'Brokeback Mountain In Space': The Trouble With Billy

The Trouble With Actor William McNamara


When researching this post I was a bit disappointed with myself that actor William McNamara has only shown up a couple of times. Of course his birthday has been observed and as well he was the focus of a 'Blast From The Past' profile. McNamara's career is far from only in the past, he continues to work steadily and has several features due for release next year When I see stories on the actor, they usually end up showing caps, as I did below, from one of everybody's favorite embarrassment nudity scenes of. Chasers was a fun, but forgettable film which is remembered mostly for Billy's nude scene




As enjoyable as it was, William McNamara is far more than that one scene, that one movie. William attended Columbia University and studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute. William has also appeared in three of my favorite films. I don't presently own a copy of the 1992 television film Doing Time on Maple Drive but plan to rectify that. Doing time, which was directed by Ken Olin and co-starred Jim Carrey and James Sikking. William's plays Matt, still in the closet in fear of the reaction from his conservative parents
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Stealing Home is an emotional tear jerker for sure. It also provides Jodie Foster with one of her best roles to date. William plays Billy Wyatt (Mark Harmon plays him as an adult) in this 1988 drama. If you have not seen, or heard of this movie, I strongly suggest you find it. There is no green screen, no epic space battles, just a quiet beautiful film about the meaning of relationships, especially those we form as youth.

1995's CopyCat did not get stellar reviews, but I found it a fun, fast moving psychological thriller. It feels a bit dated when characters pull out cell phones as big as their heads, but watching William terrorize Sigourney Weaver and keep Holly Hunter and Dermot Mulroney (at his hottest!) is a fun ride. Harry Connick Jrs creepy turn is just an added bonus!



William (still fighting not to call him Billy...) has a new online project I encourage you to all check out. Like my favorite tv show of all time, The Comeback, The Trouble With Billy looks at an out of work actor trying to breath some life into his stalled career. Not only is William the star, he also writes and directs each of the online episodes. The show is quick moving, well written and edited with some fun cameos. William has a distinct knack for comedy, both with his acting and with his writing. Check out this sample episode and then William on The Trouble With Billy Facebook page HERE to show some love! If enough fans get on board the hope is the project might jump form the net to a tv screen!

The video below might also explain the post title.

Blast From The Past for March 9th William McNamara

Actor William McNamara is still a busy working actor, but many may not have have seen many of his more recent projects. William began acting professionally in the 80's and like many of you I fell in love/lust with him in some of his early roles in 'Stealing Home', 'Doing Time On Maple Drive' and 'Chasers'. I also loved 'CopyCat' in which William got to play the serial killer making life hell for Sigourney Weaver. Hopefully William will get another role soon to showcase his amazing talent. William was one of those young actors who was not only great looking but talented which were showcased in many of his early works.






One of my all time favorite movies is 'Stealing Home' (1988). Not only is it one of William's best roles, I also think it is one of Jodi Foster's greatest roles as well.






William in 'Chasers' (1994).

Bob's Buds

After Kirk Devane got written out after season two of Newhart, actor Steven Kampmann had small and supporting roles with several big names in some well known films.  Kampmann was featured with Billy Crystal and Robert Di Nero in Analyze This,  Bette Midler in For The Boys and Robin Williams in Club  Paradise. 

I was most interested in checking out the 1986 comedy Club Paradise.  I was interested because it starred Robin Williams, but also because it seemed to be one of William's least discussed films.  I was guessing it wasn't very good, but there were many things about it that I enjoyed. 

With the comedic cast involved, I can't believe that I hadn't seen the film before.  In addition to Kampmann and Williams, the comedy also featured; Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Peter O'Toole and Rick Moranis. 

The movie did also include what I think is one of Kampmann's only shirtless scene.  Most of the cast are visiting a nude beach when their clothes are stolen.  Although there is no nudity, it's a funny scene, with Kampmann and Martin wresting with a snake and Eugene Levy looking both furry and fetching without his shirt. 

Actor Peter Scolari worked steadily, mostly on television after leaving the show until his death from leukemia in 2021.  Scolari's last role was a regular role on Evil, a show I loved and watched in season one, and hope to return to. I wasn't aware of the actor's struggles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder until reading an interview for this piece. 

Girls

Another of Scolari's later appearances was his turn as Lena Dunham's father on the series Girls.  Scolari got great reviews for his time on the show and is the only actor to have won an EMMY for his role on the series.  Scolari also had a nude scene on the show, one I saw on-line when it appeared, but didn't pay much attention to at the time as I wasn't watching the HBO show. Kudos to Scolari for doing his first nude scene when he was in his late 50's. 

One of things I didn't know about Kampmann was that he was also a writer and director.  Kampmann was a writer and producer on the the sit-com WKRP in Cincinnati.  WKRP is another sit-com on my list to watch when I can find the time, and somewhere that it's airing. 

William McNamara

Kampmann also wrote films, including Clifford, The Couch Trip and the Rodney Dangerfield comedy Back to School, (HERE:)  Kampmann also introduced to me to one of my movie crushes, William McNamara, (above) in the 1988 drama Stealing Home. 

Kampmann co-wrote and co-directed Stealing Home along side William Porter.  I first saw the film on VHS when I was a kid, but didn't really appreciate it until seeing years later when I was a bit older.  Not only did I crush over William, I also think this film also contains one of my favorite Jodie Foster performances. 

The movie is pure 80's starting with it's saxophone led soundtrack.  It's also a relationship based film, and I loved the relationships explored, especially the one between Billy and Katie. (Foster)  The adult Billy is played by Mark Harmon, with McNamara playing Billy as a teenager.  The film also features Foster and Helen Hunt in the same film, although they don't play related characters, nor sadly share any scenes.  Still a tear jerker, that gets me every time. Thanks Kirk!

Happy Birthday today March 31st

Happy 50th to actor William McNamara!

William was a part of many movies that I loved growing up. Three of my favorites were Stealing Home, Doing Time on Maple Drive and the underrated psychological thriller CopyCat. William is still a busy actor with close to a half dozen movies due for release over the next year. Check out more of William on FH HERE: & HERE:

Check out more of today's Birthdays HERE: & HERE:

McNamara with Jodie Foster in Stealing Home, 1988

Not my favorite movie of William's, but with his nude scene, 1994's Chasers has become one of his most memorable.