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William Finley is a Actor and Sound American born on 20 september 1942 at New York City (USA)

William Finley

William Finley
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Nationality USA
Birth 20 september 1942 at New York City (USA)
Death 14 april 2012 (at 69 years)

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.

Biography

Finley a collaboré notamment avec le réalisateur Brian De Palma, qui l'avait remarqué dans de petits films d'étudiants comme Woton's Wake ou encore Murder a la Mod. Plus récemment, Finley a contribué à un caméo dans le film de Brian De Palma Le Dahlia noir. Son rôle le plus connu reste celui de Winslow Leach/the Phantom dans Phantom of the Paradise de Brian de Palma. Sous le nom de W.Finley Franklin, il écrit en 1983 le scénario du film The First Time. Il est également le co-auteur du livre Racewalking. Finley est diplômé de l'Université de Columbia en 1963. Il résidait à New York City avec sa femme et son fils. Il décède le 14 avril 2012 des suites d'une opération.

Best films

Dressed to Kill (1980)
(Actor)
Phantom of the Paradise (1975)
(Actor)

Usually with

Paul Hirsch
Paul Hirsch
(4 films)
Wilford Leach
Wilford Leach
(1 films)
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
(3 films)
Jennifer Salt
Jennifer Salt
(3 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of William Finley (16 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

