William Roy

Not a well remembered child film actor, William Roy is better remembered as a pianist, accompanist, songwriter, singer and musical director. During the last several decades Roy prepared renowned cabaret shows for nightclub stars, notably the luminous Julie Wilson. With Wilson he put together "songbook" shows that honored the American theatre in tribute to such composers as George Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and Cy Coleman. He often memorably dueted with Wilson in her shows as well. William Roy was born in Detroit on May 28, 1928. His talents blossomed early and he started his professional career at the age of 3 singing on weekly children's radio programs. He then showed up on such local radio broadcasts as "The Lone Ranger" and "The Green Hornet," among others. Roy received his stage education at the Hollywood Professional School. As an adolescent (age 12) he began working in war-era films under the name "Billy Roy." Included in his resume were the films Aloma of the South Seas (1941) (his film debut), Hangmen Also Die! (1943) with Brian Donlevy, The Cross of Lorraine (1943) with Gene Kelly Passage to Marseille (1944) starring Humphrey Bogart and The Corn Is Green (1945) starring Bette Davis, and his finest movie showcase as a young teenage pianist and prodigy hoping to earn a scholarship in the Frank Sinatra / Kathryn Grayson MGM musical It Happened in Brooklyn (1947). A talented pianist on his own, his playing was nevertheless dubbed by young 17-year-old wunderkind André Previn. Roy's last film role was as Little Hawk in Young Daniel Boone (1950). Veering away from acting, Roy studied composition with the pianist Edward Kilenyi, Arthur Laage, Joseph Achron, Eada Rubinstein and Rina Larson. He eventually began composing and some of his art songs were performed by film opera diva Gladys Swarthout, among others. He also wrote the music and lyrics for the short-lived 1953 Broadway show "Maggie" starring Keith Andes and James Broderick, which included his songs "How Do I Love Thee?" and "What Every Woman Knows". In later years he contributed music to the popular "New Faces of 1962" revue, and also wrote the book, lyrics and music to the short-lived 1966 off-Broadway Show "The Penny Friend," based on a play by J.M. Barrie play "A Kiss for Cinderella" which showcased Bernadette Peters. In addition to his decades-long close contact as the writer, arranger and musical conductor for Julie Wilson's nightclub/cabaret acts, Roy also arranged and directed the Julius Monk in New York during the 1950s and also for such nitery notables as Rosemary Clooney, Mabel Mercer, Bobby Short, Blossom Dearie, Celeste Holm, Bernadette Peters, Mary McCarty, Lisa Kirk, Linda Lavin, Ginger Rogers, Margaret Whiting, Dolores Gray, Dorothy Dandridge, Portia Nelson and Carol Lawrence. Usually a shadow behind the stars he illuminated, Roy also recorded his own albums, one entitled "When I Sing Alone." His later work included music and lyrics for the musical "Moving On," which toured Ft. Lauderdale and San Francisco. As an occasional actor he appeared on the sitcom "Love, Sidney" starring Tony Randall, had a supporting role in the Manhattan Theatre Club's production of "A Backers Audition" directed by Martin Charnin and was handed the leading role of Buddy in "Gunmetal Blues" at The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. More recently, he played Zoot in The Asolo State Theatre's production of "1940's Radio Hour" in Sarasota, Florida. Roy suffered multiple strokes toward the end of his life and died not long after of respiratory failure at age 75 in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was survived by companion, musician Wayne Hosford.