William Hootkins

William Hootkins was born 5 July 1948 in Dallas Texas, USA. 

 Hootkins had a remarkable career playing everything from bit parts to leads, and from radio to film over the years.  But, he started at school.  He attended St. Marks in Dallas, TX where he was in the same theater group, the Harlequin Players, as Tommy Lee Jones.  Hootkins also attended Princeton University in Princeton, NJ where he studied astrophysics and was a member of Theatre Intime (1970).

At the recommendation of his friend John Lithgow, Hootkins moved to the UK and was trained at LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)

 He appeared in numerous sci-fi classics. He portrayed Munson in Flash Gordon, Lt. Eckhardt in Batman, Major Eaton in Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Bark Troll in NeverEnding Story III, and Kiril in The Island of Dr. Moreau with Marlon Brando just to name a few of his varied roles. 

 Hootkins was known for his clear voice, which was why he did narration and readings on tape. He also spoke fluent Russian. 

Hootkins died on October 23, 2005 in Santa Monica, CA.,  after an almost year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.  He is survived by his wife (of only three months), *Carolyn Robb; an ex-wife, casting director Polly Hootkins (1973 - Jan 2005 div); his mother; his sister Susan; his brother Robert.

*Ex-Royal chef to HRH Prince Charles.

 

 

Film

Colour Me Kubrick~2006 (US) - Frank Rich (see Actor Connections - Film)

Dear Wendy~2005 - Marshall Walker

Deadwood~2004 - Scott

Blessed~2004 - Laurderdale

Three Men in a Restaurant~2003 - Scott

Breed, The~2001 - Fusco

Hamilton Mattress~2001 - voice (30 minute short film made in the UK)

Town and Country~2001 - Barney

Extreme Machines: Super Sight~1999

Omega Code, The~1999 - Sir Percival Lloyd

Extreme Machines: Motor Cycle Mania~1998

Seizures~1998 - Arthur Kray (short film)

Something to Believe In~1998 -

This World, Then the Fireworks~1997 - Jake Krutz

Rhinoceros Hunting In Budapest~1996 - The man

Island of Dr. Moreau, The~1996 - Kiril

Death Machine~1995 - John Carpenter

Gospa~1995 - Judge Marulic

Funny Bones~1995 - Al

NeverEnding Story III, The~1994 - Bark Troll

Cement Garden, The~1993 - voiced Commander Hunt

Dust Devil, The~1993 - Captain Beyman

Age of Treason~1993  - Senator Garrus

Princess and the Goblin, The~1993 (voice)

Vida láctea, La<The Milky Life>~1992 - Julian Reilly

Tomorrow People, The~1992  - Colonel Cobb Tomorrow People, The~1992 - Colonel Cobb (see Actor Connections - Film)

Dust Devil~1992 - Captain Beyman

River Runs Through It, A~1992 - Murphy

Pope Must Die, The~1991 - Cardinal Verucci

Hear My Song~1991 - Mr. X (Imposter of Joseph Locke)

Hardware~1990 - Lincoln Wineberg Jr.

Batman~1989 - Lt. Eckhardt (see Actor Connections - Film)

American Gothic~1988 - Teddy

Crusoe~1988 - Auctioneer

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace~1987 - Harry Howler (see Actor Connections - Film)

Haunted Honeymoon~1986 - Reporter

Biggles: Adventures in Time~1986 - Chuck

Dreamchild~1985 - 1st Radio Actor (see Actor Connections - Film)

Water~1985 - Ben (see Actor Connections - Film)

White Nights~1985 - Chuck Malarek

Zina~1985 - Walter Adams

Tempest, The~1983 (V) - Caliban

Curse of the Pink Panther~1983 (uncredited) - Taxi Driver

Sphinx~1981 - Don

Raiders of the Lost Ark~1981  - Major Eaton (see Actor Connections - Film)

Hussy~1980 - 1st. Punter

Flash Gordon~1980 - Munson Hussy~1980 - 1st. Punter

Flash Gordon~1980 - Munson Hussy~1980 - 1st. Punter

Flash Gordon~1980 - Munson (see Actor Connections - Film)

Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession~1980 - Col. Taylor

Lady Vanishes, The~1979 - Party Guest

Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession~1980 - Col. Taylor

Lady Vanishes, The~1979 - Party Guest

Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession~1980 - Col. Taylor

Lady Vanishes, The~1979 - Party Guest

Hanover Street~1979 - Beef (see Actor Connections - Film)

Valentino~1977 - Mr. Fatty

Star Wars~1977 - Jek Porkins (Red 6)

Twilight's Last Gleaming~1977 - (uncredited) Sergeant Fitzpatrick

Big Zapper~1973 - Kono's Henchman (see Actor Connections - Film)

