Bill Brown was a multifaceted figure in the Buffalo, New York film and theatre communities, with a career spanning numerous feature films, shorts, and TV commercials. He worked with many notable directors and actors, including Fred Olen Ray, Christopher Ray, and Gregory Lamberson, among others. Notably, he did not begin acting until after retiring from a long-held factory job.
Bill's acting career took off after he appeared in the Starry Night Theatre production of "Treasure Island" at the Ghostlight Theatre in Tonawanda. He soon worked as a background performer in his first film, Lamberson's horror comedy "Dry Bones." This was followed by a major speaking role opposite Lynn Lowry in Sam Qualiana's micro-budget found footage monster movie "The Legend of Six Fingers."
He went on to appear in a variety of films, including Kory Green's "The Romans" and Adam Steigert's "Ombis: Alien Invasion." Bill worked extensively with Fred Olen Ray, appearing in his Christmas TV movies and thrillers, and eventually graduated to speaking roles for the director and his son, Christopher Ray.
Before long, Bill became one of the most popular and sought-after actors in the Buffalo film community. He also worked behind the scenes as a production assistant and overnight fire-watch, simply because he enjoyed being on set. Additionally, he supported and volunteered at local film festivals, including the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival, where he became known to visiting filmmakers from all over the world.
Some of his final roles included "Guns of Eden," "Heartbreak Falls," and "Turn Up the Night." In 2022, he received the Best Western New York Performance award from Buffalo Dreams for his dual performance in "Reflections," a short film directed by Larry Saunders. The film went on to screen at several international festivals. Buffalo Dreams renamed its award after Bill in his honor.
Bill was a beloved figure in the Buffalo film community, inspiring actors of all ages. He was a retired Tool and Die maker, having worked at Trico for over 25 years and then at the GM Delphi Plant in Lockport for over 15 years until his retirement.
Bill also had a passion for the arts, working as a Stagehand, Actor, and Producer at the D'Youville Kavinoky Theater. He was an extra in many locally produced Hallmark movies and a lead in several local commercials. He even had a notable role as Juror #6 in the 2017 film "Marshall."
In his free time, Bill enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, volunteering for "Meals on Wheels," golfing, bowling, and hunting with family and friends. He was a devoted father of Kathleen Brown and William, Jr. (Terri) Brown, and a cherished companion of Lucy McCabe.
Born on August 18, 1943, in Scotland, Bill immigrated to the United States in 1968. He was the dearest brother of Isobel (late Alec) Bennett, Kathryn (Robert) Lindsay, and the late Margo (late Bobby) Currie, and was also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
