offers a rare glimpse into the life of a true Hollywood and sci-fi icon. Mumy’s iconic role as Will Robinson on "Lost in Space" may have defined a generation, but his career extends far beyond this beloved series. His chilling performance as the psychic child Anthony Fremont in "The Twilight Zone", his nuanced portrayal of Teft in "Bless the Beasts & Children", and his role as the noble Lennier in "Babylon 5" all underscore his versatility and depth as an actor.

Beyond acting, Mumy's accomplishments as a musician, writer, and producer reveal his vast creative reach. As a musician, he has released numerous albums both as a solo artist and as part of the duo Barnes & Barnes, best known for the cult classic “Fish Heads.” His work as a composer has contributed to several television and film projects, showcasing his talent across genres. As a writer, Mumy’s storytelling prowess extends to comic books, and TV, where he has crafted compelling narratives that resonate with fans. His producer credits add another layer to his multifaceted career, demonstrating his ability to create and shape projects behind the scenes.

In "Danger Will Robinson: The Full Mumy", readers are treated to Mumy’s candid reflections on his journey in show business, from child star to seasoned performer and creator. It’s a heartfelt, fascinating, and inspiring read that’s a must for fans of classic television, science fiction, and anyone interested in the life of a true artist dedicated to his craft. This memoir is a gift from a man who has left a lasting legacy across film, television, music, and literature.

A real good book. Real good.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gonna give the book 5 stars till about 2/3 of the way through. He admits it's not chronological - similar to many celeb memoirs - & jumping back & forth. (For instance, it wasn't till page 139 that I got his Cornfield reference.) At a certain point, it started to read like filler; several comments & stories are repeated more than twice. He had it divided into Parts, but for what reason? It would've read SO much better if the Parts had been something like Child Star, Lost in Space, Babylon 5, Later Roles, Music, Comics, Animation? There's so much good stuff in it, but it kinda gets diluted by the length.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of Bill Mumy's since I was a child. I grew up on Lost in Space! I was so thrilled when I saw he had written this book. I honestly felt that I was sitting down and talking to him. It isn't linear, which normally would bother me but in this case didn't at all. I loved it. I enjoyed the insight into his childhood, his early Hollywood career and his music career.

[Jay Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Mumy provides an eye-opener of his history on and off screen replete with all of those he worked with. Turns out that Bill is more of an accomplished musician than many of us know.

Written in a friendly, conversational style this memoir is a must for anyone who has been a fan of Bill's work in Lost in Space, Twilight Zone, Babylon 5, and other outlets and wants to learn about his songwriting and musical connections they may not have realized before.

[Andrea]

As much as I like Bill Mumy, his autobiography skipped around too much for me. It really needs an index to make it easier to find things. I get why he skipped around; he probably wrote sections in the order he remembered them. I read about three chapters and one antidote about Dustin Hoffman made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed the pictures scattered throughout, but I was hoping for a better book overall. Perhaps if I were a bigger "Lost In Space" fan, but unfortunately I'm not.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out very strong, meanders a bit. Mumy has had an interesting life (he refers to it as a Good Life often), and his stories from Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, and Babylon 5 are fun. Very light on the Lost in Space. Well-written and intriguing (except for the grammatical errors, which drove me crazy).

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the TV show Lost in Space and loved Bill Mumy as Anthony Fremont in the Twilight Zone episode It's a Good Life. What I learned in this book is that Bill Mumy wrote comic books and sone graphic novels. He's also a musician.

[Kirk Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Entertaining! Great read from the Actor, Producer, Author, and Musician. I read it in two days.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please get this book. My only complaint is that the table of content font is small. Having progressive eyeglasses helps to read it. Thank you Bill Mumy.

[Lee Cochenour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun memoir by one if the stars of Lost In Space. Great stories and lots of pictures.

[Pinkglassgrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adored him in "Lost in Space" and "Babylon 5" - an interesting memoir from a fascinating guy.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this.