He was best known as the hillbilly who made Ned Beatty ‘squeal like a pig’ in DELIVERANCE. But he was a brilliant character actor who was well-known for appearing in many of Clint Eastwood’s films like THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES, THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT(as the freak who started blowing away the dozens of bunnies in the trunk of his car with a shotgun), THE GAUNTLET, BRONCO BILLY and countless others.

I had the opportunity to work with him on UNDERTOW in 2003. He was a good guy and a genuine weirdo. Many of us were a party to a genuinely uncomfortable and hilarious exchange between Bill and Terry Malick, who produced the film. Terry had cut Bill out of his seminal masterpiece DAYS OF HEAVEN in 1978 and let’s just say that words were exchanged between the temperamental Bill and the shy and quiet Terry. 

I first came to know him at the tender age of 7  as Dallas, The member of the Black Widow biker gang with horns in Clint Eastwood’s Ape-buddy/bareknuckle-fighting comedy classic EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE and its sequel ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN. 

He also appeared in many other favorites of mine such as TEX, FIRST BLOOD, THE PARALLAX VIEW, THE OUTFIT and CLEOPATRA JONES. 

In addition, he owned the web address Squeallikeapig.com. Which he mostly used to promote his musical lounge act in the valley. Go figure. 

But I’ll always remember his colorful descriptions of various acts to the female anatomy that he shared with us all on that magical set in Savannah, GA. in 2003. 

RIP Bill. Make god, well… You know.