
Person
William Finley
Acting · 1942–2012 · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Biography
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.
Known for

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Dr. Elvin McCabe

Dressed to Kill
Bobbi (voice) (uncredited)

The Black Dahlia
George Tilden

Phantom of the Paradise
Winslow Leach / The Phantom

Sisters
Emil Breton

The Fury
Raymond Dunwoodie

Double Negative
Milt

Eaten Alive
Roy

Night Terrors
Dr. Matteson

Silent Rage
Dr. Paul Vaughn
Filmography
- 2011The Weird World Of Weird: Volume 2Woton’s Wake
- 2006The Black DahliaGeorge Tilden
- 2006Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma's 'Phantom of the Paradise'Himself
- 2006Sick GirlHusband
- 2004The AutopsySelf
- 2003Brian De Palma : Les Années 60
- 1993Night TerrorsDr. Matteson
- 1985Double NegativeMilt
- 1983The First TimeScreenplay
- 1982Silent RageDr. Paul Vaughn
- 1981The FunhouseMarco the Magnificent
- 1980Dressed to KillBobbi (voice) (uncredited)
- 1980SimonFichandler
- 1979Wise BloodMan (uncredited)
- 1978The FuryRaymond Dunwoodie
- 1976Eaten AliveRoy
- 1976Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanDr. Elvin McCabe
- 1975Last Hours Before MorningElmo
- 1974Phantom of the ParadiseWinslow Leach / The Phantom
- 1973SistersEmil Breton
- 1970Dionysus in '69Self/Dionysus
- 1969The Wedding PartyAlistair
- 1968Murder à la ModOtto
- 1963Woton's WakeWoton
- —ZelenkaZelenka
- —Meatcleaver SharkfuckRobert Johnson
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