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William HickeyAmerican actor, acting teacher
Date of Birth: 09.09.1927
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of William Hickey
Early Life and CareerWilliam Hickey was born on September 9, 1927 (some sources suggest 1928), in Brooklyn, New York City, to Nora and Edward Hickey, descendants of Irish immigrants. As a child, he began performing in vaudeville shows and radio shows. However, his true career began in May 1952, when he made his Broadway debut in the musical comedy "Tovarich".
In 1957, Hickey made his debut in both film and television. His early works included the drama "A Hatful of Rain" and roles in the series "Decoy" and "Studio One in Hollywood". In the late 1950s, he started teaching at the renowned HB Studio in Greenwich Village, founded by Hagen Berghof and Herbert Berghof. His teaching career spanned 40 years, and among his students were future stars such as George Segal, Sandy Dennis, and Barbra Streisand.
Acting Career
Although Hickey appeared in several television series during the rise of television, such as "Philco TV Playhouse," he rarely appeared in feature films after his role in the comedy "Operation Mad Ball". In 1967, he finally gained recognition with a small but memorable role in "The Producers" and a year later in the thriller "The Boston Strangler". On the other hand, the theater kept him busy, and he frequently performed on and off Broadway. During this period, he appeared in productions such as "On the Town," "Thieves," "The Body Beautiful," "Happy Birthday Wanda June," "Troilus and Cressida," and "Arsenic and Old Lace". He was also part of the American Shakespeare Festival Theater in the 1960s, and his students included James Woods, Billy Crystal, Carol Kane, Tom Berenger, and Amy Wright.
With the beginning of the 1970s, Hickey started to appear more frequently in films. He portrayed a historian in the western drama "Little Big Man" alongside Dustin Hoffman, Mr. Skelton in the comedy "92 in the Shade," and a preacher in "Wise Blood". His role as the deadly mafioso Don Corrado Prizzi in the crime drama "Prizzi's Honor" earned him an Oscar nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" and marked the beginning of a series of roles as wise patriarchs. Additionally, he enjoyed voicing the evil scientist in Tim Burton's animated film "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in 1993.
Later Life and Legacy
William Hickey passed away from emphysema and bronchitis on June 29, 1997, at the age of 69, in New York City. He was buried in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn. He died during the filming of the comedy "Better Than Ever," and his role was completed by the film's producer, who portrayed Hickey's character lying in a hospital bed. His final film, "Knocking on Death's Door," in which Hickey played a sheriff, was released almost two years after his death.