 

TV  

The West Wing~ - U.S. Translator in Impact Winter (#6.9) 12/15/04

Justice League~2001 - Commander in The terror Beyond: Part 1 (#2.15) 11/15/03

Discovery Channel:

Mysteries of the Smithsonian, Mysteries of the British Museum, and Mysteries of the Moscow Museum - Narrator

Magnificent Ambersons, The~2001 (mini-series) - Uncle George

Animated Epics: Moby Dick~2001 - Starbucks

Methuselah Tree (NOVA)~2001 - voice of Methuselah

Mars Pioneering Planet~2000 - Narrator

Miracle Maker, The~2000  (voice)

Like Father, Like Santa~1998  - Santa

Extreme Machines~1997 - Narrator 

Fry and Laurie Host a Christmas Night with the Stars~1994 - 12/27/94 Return of Sherlock Holmes, The~1987  - Spelman 1987

(see Actor ConnectionsReturn of Sherlock Holmes, The~1987  - Spelman 1987

- TV)

Princess and the Goblin~1995 

Aaaah!!! Real Monsters~1994 - in 'Tell it to the Marines'

Tomorrow People, The~1992 - Colonel Cobb in The Monsoon Man: Parts 2-5 (#3.2-5) 2/15 & 22; 3/1 & 8/94

Gummed Labels~1992  - Harold (Seducer Producer)

Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The~1992 - Serge Diaghilev in Barcelona, May 1917 (# 2.4) 10/12/92

Bergerac~1981 - Karl Goldman in My Friend Charlie (# 9.5) 2/2/91

Chancer~1990 - Moody in Remembrance (#2.4) 5/14/91

PBS-Wild Indonesia~1999  - Narrator

Capital City~1989 - Jay 1990

Poirot~1988 - FBI agent Burt in Adventure of the Cheap Flat (# 2.8) 2/18/90

Monkeys~1989 - 

Valerie~1986 - Belize in Paris: Parts 1-3 (#5.1-3) 9/18 & 25; 10/2/89

Hogan Family, The~1989 - Belize in Paris part2

Big Knife, The~1988 

U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart~1987  - August Mirch 1987

Return of Sherlock Holmes, The~1987  - Spelman 1987

Return of Sherlock Holmes~1987 - Spelman (see Actor ConnectionsReturn of Sherlock Holmes, The~1987  - Spelman 1987

- TV)

Return of Sherlock Holmes, The~1987  - Spelman 1987

New Statesman, The~1987 - Willoughby Guzzler in Baa Baa Black Sheep (# 1.7) 10/25/87

Paradise Postponed~1986 (mini series) -  Benjamin K. Bugloss

Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense~1984 - Lou Delmart in Black Carrion (#1.7) 3/14/86

Blackadder II~1986 - Monk Freddie Frobisher in Beer (# 1.5) 2/13/86

Rocket to the Moon~1986  - Phil Cooper

Black Carrion~1984  - Lou Delmart

Whiz Kids~1983 - Gregor in Red Star Rising (#1.9) 12/21/83

Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime~1980 - Hamilton Betts in The Affair of the Pink Pearl (#1.1) 10/16/83

Taxi~1978 - Liquor Authority Agent in Jim's Mario's (#5.22) 5/18/83

Philip Marlowe, Private Eye~1983 - in Finger Man (#1.3) 4/30/83

Taxi~1978 - Liquor Authority Agent in Jim's Mario's 1983

Remington Steele~1982 - Chester Harcourt in Vintage Steele (#1.19) 3/15/83

Cagney & Lacey~1982 - Zachary Kendall in Date Rape (#2.16) 2/21/83

Bergerac~1981 - Eugene Field in Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie (# 2.3) 1/23/83

Bret Maverick~1981 - Congressman Theodore Roosevelt in Horse of Yet Another Color (# 1.6) 1/5/82

The Life and Times of David Lloyd George~1981 (mini series) - Winston Churchill

Agony~1979 - Herman Tweeder in Communications Breakdown (# 3.4) 2/8/81
Tales of the Unexpected~1979 - Harry Chester in The Boy Who Talked With Animals (#4.3) 4/19/81

Rabbit Pie Day~1980 - Kolossov

Charlie Muffin~1979  - U.S. Embassy Photographer

Lost Boys, The~1978 (mini)  - Charles Frohman

Clouds of Glory: William and Dorothy~1978  - Reverend Dewey

Lillie~1978 (mini) - Colonel Cunningham 9/24 ; 12/24/78  (see Actor Connections - TV)

 

Plum's Pots and Pans~1977 - Dr. Pretzel 12/23/77

Come Back, Little Sheba~1977  - Postman

Who Dares Wins~19?> - Various roles

 

