Quick Facts
VirgoBiography
William Finley (September 20, 1940 – April 14, 2012) was an American actor who has appeared in the films Simon, Silent Rage, Phantom of the Paradise, Sisters, and The Wedding Party. He had a long-running friendship and collaboration with director Brian De Palma, beginning with the student films Woton's Wake (1962) and Murder à la Mod (1968). He also acted in De Palma's 2006 release The Black Dahlia. Under the name W. Franklin Finley, he wrote the screenplay for the 1983 film The First Time. He was also the co-author of the 1985 book Racewalking.
Finley graduated from Columbia University in 1963. He resided in New York City with his wife and son.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Woton's Wake | Woton | Short |
| 1968 | Murder à la Mod | Otto | |
| 1969 | The Wedding Party | Alistair | Filmed in 1963 |
| 1970 | Dionysus in '69 | Dionysus | |
| 1973 | Sisters | Dr. Emil Breton | Credited as Bill Finley |
| 1974 | Phantom of the Paradise | Winslow Leach/The Phantom | |
| 1977 | Eaten Alive | Roy | |
| 1978 | The Fury | Raymond Dunwoodie | |
| 1980 | Simon | Fichandler | |
| 1980 | Dressed to Kill | Bobbi | Voice (uncredited) |
| 1981 | The Funhouse | Marco the Magnificent | |
| 1982 | Silent Rage | Dr. Paul Vaughn | |
| 1985 | Double Negative | Raymond Bobo | Short (credited as Bill Finley |
| 1993 | Night Terrors | Dr. Matteson | |
| 2006 | The Black Dahlia | George Tilden | Credited as Bill Finley |
Death
Finley was diagnosed with an inflamed colon on April 6, 2012. He underwent surgery 3 days after his admission. He appeared to be doing well after the surgery, but on the morning of April 14, 2012, Finley died at the age of 71 in New York City.