MOVIE ROLES
Robocop
Orion Pictures
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Filmed in Texas in 1986 and released in 1987. This was William's first role on screen, and the work that earned his SAG card. His character, who was shot in the place where he says all rapists SHOULD be shot by the Robocop, was simply called "Creep" in the credits. In those same credits William was listed as *Bill* Shockley.
Street Asylum
Metropolis Pictures
Director: Greg Brown
Howling V: The Rebirth
Allied Vision; 1989
Director: Neal Sundstrom
Released in 1989, this was William's first starring role in a movie. He calls it his "never look back" point, meaning it was at that point that he knew he could make a living in the acting business. William plays "Richard," a married man who's been having an affair with one of the women who's also on the trip.
Plot summary: A group of tourists visit a castle with a history of horror which has kept it closed for many years, and an unexpected snowfall traps them there. One by one they begin disappearing. Eventually they discover that they all bear the same distinctive birthmark that links them to the castle's past. One of them is the werewolf--the one who's killing the others. Which one?
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
20th Century Fox; 1990
Director: Renny Harlin
Role: a punk gunslinger.
Switch
Warner Brothers Pictures; 1991
Director: Blake Edwards
Role: Party guest.
Dream Lover
Gramercy Pictures; 1994
Director: Nicholas Kazan
Role: Although this part is small, filmed during a hiatus from "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," William steals the show in his role as the scruffy good old boy Texas gas station owner, Buddy, who once was the lover of James Spader's wife. Spader finds him by accident, and when Buddy sees her photograph Spader's character learns the truth about the woman he married.
Girl In The Cadillac
Orion Pictures; 1995
Director: Lucas Platt
Role: William plays Lamar, the boyfriend of the "girl's" mom, although he would clearly like to crawl into the sack with the daughter. He's in rare form here: belching his beer, preening in the doorway barechested, lounging on the sofa like a big lazy cat, and popping his neck. And dressed in tattered jeans and a cut-off tank, then barechested, this film has some great eye candy for Shockley lovers, as well as showing his talent for capturing the essence of a character.
Showgirls
MGM/United Artists; 1995
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Role: William is excellent, despite the fact that this film is always referred to as a "sleazefest" in the popular media. His portrayal of Andrew Carver, a rock star, is powerful and intense. Carver, along with his minions, ends up raping a fan, in a scene that is difficult to watch because of the violence. He ends up getting the beating of his life from the Showgirl, when she pulls a knife on him in the middle of a sexual encounter.
TELEVISION
Houston Knights
ABC; 1987
Episode: Crime Spree
Director: Sidney Hayers
Character: Bodie Devlin.
Syndication
Director: Robert Englund
Jake and the Fatman
CBS
Director: Russ Mayberry
Sunset Beat
Pilot/ABC
Director: Sam Weisman
Love and Lies
Movie of the Week/ABC; 1990
Director: Roger Young
Character: Steve.
CBS
Director: Michael Caffey
Role: Either Gus or Willie--I can't tell! He's a henchman to a dealer in the opium trade in this western.
Alien Nation
FOX
Director: John McPherson
Character: Nick Colletta, a somewhat nerdy friend of one of the main characters, who's never seen a "newcomer."
Hardball
NBC
Episode: Angel of Death
Director: David Hemmings
Character: Teddy Barnes. William portrays a serial killer of homeless men.
It's Gary Shandling's Show
FOX
Director: Paul Miller
Quantum Leap
NBC
Episode: Missing In Action
Director: Michael Zinberg
Role: "Boner," a druggie bad guy.
Lucky/Chances
Mini-series/NBC
Director: Buzz Kulik
Role: Flash, a rock star.
A Quiet Little Neighborhood: A Perfect Little Murder
Movie of the Week/NBC; 1990
Director: Anson Williams
Role: Mitch, a friend of the couple in the movie.
Nasty Boys
NBC
Director: Leo Penn
Role: Milt Jackson.
In the Heat of the Night
NBC
Episode: And Justice for Some
Director: Harry Harris
Role: Troy Caldwell, whose drug-loaded van hits a kid on a bike.
Bagdad Cafe
Recurring role/series CBS; 1990
Director: Paul Bogart
Role: Wayne, deputy sheriff, and Whoopie Goldberg's love interest.
Young Riders
Recurring role/series ABC
Director: various
Role: Jake Coulter, bounty hunter.
Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance
Movie of the Week/NBC
Director: Mel Damski
Role: Mitch Sturdivan.
Quail Lake
Pilot/FOX
Director: Jim Parriott
Good and Evil
Series regular/ABC; 1991
Director: Terry Hughes
Role: Sonny, love interest of Terri Garr.
Lady Boss
Mini-series/NBC
Director: Charles Jarrot
Role: Axel, a movie director. This and "Lucky/Chances" are based on Jackie Collins' novels by those names.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Series Regular/CBS; 1993--
Director: various
Role: Hank Lawson, the misunderstood, sexy, devilish owner of the local saloon and house of ill repute. See: Profile of Hank Lawson.
Stolen Women: Captured Hearts
Movie of the Week/CBS; 1997
Director: Jerome London
Role: Gen. Custer, who was able to rescue two women from Native Americans in this romantic tale, loosely based on an actual historical event.
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