Mrs. Wolowitz shouts her way into the column

Question: Several friends and I have been debating about who voices Howard Wolowitz's mother on "The Big Bang Theory." Two of us believe Simon Helberg (the actor who plays Wolowitz) is doing his mother's voice, while the others say it is a female cast member. We have a small wager on the outcome. Can you help us?

S.W., Peoria, Ill.

Answer: Mrs. Wolowitz's voice on "The Big Bang Theory" is neither Helberg's nor a female cast member's. It is the voice of Carol Ann Susi. You can see her as Mrs. Maccabee in the 2011 film "Just Go With It."

Question: What became of the driver of the limousine when President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas? I know all the passengers are gone, but I have never heard about the driver. I would appreciate any information.

R.B., Owensboro, Ky.

Answer: Secret Service agent William Robert Greer was driving the presidential limousine on Nov. 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated.

Greer was born in Stewartstown, Ireland, on Sept. 22, 1909, and came to the U.S. in 1929. After working as a chauffeur to wealthy Boston families, he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. In 1945, Greer joined the Secret Service, where he became a personal bodyguard to Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. Greer was close to the Kennedy family, and he chauffeured them frequently.

After the shooting, Greer was criticized by some for not moving the car forward soon enough. However, at that time, a senior agent had to give orders before a driver could do anything. In this case, that senior agent was Roy Kellerman, who was sitting to Greer's right. Kellerman said he gave the order immediately to pull out of line, indicating the president was shot. According to Kellerman, Greer looked back at the president before following orders. The rules have changed since then. Now agents are taught to move away quickly if they think shots have been fired.

Greer retired in 1966 and passed away in 1985 at age 75.

Question: I would like to know about a movie I saw in the 1970s or '80s. It was a miniseries called "Chiefs" starring Charlton Heston, Billy Dee Williams and Stephen Collins. It was about three police chiefs, and it spanned 40 years of unsolved disappearances. Can you help me find it?

Answer: If you have access to a computer, the 1983 miniseries "Chiefs" is available in DVD format from Amazon.com. If not, you can attempt to order it from a store that sells DVDs.

Question: Many years ago, I saw a movie with Jackie Gleason playing the role of a mute, kind-hearted janitor who befriends a young girl. What is the name of the movie? Is it available?

E.W., Conway, S.C.

Answer: The movie is "Gigot" (1962), and it is available on DVD.

In the film, Gleason plays a janitor, Gigot, who befriends Nicole, the daughter of a prostitute. Not only did Gleason show his considerable acting talents in this movie, he also wrote the story and music for it. I think it is one of his best performances.

Did you know: Prior to 1969, in Major League Baseball there were only batboys. That year, the Oakland Athletics owner, Charles O. Finley, introduced ball girls. Ball girls would sit in foul territory and retrieve baseballs hit foul by batters. One of the first ball girls was Debra Jane Sivyer, who was born in Oakland, Calif., in 1956. Umpires enjoyed working with her since she provided cookies and lemonade as refreshments. At age 19, Sivyer married Randy Fields. In 1977, using her married name of Mrs. Fields, she opened a business in Palo Alto, Calif., where she sold her exquisite cookies.

Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.