The Black Dahlia, 2h1
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Noir, Crime
Themes Films about sexuality, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Mia Kirshner, Mike Starr
Roles George Tilden
Rating56% 2.8001952.8001952.8001952.8001952.800195
In Los Angeles, on January 15, 1947, LAPD officers Dwight 'Bucky' Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) and Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart), investigate the murder and dismemberment of Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner), soon dubbed 'The Black Dahlia' by the press. Bucky learns that Elizabeth was an aspiring actress who appeared in a pornographic film. Through his investigation, Bucky learns that Elizabeth liked to hang out with lesbians. He goes to a lesbian nightclub and meets Madeleine Linscott (Hilary Swank), who looks very much like Elizabeth. Madeleine, who comes from a prominent family, tells Bucky that she was 'very close' with Elizabeth but asks him to keep her name out of the papers. In exchange for his silence, she promises him sexual favors. Continuing his relationship with Madeleine, Bucky meets her wealthy parents, Emmett (John Kavanagh) and Ramona (Fiona Shaw).
Night Terrors, 1h38
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Origin USA
Genres Horror
Themes Films about writers, Films about sexuality, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Robert Englund, Juliano Mer-Khamis, Chandra West, Alona Kimhi, Zoe Trilling, William Finley
Roles Dr. Matteson
Rating36% 1.8173651.8173651.8173651.8173651.817365
A young girl travels to Cairo to visit her father, and becomes unwillingly involved with a bizarre sadomasochistic cult led by the charismatic Paul Chevalier, who is a descendant of the Marquis de Sade.
Terror in the Aisles, 1h24
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Fantastic, Documentary, Anthology film, Horror
Themes Films about films, Documentary films about business, Documentary films about the film industry, Documentary films about films
Actors Donald Pleasence, Nancy Allen, Bud Abbott, Michael Ironside, Fred Asparagus, Brooke Adams
Roles The Phantom (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rating62% 3.148473.148473.148473.148473.14847
Director Andrew J. Kuehn has excerpted brief segments of terror and suspense in a wide variety of suspenseful (including humorously so, ex. Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Saturday the 14th) films and strung them together with added commentary, as well as some enacted narrative, to create a compilation of fright-inducing effects. Halloween actor Donald Pleasence and Dressed to Kill star Nancy Allen provide the commentary on topics such as "sex and terror" (Dressed to Kill, Klute, Ms. 45, The Seduction, When a Stranger Calls), loathsome villains (Dracula, Frankenstein, Friday the 13 1 and/or 2, Halloween I and II, Marathon Man, Nighthawks, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Touch of Evil, Vice Squad, Wait Until Dark, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?), "natural terror" (Alligator, The Birds, Frogs, Jaws 1 and 2, Nightwing) and the occult (An American Werewolf in London, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, Carrie, The Shining). In one segment of the anthology, legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock presents his concepts of how to create suspense in a clip from Alfred Hitchcock: Men Who Made The Movies.
Silent Rage, 1h40
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Martial arts, Action, Horror, Crime, Romance, Martial arts
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Serial killer films
Actors Chuck Norris, Ron Silver, Stephen Furst, Toni Kalem, William Finley, Steven Keats
Roles Dr. Paul Vaughn
Rating54% 2.7072152.7072152.7072152.7072152.707215
In a small Texas town, a mentally ill John Kirby (Brian Libby) goes insane and kills two members of a family he was staying with. Sheriff Daniel "Dan" Stevens (Chuck Norris) and his deputy Charlie (Stephen Furst) respond and eventually arrest Kirby, but Kirby breaks out of the handcuffs, overpowers the other officers and grabs one of their revolvers, forcing the officers to open fire and shoot Kirby. Kirby suffers severe gunshot wounds and is near death.
The Funhouse, 1h36
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror comedy, Horror, Slasher
Themes Circus films, Comedy horror films
Actors Elizabeth Berridge, Cooper Huckabee, William Finley, Miles Chapin, Sylvia Miles, Kevin Conway
Roles Marco the Magnificent
Rating58% 2.9489952.9489952.9489952.9489952.948995
A masked intruder attacks Amy as she showers (resembling the famous shower scene from Psycho). The "attacker" turns out to be her younger brother Joey, a horror movie buff, and his "weapon" is merely a realistic-looking plastic knife. He has played the first of several practical jokes on her.
Dressed to Kill, 1h45
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Erotic, Thriller, Horror, Crime, Romance, Erotic thriller
Themes Psychologie, Films about sexuality, Transport films, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, Transgender in film, Serial killer films, Psychanalyse, Erotic thriller films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, William Finley, Keith Gordon, Dennis Franz
Roles Bobbi (voice) (uncredited)
Rating70% 3.548353.548353.548353.548353.54835
Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson) is a sexually frustrated housewife who is in therapy with New York City psychiatrist Dr. Robert Elliott (Michael Caine). During an appointment, Kate attempts to seduce him, but Elliott rejects her advances.
Simon
Simon (1980)
, 1h37
Directed by Marshall Brickman
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Comic science fiction
Themes Comedy science fiction films, Political films
Actors Alan Arkin, Madeline Kahn, Austin Pendleton, Wallace Shawn, Judy Graubart, Fred Gwynne
Roles Fichandler
Rating62% 3.1474653.1474653.1474653.1474653.147465
The Institute for Advanced Concepts, a group of scientists with an unlimited budget and a propensity for elaborate pranks, brainwash a psychology professor named Simon Mendelssohn who was abandoned at birth and manage to convince him, and the rest of the world, that he is of extraterrestrial origin. Simon escapes and attempts to reform American culture by overriding TV signals with a high-powered TV transmitter, becoming a national celebrity in the process.
Wise Blood
Wise Blood (1979)
, 1h46
Directed by John Huston
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Films about religion
Actors Brad Dourif, John Huston, Dan Shor, Harry Dean Stanton, Amy Wright, Ned Beatty
Roles Man (uncredited)
Rating68% 3.4444853.4444853.4444853.4444853.444485
