William Finley obit

Actor William Finley dies at 69

Longtime De Palma collaborator starred in 'Phantom of the Paradise'

 He was not on the list.

Actor William Finley, who starred as the title character in Brian De Palma’s “Phantom of the Paradise” and appeared in many other films by the director, died Saturday, April 14. He was 69.

Finley’s character of the Phantom in the 1974 De Palma pic, an updating of “The Phantom of the Opera” that also starred Paul Williams, is sometimes credited as an inspiration for Darth Vader in George Lucas’ “Star Wars” films.

Finley appeared in several of De Palma’s early films, including the helmer’s 1962 short “Woton’s Wake”; features “Murder a la Mod,” “Dionysus” (which captured the seminal Performance Garage production of “Dionysus in ’69” that starred Finley) and “The Wedding Party”; and the film that first brought the director to prominence, 1973’s “Sisters,” in which Finley played the ex-husband of Margot Kidder‘s character.

The actor also appeared in De Palma’s 1978 film “The Fury,” with Kirk Douglas, and in 1980’s “Dressed to Kill,” Finley provided the voice for the murderous female alter ego of Michael Caine’s psychiatrist character.

Finley returned to work with the director for the final time in 2006’s “The Black Dahlia.”

The actor also appeared in a number of movies by other directors, including “Eaten Alive,” Marshall Brickman’s sci-fi comedy “Simon,” Tobe Hooper’s “The Funhouse,” “Silent Rage” and Hooper’s “Night Terrors.”

As W. Franklin Finley, he contributed to the script for the 1983 comedy “The First Time.”

William Franklin Finley was born in New York City and graduated from Columbia U. in 1963. He subsequently met De Palma while both were doing graduate work at the newly coeducational Sarah Lawrence College.

Finley and De Palma appeared in the 2006 documentary “Paradise Regained: Brian de Palma’s ‘Phantom of the Paradise.'”

Finley is survived by his wife of 39 years, Susan, and a son.

Donations may be made to the Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship Children’s Fund, 511 Avenue of the Americas, Box 339, New York, NY 10011.

Actor

Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)

The Black Dahlia

5.6

George Tilden (as Bill Finley)

2006

 

Masters of Horror (2005)

Masters of Horror

7.4

TV Series

Husband (uncredited)

2006

1 episode

 

Melissa Joan Hart in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

6.7

TV Series

Werewolf (uncredited)

1998

1 episode

 

Tales from the Crypt (1989)

Tales from the Crypt

8.0

TV Series

Dr. Nevel

1993

1 episode

 

Night Terrors (1993)

Night Terrors

3.6

Dr. Matteson

1993

 

Double Negative (1985)

Double Negative

5.8

Short

Milt

1985

 

Chuck Norris in Silent Rage (1982)

Silent Rage

5.4

Dr. Paul Vaughn

1982

 

The Funhouse (1981)

The Funhouse

5.9

Marco the Magnificent

1981

 

Dressed to Kill (1980)

Dressed to Kill

7.1

Bobbi (voice, uncredited)

1980

 

Alan Arkin in Simon (1980)

Simon

6.3

Fichandler

1980

 

Brad Dourif, Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton, Dan Shor, and Amy Wright in Wise Blood (1979)

Wise Blood

6.9

Man (uncredited)

1979

 

The Fury (1978)

The Fury

6.3

Raymond Dunwoodie

1978

 

Eaten Alive (1976)

Eaten Alive

5.5

Roy

1976

 

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

7.9

TV Series

Dr. Elvin McCabe

1976

1 episode

 

Last Hours Before Morning (1975)

Last Hours Before Morning

5.5

TV Movie

Elmo

1975

 

William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Phantom of the Paradise

7.3

Winslow

The Phantom

1974

 

William Finley, Margot Kidder, and Jennifer Salt in Sisters (1972)

Sisters

6.9

Emil Breton (as Bill Finley)

1972

 

Dionysus in '69 (1970)

Dionysus in '69

5.1

Dionysus

1970

 

Robert De Niro and Jill Clayburgh in The Wedding Party (1969)

The Wedding Party

4.7

Alistair

1969

 

Murder à la Mod (1968)

Murder à la Mod

5.3

Otto

1968

 

William Finley in Zelenka (1968)

Zelenka

Short

Zelenka (as William F. Finley)

1968

 

William Finley in Woton's Wake (1963)

Woton's Wake

5.2

Short

Woton

1963

 

Writer

Tim Choate in The First Time (1981)

The First Time

4.9

screenplay (as W. Franklin Finley)

1981

 

Soundtrack

William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Phantom of the Paradise

7.3

performer: "Faust", "Never Thought I'd Get to Meet the Devil"

1974

 

Murder à la Mod (1968)

Murder à la Mod

5.3

performer: "Murder à la Mod"

writer: "Murder à la Mod"

1968