William Hickey
Known for
An American character actor born in Brooklyn, William Hickey was a celebrated acting teacher at the HB Studio whose gaunt, gravel-voiced screen work made him unforgettable. He earned an Academy Award nomination as the wizened, wheezing mob patriarch Don Corrado Prizzi in 'Prizzi's Honor' (1985) and delighted a new generation as the voice of the mad scientist Dr. Finkelstein in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993). A master of eccentric, decrepit old men, he brought cackling menace and strange tenderness to supporting roles until his death in 1997.
William Hickey
44 Movies
16 Series
An American character actor born in Brooklyn, William Hickey was a celebrated acting teacher at the HB Studio whose gaunt, gravel-voiced screen work made him unforgettable. He earned an Academy Award nomination as the wizened, wheezing mob patriarch Don Corrado Prizzi in 'Prizzi's Honor' (1985) and delighted a new generation as the voice of the mad scientist Dr. Finkelstein in 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993). A master of eccentric, decrepit old men, he brought cackling menace and strange tenderness to supporting roles until his death in 1997.
Movies
Plays Dr. Finkelstein (voice)
The Nightmare Before Christmas
1993
Plays Ubertino da Casale
The Name of the Rose
1986
Plays Historian
Little Big Man
1970
Plays Uncle Lewis
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989
Plays Rudolf Smuntz
MouseHunt
1997
Plays Mr. Barton
Pink Cadillac
1989
Plays The Drunk
The Producers
1968
Plays Andre Toulon
Puppetmaster
1989
Plays Frank Keller Sr.
Sea of Love
1989
Plays Dr. Phillips
Major Payne
1995
Plays Drogan (segment ‘Cat From Hell’)
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
1990
Plays Billy Sparrow / Johnny Bird
My Blue Heaven
1990
Plays Perry
The Sentinel
1977
Plays Coney Island Barker
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
1985
Plays Drumm
Da
1988
Plays Ferret Man
Bright Lights, Big City
1988
Plays Don Corrado Prizzi
Prizzi's Honor
1985
Plays Eugene T. O'Rourke
The Boston Strangler
1968
Plays Old Man Beckersted
One Crazy Summer
1986
Plays Sid Fine
Mikey and Nicky
1976
Plays Maxi
A Stranger Is Watching
1982
Plays Jo-Jo
Invitation to a Gunfighter
1964
Plays Arthur
Forget Paris
1995
Plays Preacher
Wise Blood
1979
Plays Daddy
The Maddening
1995
Plays Apples
A Hatful of Rain
1957
Plays Monsignor
Love Is All There Is
1996
Plays Lars Hagstrom
The Runestone
1991
Plays Erich Schiller / Ernst Bauricke
Any Man's Death
1990
Plays Don 'Uncle Freddy' Frederico
The Jerky Boys
1995
Plays Man in Bed
The Telephone Book
1971
Plays Peris
Seize the Day
1986
Plays Mr. Skelton
92 in the Shade
1975
Plays Andre - A Proprietor
Twisted
1996
Plays Looseleaf Harper
Happy Birthday, Wanda June
1971
Plays Don Anthony
Mob Boss
1990
Plays Roger
Sons
1990
Plays Town Sheriff
Knocking on Death's Door
1999
Plays Alcoholic
Nunzio
1978
TV Shows
Plays Cecil Fogarty
Baby Talk
1991
Plays Carlton Blanchard
Wings
1990
Plays The Painter
Startime
1959
Plays Tommy Mullaney Sr.
L.A. Law
1986
Plays Jonesy
Studio One
1948
Plays Riley Connor
The Andros Targets
1977
Plays Carlton Webster (segment "The Switch")
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Dr. Nis
Tales from the Darkside
1984
Plays Hans Kozak
Miami Vice
1984
Plays Mr. Kendall
Moonlighting
1985
Plays Grandfather Wrigley
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
1993
Plays Tom Clark
The Equalizer
1985
Plays The Steward
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays Billy
Decoy
1957
Plays Harlan Hawkes
The Outer Limits
1995
Plays Hary Lewis
The Defenders
1961
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
MouseHunt
Full Filmography
Knocking on Death's Door
Town Sheriff
1999
Film
MouseHunt
Rudolf Smuntz
1997
Film
Twisted
Andre - A Proprietor
1996
Film
Love Is All There Is
Monsignor
1996
Film
The Maddening
Daddy
1995
Film
Forget Paris
Arthur
1995
Film
The Outer Limits
Harlan Hawkes · 1 episode
1995–
TV
Major Payne
Dr. Phillips
1995
Film
The Jerky Boys
Don 'Uncle Freddy' Frederico
1995
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is William Hickey still alive?
William Hickey passed away on June 29, 1997 at age 69.
What are the most famous roles of William Hickey?
William Hickey is best known for roles in The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Name of the Rose, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
How many movies has William Hickey been in?
Over a 40-year career (since 1957), William Hickey has appeared in 44 movies and 16 TV shows.
What was William Hickey's first movie?
The career of William Hickey began with A Hatful of Rain (1957).
What is William Hickey's most recent movie or series?
William Hickey's most recent release is Knocking on Death's Door, which premiered on March 1, 1999.
What TV shows has William Hickey appeared in?
On television, William Hickey has appeared in Tales from the Crypt, Miami Vice, Moonlighting, The Outer Limits.
William Hickey
1927-09-19 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
William Edward Hickey (September 19, 1927 – June 29, 1997) was an American actor. He was best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Don Corrado Prizzi in the John Huston 1985 film Prizzi's Honor, as well as the voice of Dr. Finklestein in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).