William Hickey

William Hickey

Deceased · Born: Sep 19, 1927 · Died: Jun 29, 1997

Personal Details

BornSep 19, 1927 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Parents
  • Edward Hickey
  • Nora Hickey

Biography

Son of Edward and Nora Hickey, this renowned individual is best recognized for his iconic portrayal of an ancient Mafia don in the 1985 film Prizzi's Honor, marking a long and illustrious career spanning film, television, and the stage.

Begun as a child actor on the variety stage, Hickey's initial foray into the world of entertainment laid the groundwork for a life dedicated to the arts. His Broadway debut arrived as a walk-on in the 1951 production of George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, starring the esteemed Uta Hagen.

Throughout the golden age of television, Hickey frequently appeared on esteemed programs such as Studio One and Philco Playhouse, showcasing his versatility as a performer.

However, it is his invaluable contributions to the arts as a teacher that remain his most lasting legacy. As a faculty member at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by the illustrious Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof, Hickey had the privilege of mentoring a talented group of students, including George Segal, Sandy Dennis, and the incomparable Barbra Streisand.

Career

2018
Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre
Puppet Master: Blitzkrieg Massacre as Andre Toulon (archive footage)
2010
Puppet Master: Axis of Evil
Puppet Master: Axis of Evil as Andre Toulon (Archive Footage)
2003
Puppet Master: The Legacy
Puppet Master: The Legacy as Elderly Andre Toulon (Archive Footage)
1997
Mousehunt
Mousehunt as Rudolf Smuntz
1996
Twisted
Twisted as Andre - A Proprietor
1995
Major Payne
Major Payne as Dr. Phillips
The Jerky Boys
The Jerky Boys as Don 'Uncle Freddy' Frederico
1993
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas as Dr. Finkelstein (voice)
1991
The Runestone
The Runestone as Lars Hagstrom
Baby Talk
Baby Talk as Cecil Fogarty
1990
My Blue Heaven
My Blue Heaven as Billy Sparrow / Johnny Bird
Sons
Sons as Roger
Any Man's Death
Any Man's Death as Erich Schiller / Ernst Bauricke
Mob Boss
Mob Boss as Don Anthony
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie as Drogan (segment ‘Cat From Hell’)
1989
Sea of Love
Sea of Love as Frank Keller Sr.
It Had to Be You
It Had to Be You as Schornberg
Puppet Master
Puppet Master as Andre Toulon
Pink Cadillac
Pink Cadillac as Mr. Barton
Christmas Vacation
Christmas Vacation as Uncle Lewis
1988
Da
Da as Drumm
1987
A Hobo's Christmas
A Hobo's Christmas as Cincinnati Harold
1986
The Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose as Ubertino da Casale
Stranded
Stranded as Mr. Pierson
One Crazy Summer
One Crazy Summer as Old Man Beckersted
1985
Prizzi's Honor
Prizzi's Honor as Don Corrado Prizzi
Izzy & Moe
Izzy & Moe as Desk Clerk
1979
Wise Blood
Wise Blood as Preacher
1977
1976
1975
92 in the Shade
92 in the Shade as Mr. Skelton
1972
Between Time and Timbuktu
Between Time and Timbuktu as Stony Stevenson
1971
Happy Birthday, Wanda June
Happy Birthday, Wanda June as Looseleaf Harper
A New Leaf
A New Leaf as Smith (uncredited)
1970
Little Big Man
Little Big Man as Historian
1968
The Boston Strangler
The Boston Strangler as Eugene T. O'Rourke
1967
The Producers
The Producers as The Drunk
1957
Operation Mad Ball
Operation Mad Ball as Sampson (uncredited)