William Hickey
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William Hickey |
Bucks County Playhouse productions
The Lesser Comores - Chandra - 1956
The Queen and The Rebels - Scaltivo - 1959
Internet Movie Database - William Hickey
Internet Broadway Database - William Hickey
William Hickey
(1928 - 1997)
With a twinkle in his eye, WILLIAM HICKEY, he could play a distrustful, sneaky type character who was still lovable. He was a smallish, skinny, wrinkled old gent in his latter years, which, coupled with his tired, sneaky eyes, gaunt-looking face and creaky, raspy voice, worked well in these type roles. He looked older than he was which allowed him to play older gents. Although he began his career in the late 1940s, his biggest success didn't come until very late in his career. He was born in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York on September 19, 1928 to Edward & Nora Hickey who were of Irish lineage. Prompted by his parents to perform and dance at family gatherings, he later decided that he wanted to act. He started acting as a child on stage in his native New York City. He also acted and performed on radio. It wasn't until 1951 that he made his Broadway debut in "Saint Joan" with Uta Hagen in a small role. He later became an acting coach and teacher at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City. Founded by Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof (H&B) it was an important studio where many top actors trained. He also performed in live dramas on television in the "golden age" on such shows as "Philco Television Playhouse" and "Studio One." His film debut came in "A Hatful of Rain" (1957) as Apples. Among his other film credits were: "Operation Madball" (1957) in an uncredited role; "Invitation to a Gunfighter" (1964) as Jo-Jo; "The Producers" (1968) as a Good-Natured Inebriate; "The Boston Strangler" (1968) with Tony Curtis, as Eugene T. Rourke; "Little Big Man" (1970) as Historian; "Happy Birthday, Wanda June" (1971) as Looseleaf Harper; "92 in the Shade" (1975) as Mr. Skelton; "Mikey and Nicky" (1976) as Sid Fine; "The Sentinel" (1977) as Perry; "Wise Blood" (1979) as Preacher; "A Stranger is Watching" (1982) as Max; the film highlight of his career "Prizzi's Honor" (1985) as Max, a Mafia Don, for which he received an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor; "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" (1985) as Coney Island Barker; "One Crazy Summer" (1986) as Old Man Beckersted; "The Name of the Rose" (1986) with Sean Connery, as Ubertino de Casale; "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988) as Ferret Man; "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989) as Uncle Lewis; "The Puppet Master" (1989) as Andre Toulon; "My Blue Heaven" (1990) as Billy Sparrow; "Tales from the Darkside: The Movie" (1990) as Darrow; "The Runestone" (1990) as Lars Hagstrom; the animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) as voice of Dr. Finklestein; "Major Payne" (1995) with Damon Wayans, as Dr. Phillips; "Forget Paris" (1995) as Arthur; "Love Is All There Is" (1996) as Monsignor; "Twisted" (1997) as Andre; "Mouse Hunt" (1997) as Rudolph Smuntz and his last role was in "Hurdy Gurdy Man" released in (1999). He appeared on television as a regular on the series: "Baby Talk" (1991) as Fogarty. He also appeared in a few made for TV movies including: "Androcles and the Lion" (1967); "Between Time and Timbuktu" (1972); "Stranded" (1986) and "A Hobo's Christmas" (1987). He also guested on such series as: "The Outer Limits"; "The Equalizer"; "Tales from the Darkside"; "Moonlighting"; "Spenser: For Hire"; "L.A. Law"; "The Tracey Ullman Show" and "Wings." He continued teaching at the HB studio until two weeks before his death. He died on June 29, 1997 of emphysema and bronchitis in New York, New York at the age of 69.