Theater

Hitchcock Blonde~2003 - Alfred Hitchcock (Lyric Theatre, London, UK; Broadway, NY, US 2005)

Their Finest Hour~2003 - (English Chamber Theatre, UK)

Orpheus Descending~2000 - Vindictive Sheriff (Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, UK)

Dreams in an Empty City~1988 - Harry (Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, UK)

The Tempest~1985 - Caliban ( )

Insignificance~1982 - Senator (Royal Court Theatre, London, UK)

What a Way to Run a Revolution (West End, London, UK)  

Rabbit Pie Day~1980 - Kolossov (performance viewed on BBC2)

The Dentist~1979 - (Royal Court Theatre, London, UK)

The Watergate Tapes

Moby Dick~1969 - Ahab

 

Radio

We'll Remember it for you...Wholesale~200? - Narrator/reader (2 parts)

A Bullet at Balmain's...~2003 - 

Dead-Heading the Roses~2003 - 

Dear Dr. Goebbels~2001/2? - 

J. Edgar Hoover~1999 - J. Edgar Hoover

American Faith: Richard Milhous Nixon's Road to Watergate Parts 1& 2~1998 - H.R. (Bob) Haldeman (see Actor Connections - Radio)

Victorville~1998 - Rock Ends Ahead~1997

The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes: The Problem of Thor Bridge~1994 - voice of Jay Neil Gibson 2/22/95

Notes From a Respectable Cockroach~1995 - (BBC Radio 2)

Deadlock~1993 - Bobby Malory

Adventures of Superman: Doomsday and Beyond~1990 - Lex Luthor (with an Australian Accent!)  (see Actor Connections - Radio)

Secret Agent: X9~ - Alfred Hall (part 3)

A Primate's Memoir: Love, Death and Baboons in East Africa (BBC Radio 4 book of the week) - reader

Bow Echo~     - (BBC World, radio play of the week)

 

Audio Books

Moby Dick~2005 - reader

Hiawatha~2005 - reader

L.A. Requiem~2004 - reader

Winter Queen, The~2004 - reader

Murder on the Leviathan~2004 - reader

Turkish Gambit~2004 - reader

Happy Isles of Oceana, The~1996 (Theroux) - reader   (readings for the blind)

A Man in Full~1998 - reader

Perry Mason: 

   Case of the Curious Bride, The~1992 - reader

    Case of the Haunted Husband, The~1992 - reader

    Case of the Reluctant Model, The~1992 - reader

    Case of the Sulky Girl, The~1992 - reader

Holidays In Hell~   - reader

Native Tongue~ - narrator

Skin Tight~  - narrator/reader

American Short Stories 1900-1950~   - reader (see Actor Connections - Audio Books)

American Short Stories 1900 to today~     - reader (see Actor Connections - Audio Books)

Kingdom by the Sea: His Candid and Compulsive Account of a Journey 'Round the Coast of Great Britain (Theroux), The - narrated Classic American Poetry~2000 - reader (see Actor ConnectionsClassic American Poetry~2000 - reader - Audio Books)

Moby Dick~1996 (Melville)  - reader

White Fand~1996 (London) - Narrator

Call of the Wild~    (London) - reader

In the Heart of the Sea~2000 - Narrator

Casebook of Sherlock Holmes: The Problem of Thor Bridge, The~1995 - J. Neil Gibson

Pillars of Hercules: A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean, The~     - Narrator

Psycho~ - narrator

 

Video Games

EverQuest II~2004 - Generic Male Barbarian Merchant/ Generic Male Dark Elf/ Generic Male Dwarf/ Generic Male Erudite Merchant/ Generic Male Gnome Merchant/ Generic Male Half Elf Guard/ Generic Male Halfling/ Generic Male High Elf/ Generic Male Human Merchant/ Generic Male Iksar Merchant/ Generic Male Kerran Merchant/ Generic Male Ogre Guard/ Generic Male Ratonga Merchant/ Generic Male Troll Merchant/ Generic Male Wood Elf

Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick~2003 - (voice) (see Actor Connections - Video Games)

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem~2002  (as Bill Hootkins) (voice) - Dr. Maximillian Roivas

Crash Bandicoot: Warped~1998 - (voice) Dingodile

Flight of the Amazon Queen~1995

 

Awards, Honors and Nominations

Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers’ Choice Award

Nom 2003 Best Supporting Actor for Hitchcock Blonde (Theatre) 

 

Miscellany

Was known as "King of the Grunion" for his enthusiastic interest in the Grunion Runs in Southern California (Santa Monica)

 

Friend and Star Wars connected actor, John Lithgow, urged Mr. Hootkins to move to England where he could hone his craft

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