William Finley

Biography

William Finley was an American actor known for the peculiar characters he played in Brian De Palma's films. Born in New York City, he attended Columbia University and acted on the New York stage before making his screen debut in De Palma's short Woton's Wake. For De Palma he was a slow-witted stagehand in Murder a la Mod (1968), a disapproving friend in The Wedding Party (1969), the title villain in Dionysus in '69 (1970), a psychiatrist in Sisters (1973), the meek songwriter Winslow Leach in Phantom of the Paradise (1974), and a psychic in The Fury (1978). He appeared in two Tobe Hooper horror pictures: Eaten Alive (1976) and The Funhouse (1981). Finley also played a scientist in Silent Rage (1982) and a private investigator in The Black Dahlia (2006). Beyond performing, he composed the theme for Murder a la Mod and shared screenwriting credit on The First Time (1983). He died in 2012.

69years old at death

Born September 20, 1942New York City
Died April 14, 2012Manhattan
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Also credited as William Franklin Finley

Movie Career

Films: 10
Career span: 25 years1968 to 1993

Genres

Horror50%, 5 films
Thriller40%, 4 films
Comedy30%, 3 films
Drama20%, 2 films
Sci-Fi20%, 2 films

First and latest

William Finley movies on Netflix

Night Terrors1993IMDb rating 3.6as Dr. Matteson
Silent Rage1982IMDb rating 5.5as Dr. Paul Vaughn
The Funhouse1981IMDb rating 5.9as Marco the Magnificent
Simon1980IMDb rating 6.3as Fichandler
The Fury1978IMDb rating 6.3as Raymond Dunwoodie
Eaten Alive1976IMDb rating 5.5as Roy
Phantom of the Paradise1974IMDb rating 7.3as Winslow
Sisters1973IMDb rating 6.8as Emil Breton
The Wedding Party1969IMDb rating 4.6as Alistair
Murder à la Mod1968IMDb rating 5.3as Otto

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Phantom of the Paradise1974 Comedy, Drama, Fantasyas Winslow
IMDb rating 7.327K votes
Sisters1973 Horror, Thrilleras Emil Breton
IMDb rating 6.824K votes
Eaten Alive1976as Roy
IMDb rating 5.510.0K votes
The Fury1978as Raymond Dunwoodie
IMDb rating 6.319K votes
Silent Rage1982as Dr. Paul Vaughn
IMDb rating 5.57.8K votes
The Wedding Party1969as Alistair
IMDb rating 4.61.9K votes
Murder à la Mod1968as Otto
IMDb rating 5.31.3K votes
Simon1980as Fichandler
IMDb rating 6.31.2K votes

Most often with

Brian De Palma directed five of these films, Tobe Hooper three. Jennifer Salt appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jennifer Salt

Charles Durning

Robert Englund

Janus Blythe

David Carson

Brian De PalmaDirector, 5 films

Tobe HooperDirector, 3 films

Films together

Jennifer Salt3 films together, 1968 to 1973
Jennifer Salt's page
- Sisters1973IMDb rating 6.8Finley as Emil BretonSalt as Grace Collier
- The Wedding Party1969IMDb rating 4.6Finley as AlistairSalt as Phoebe
- Murder à la Mod1968IMDb rating 5.3Finley as OttoSalt as A Bird
Charles Durning2 films together, 1973 to 1978
Charles Durning's page
- The Fury1978IMDb rating 6.3Finley as Raymond DunwoodieDurning as Dr. Jim McKeever
- Sisters1973IMDb rating 6.8Finley as Emil BretonDurning as Joseph Larch
Robert Englund2 films together, 1976 to 1993
Robert Englund's page
- Night Terrors1993IMDb rating 3.6Finley as Dr. MattesonEnglund as Marquis De Sade
- Eaten Alive1976IMDb rating 5.5Finley as RoyEnglund as Buck
Janus Blythe2 films together, 1974 to 1976
Janus Blythe's page
- Eaten Alive1976IMDb rating 5.5Finley as RoyBlythe as Lynette
- Phantom of the Paradise1974IMDb rating 7.3Finley as WinslowBlythe as Groupie
David Carson2 films together, 1976 to 1981
David Carson's page
- The Funhouse1981IMDb rating 5.9Finley as Marco the MagnificentCarson as Geek
- Eaten Alive1976IMDb rating 5.5Finley as RoyCarson as Marlo
Brian De PalmaDirector, 5 films, 1968 to 1978
All films by Brian De Palma
- The Fury1978IMDb rating 6.3Finley as Raymond Dunwoodie
- Phantom of the Paradise1974IMDb rating 7.3Finley as Winslow
- Sisters1973IMDb rating 6.8Finley as Emil Breton
- The Wedding Party1969IMDb rating 4.6Finley as Alistair
- Murder à la Mod1968IMDb rating 5.3Finley as Otto
Tobe HooperDirector, 3 films, 1976 to 1993
All films by Tobe Hooper
- Night Terrors1993IMDb rating 3.6Finley as Dr. Matteson
- The Funhouse1981IMDb rating 5.9Finley as Marco the Magnificent
- Eaten Alive1976IMDb rating 5.5Finley as Roy

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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