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Bill Brown was a fixture of the Buffalo, New York film and theatre communities, appearing in feature films, shorts and TV commercials. He appeared in numerous features directed by Fred Olen Ray, Christopher Ray and Gregory Lamberson. But that was just the tip of the iceberg: nearly every filmmaker and actor in Western New York worked with Bill during the years 2013 - 2022. Amazingly, he did not begin acting until after retiring from a long held factory job. A widower, he began dabbling in theatre. After appearing in the Starry Night Theatre production of "Treasure Island" at the Ghostlight Theatre in Tonawanda, Bill worked as a background performer in his first film, Lamberson's horror comedy "Dry Bones." Soon after, he appeared in a major speaking role opposite Lynn Lowry in Sam Qualiana's micro-budget found footage monster movie "The Legend of Six Fingers." Roles in Kory Green's "The Romans" and Adam Steigert's "Ombis: Alien Invasion" soon followed. Bill began working background in Fred Olen Ray Christmas TV movies and thrillers, and graduated to speaking roles for the 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, and supported and volunteered at local film festivals, including 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. Over the course of one decade, Bill became one of the most recognizable faces (and with his Scottish accent, had one of the most recognizable voices) in the Buffalo film industry, inspiring actors of all ages.
From his obituary:
A retired Tool and Die maker, William S. Brown, Sr., passed away at Buffalo Mercy Hospital at 79. William worked at Trico for over 25 till it closed and then at the GM Delphi Plant, in Lockport for over 15 years till his retirement. He also enjoyed working at the D'Youville Kavinoky Theater as a Stagehand, Actor, and Producer and was an extra in many locally produced Hallmark Movies, as well as a lead in several local commercials, and was Juror #6 in the movie "Marshall" a 2017 American biographical legal drama film shot here in Buffalo.
William also treasured spending time with his grandchildren, volunteering for "Meals on Wheels", golfing, bowling, and hunting with family and friends. A beloved husband of the late Jean (nee Parker) Brown and devoted father of Kathleen Brown and William, Jr. (Terri) Brown. The fond grandfather of Andrew Brown, Shawn Best, and Carolyn (Anthony) Martone and was the cherished and loving companion of Lucy McCabe.
Born on Wednesday, August 18, 1943, in Scotland, to the late Catherine (nee Sinclair) Brown and the late Andrew Brown, he 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.