Wise Blood follows the troubled life of Hazel "Haze" Motes, a 22-year-old veteran of an unspecified war and a preacher of the Church of Truth Without Christ. The Church – a "religious" organization of Haze's own creation – serves to further his bitter, passion-fueled and often spiteful words against anyone or anything representing a belief in God, an afterlife, judgement, sin or evil.
The Fury
The Fury (1978)
, 1h58
Directed by Brian De Palma, Frank Yablans
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Fantastic, Horror
Themes Children's films
Actors Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes, Carrie Snodgress, Charles Durning, Amy Irving, Rutanya Alda
Roles Raymond Dunwoodie
Rating62% 3.149963.149963.149963.149963.14996
Peter Sandza (Kirk Douglas), a former CIA agent, is searching for his son Robin, who was kidnapped by a secret intelligence organization inside the CIA led by Ben Childress. This organization kidnaps psychics to turn them into weapons in the service of the United States government. To better control the psychics, they also kill their families. Peter survived the attempt on his life, but his son believes he was killed by Arab terrorists. After that they begin to systematically experiment with him to increase his powers and develop ability to control them, and these experiments make him progressively more mentally unstable.
Obsession
Obsession (1976)
, 1h37
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime, Romance
Themes Films about families, Films about sexuality
Actors Cliff Robertson, Geneviève Bujold, John Lithgow, Stocker Fontelieu, Tom Felleghy, Regis Cordic
Rating66% 3.348543.348543.348543.348543.34854
In 1959, Michael Courtland (Robertson), a New Orleans real estate developer, has his life shattered when his wife Elizabeth (Bujold) and young daughter Amy are kidnapped. The police recommend that he provide the kidnappers with a briefcase of shredded blank paper instead of the demanded ransom, as the kidnappers will then be more likely to surrender when cornered, rather than attempt to escape with cash in hand. Courtland agrees to this plan. This leads to a bungled car chase in which both kidnappers and victims are killed in a spectacular explosion. Courtland blames himself for the deaths of his wife and daughter.
Eaten Alive, 1h31
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror
Themes Films about animals, Natural horror films, Serial killer films, Reptile
Actors Neville Brand, Mel Ferrer, Carolyn Jones, Marilyn Burns, William Finley, Stuart Whitman
Roles Roy
Rating55% 2.75062.75062.75062.75062.7506
After refusing a request from frisky customer named Buck (Robert Englund), naive prostitute Clara Wood (Roberta Collins) is evicted from the town brothel by the madam, Miss Hattie (Carolyn Jones). Clara makes her way to a decrepit hotel, called the Starlight Hotel, located deep in a swamp, where she encounters the middled-aged, mentally disturbed proprietor Judd (Neville Brand) and his pet Nile crocodile in the swamp beside the porch. Upon realizing Clara was a prostitute, the sexualy frustrated Judd attacks her while ranting and raving. When Clare fights back, Judd stabs her with a garden rake and feeds her dead body to the crocodile.
Phantom of the Paradise, 1h32
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Fantastic, Comedy, Horror comedy, Musical theatre, Fantasy, Horror, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Films about religion, Demons in film, Musical films, Comedy horror films, Children's films
Actors Paul Williams, William Finley, Jessica Harper, George Memmoli, Gerrit Graham, Rod Serling
Roles Winslow Leach / The Phantom
Rating73% 3.6522153.6522153.6522153.6522153.652215
The story follows music composer/singer Winslow Leach, seen by satanic record producer Swan during his performance as a back-up to the 1950s-style nostalgia band The Juicy Fruits, which Swan produces. Swan believes Winslow's music perfect to open "The Paradise" – Swan's highly anticipated new concert hall – and has his right-hand man Arnold Philbin steal it. One month later Winslow goes to Swan's Death Records to inquire about his music but he is thrown out. He sneaks into Swan's private mansion, and observes several women rehearsing his music for an audition. One is Phoenix, an aspiring singer, whom Winslow deems perfect for his music and the two quickly fall for one another. Winslow realizes Swan's plan to open the Paradise with his music. Winslow sneaks in and Swan orders his minions to beat up Winslow and frame him for drug dealing.
Sisters
Sisters (1973)
, 1h33
Directed by Brian De Palma
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Horror
Themes Medical-themed films, Psychologie, Films about psychiatry, Jumeaux ou jumelles
Actors Margot Kidder, Charles Durning, Jennifer Salt, William Finley, Barnard Hughes, Lisle Astor Wilson
Roles Emil Breton
Rating68% 3.4479153.4479153.4479153.4479153.447915
Advertising salesman Philip Woode (Lisle Wilson) is the victim of a prank on a Candid Camera-style television show and wins a dinner for two at a New York restaurant. He takes with him Danielle Breton (Margot Kidder), a naive young French Canadian model and aspiring actress who was hired as part of the prank. At dinner, they are interrupted by Danielle's controlling ex-husband Emil (William Finley), but Philip has him thrown out by security. They arrive to Danielle's Staten Island apartment, but spot Emil waiting outside; Philip pretends to leave to lure him away, then returns through the back entrance and the two make love on the living room sofa.
Dionysus in '69, 1h25
Directed by Brian De Palma, Bruce Joel Rubin
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Documentary
Themes Films based on mythology, Théâtre, Documentary films about the visual arts, Films based on Greco-Roman mythology, Films based on plays, Films based on Greco-Roman mythology
Actors William Finley
Roles Self/Dionysus
Rating51% 2.5746852.5746852.5746852.5746852.574685
Le film est une captation d'une représentation des Bacchantes d'Euripide par la troupe théâtrale Performance Group, mise en scène par Richard Schechner. L'écran est divisé en deux par le système de l'écran divisé, montrant d'un côté la scène, de l'autre le public qui assiste à la représentation.
The Wedding Party, 1h32
Directed by Brian De Palma, Wilford Leach
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Romance
Themes Films about marriage
Actors Jennifer Salt, Jill Clayburgh, William Finley, Robert De Niro, Jared Martin
Roles Alistair
Rating47% 2.355912.355912.355912.355912.35591
Charlie se rend sur l'île familiale de sa fiancée afin d'y préparer leur mariage. Peu à peu, ses convictions s'effritent lorsqu'il prend conscience de l'ampleur et des répercussions de son engagement.