Legendary 'Villian' Actor Bill McKinney to be Profiled in Exclusive Registry

    Van Nuys, CA, November 3, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Movie and television character actor Bill McKinney has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of his multi-faceted career.

Bill McKinney made a promise to himself while serving on a mine sweeper in the Navy during the Korean War - if he made it home alive he would pursue his passion for acting. Once discharged, he made good on that promise and attended acting school at the Pasadena Playhouse in1957 before eventually being admitted to the famed Lee Strasberg Actors Studio. Of McKinney, Mr. Strausberg remarked, "This young man has a very unique talent. His honesty reminds me of Brando's early work" -- high praise from a man who trained several generations of theatre and film's most famous talents.

McKinney made his movie debut in She Freak in 1967 and his television debut on The Monkees in 1968. In 1972, he shot to fame as the Mountain Man in Deliverance, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. This role solidified Bill's reputation as a talented on-screen villain and he quickly caught the attention of some of the industry's most gifted directors. In the 1970s, Bill appeared in Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner (1972), John Huston's The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972), Peter Yates's For Pete's Sake (1974) and Alan J. Pakula's The Parallax View (1974). He also appeared in the TV movie The Execution of Private Slovik (1974) and guest-starred on top TV shows such as Baretta (1975) and Columbo.

In 1974, Bill made another memorable appearance in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, which starred Clint Eastwood. This led to work in some of Eastwood's other films including The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), The Gauntlet (1977), Bronco Billy (1980) and Pink Cadillac (1989). Other unforgettable movies in which McKinney has appeared during his career include First Blood (1982), Against All Odds (1984), Heart Like a Wheel (1983), Back to the Future Part III (1990), and The Green Mile (1999).

These days, Bill McKinney continues to act as well as write songs, record music and oversee the operations of Cut One Records, an entertainment company that provides television, film and radio production. He is a member of The Actors Studio, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Screen Actors Guild.

For more information about Bill and his solo CD Love Songs from Antri, which features pop, country-western and semi-classical music, visit http://www.squeallikeapig.com.

About Cambridge Who's Who
Cambridge Who's Who is an exclusive membership organization that recognizes and empowers executives, professionals and entrepreneurs throughout the world. From healthcare to law, engineering to finance, manufacturing to education, every major industry is represented by its 400,000 active members.

Cambridge Who's Who membership provides individuals with a valuable third party endorsement of their accomplishments and gives them the tools needed to brand themselves and their businesses effectively. In addition to publishing biographies in print and electronic form, Cambridge Who's Who offers an online networking platform where members can establish new business relationships and achieve career advancement within their company, industry or profession.

For more information, please visit our site: Cambridge Who's Who.

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