William Frankfather

William Frankfather, born Billy Joe Frankfather on August 4, 1944, in Kermit, Texas, was an American actor whose career spanned theater, film, and television. He died on December 28, 1998, at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center from complications of liver disease, at the age of 54. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, Richard.

Frankfather earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, both in English literature, from New Mexico State University, before completing a Master of Fine Arts in acting at Stanford University. His stage work included a place in the original Broadway cast of Children of a Lesser God, which opened in 1980. Beyond Broadway, he maintained a 25-year association with Theatre 40, a professional theater company based in Beverly Hills, California, serving as its artistic director for five years until June 1998. In that role he produced works by playwrights including Mark Medoff and Sam Shepard. His contributions to the stage were recognized with six Drama-Logue awards for acting and producing.

On screen, Frankfather is particularly noted for his portrayal of the silent, menacing killer albino Whitey Jackson in the 1978 comedy film Foul Play. Additional feature film credits include The Rocketeer, Death Becomes Her, and Mouse Hunt. His television work encompassed guest appearances on numerous series across several decades, among them Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, MacGyver, Remington Steele, Night Court, Murphy Brown, Empty Nest, Wings, Picket Fences, Melrose Place, NYPD Blue, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Tales from the Crypt, and Mama's Family.