William Finley

Born: 1942-09-20

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). Most recently, he contributed a small but effective cameo 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.


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Dressed to Kill

as Bobbi (voice) (uncredited)
Released: 1980-07-25

After witnessing a mysterious woman brutally slay a homemaker, prostitute Liz Blake finds...

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Phantom of the Paradise

as Winslow Leach / The Phantom
Released: 1974-10-31

Fledgling singer-songwriter Winslow Leach finds himself double-crossed by the nefarious music...

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The Fury

as Raymond Dunwoodie
Released: 1978-03-10

When a devious plot separates CIA agent Peter Sandza from his son, Robin, the distraught father...

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The Black Dahlia

as George Tilden
Released: 2006-09-15

In 1940s Los Angeles, two former boxers-turned-cops must grapple with corruption, narcissism,...

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The Funhouse

as Marco the Magnificent
Released: 1981-03-13

Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town....

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Eaten Alive

as Roy
Released: 1976-12-25

A psychotic redneck who owns a dilapidated hotel in the backwater swamps of Louisiana kills...

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Silent Rage

as Dr. Paul Vaughn
Released: 1982-04-02

A mentally ill man in a small Texas town goes on a killing rampage and is fatally wounded by...

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Sisters

as Emil Breton
Released: 1973-04-18

Inquisitive journalist Grace Collier is horrified when she witnesses her neighbor, fashion model...

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Wise Blood

as Man (uncredited)
Released: 1979-10-24

A Southerner--young, poor, ambitious but uneducated--determines to become something in the...

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Last Hours Before Morning

as Elmo
Released: 1975-04-19

An ex-cop, now a private detective, investigating a gambler's murder finds that there may be a...

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Sick Girl

as Husband
Released: 2006-01-13

A shy entomologist named Ida—whose girlfriend has left her, due to her interest in...

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Night Terrors

as Dr. Matteson
Released: 1993-11-09

A young woman travels to Alexandria to visit her father, and becomes unwillingly involved with a...

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The Wedding Party

as Alistair
Released: 1969-04-09

Young Charlie begins to develop a case of cold feet as his upcoming wedding looms nearer....

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Simon

as Fichandler
Released: 1980-02-01

A group of scientists take Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwashing...

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Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma's 'Phantom of the Paradise'

as Himself
Released: 2006-02-28

A 50-minute documentary on the making of the film featuring director Brian De Palma, producer...

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Murder à la Mod

as Otto
Released: 1968-05-01

Naive young Karen wants to help her struggling amateur filmmaker boyfriend Christopher raise...

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Woton's Wake

as Woton
Released: 1963-05-26

Woton Wretchichevsky has a disfigured face, dresses in a cloak and mask, and stalks couples to...

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Dionysus in '69

as Self/Dionysus
Released: 1970-03-22

Filmed stageplay based on the ancient greek play The Bacchae written by Euripides. This play is...

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The Autopsy

as Self
Released: 2004-12-31

A documentary about the making of Brian De Palma's 1973 film "Sisters" including interviews with...

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Double Negative

as Milt
Released: 1985-01-01

Horror film director must plot to steal the negative of his film in order to save it from being...

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Brian De Palma : Les Années 60

as uncredited
Released: 2003-11-25

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Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

as Dr. Elvin McCabe
First aired: 1976-01-05

In the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio, suburban housewife Mary Hartman seeks the kind of...

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