William Van Zandt (born December 13, 1957) is an American

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

, and the author of the best-selling TV memoir ''Get in the Car, Jane (Adventures in the TV Wasteland).''

Early life

Van Zandt was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, to Mary H. Lento and William Brewster Van Zandt. He is of Italian and Dutch descent. He grew up in

Middletown Township, New Jersey Middletown Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the township had a total population of 67,106, making it the most-populous municipality in the county and the state's 16th ...

Career

Van Zandt is the co-author and star of the Off-Broadway plays ''You've Got Hate Mail'', ''Silent Laughter'', ''Drop Dead!'', ''The Boomer Boys Musical,'' and 21 other theatrical plays written with

Jane Milmore Jane Milmore (March 25, 1955 – February 4, 2020) was an American playwright, screenwriter, television producer and actress. Biography Born in Laramie, Wyoming, to Joan Marie Judge and John Edward Milmore, Milmore was of Irish descent and was on ...

, including ''A Night at the Nutcracker'', ''Wrong Window,'' and summer stock perennial ''Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.'' Billy also wrote ''The Property Known as Garland'' for Adrienne Barbeau, which ran Off-Broadway at the Actor's Playhouse in 2006. Van Zandt was nominated for an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for his television special ''I Love Lucy: The Very First Show'', and won People's Choice and NAACP Image Awards for his work on the

Martin Lawrence Martin Fitzgerald LawrenceStated in interview on ''Inside the Actors Studio'' (born April 16, 1965) is an American comedian and actor. He came to fame during the 1990s, establishing a Hollywood career as a leading actor. He got his start playin ...

comedy ''

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

'' and a Prism Multi-Cultural Award for his work on TV's ''The Hughleys''. Along with partner Jane Milmore, he created and/or developed television's ''The Wayans Bros.'' for

Shawn Wayans Shawn Mathis Wayans (born January 19, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Along with his brother Marlon Wayans, he wrote and starred in The WB's sitcom ''The Wayans Bros.''(1995–1999) and in the comedy films ''Don't Be a ...

and

Marlon Wayans Marlon Lamont Wayans (born July 23, 1972) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Wayans began his career portraying a pedestrian in ''I'm Gonna Git You Sucka'' (1988). He went on to regularly collaborate with his brother Shawn Wa ...

, '' Suddenly Susan'' for

Brooke Shields Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress and model. She was initially a child model and gained critical acclaim at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film ''Pretty Baby'' (1978). She continued to model into ...

, ''Bless This House'' for Andrew Dice Clay, and ''

Daddy Dearest ''Daddy Dearest'' is an American television sitcom that aired on Fox, on Sunday nights from September 5 to December 5, 1993. Synopsis The series revolved around Dr. Steven Mitchell, a psychologist who lived in Manhattan with his young son and, ...

'' for Don Rickles and

Richard Lewis Richard, Rich, Richie, Rick, Ricky or Dick Lewis may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Richard Field Lewis Jr. (1907–1957), American radio network owner * Dick "Rocko" Lewis (Richard Henry Lewis III, 1908–1966), American entertainer * Rich ...

. In addition to starring in his own plays, he has had roles as Bob, one of the sailing teenagers, in '' Jaws 2'' (1978), an alien Starfleet ensign in '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979), a

military school A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...

cadet in the 1981 film '' Taps'', and a mobster wannabe in the 1999 film ''

A Wake in Providence ''A Wake in Providence'' (also titled ''Almost Married'') is a 1999 American independent comedy film that is the directorial debut of Rosario Roveto Jr. It stars Vincent Pagano, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and Victoria Rowell. Premise When ...

'', which he also co-wrote. On television, he was a regular cast member on the second season of ABC's ''

Anything but Love ''Anything but Love'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 7, 1989, to June 3, 1992, spanning four seasons and 56 episodes. The show stars Richard Lewis as Marty Gold and Jamie Lee Curtis as Hannah Miller, coworkers at a Chicago m ...

''. He was writer and guest star in the 1990

Valerie Bertinelli Valerie Anne Bertinelli (born April 23, 1960) is an American actress. She first achieved recognition as a child actress, portraying Barbara Cooper Royer on the sitcom ''One Day at a Time (1975 TV series), One Day at a Time'' (1975–1984) for w ...

series ''

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

''. He toured in the Off-Broadway hit ''You've Got Hate Mail'' which ran at the Triad Theater from 2010 to 2015 and currently tours in his newest play ''The Boomer Boys Musical''.

Personal life

Van Zandt is the half-brother of musician-actor Steven Van Zandt and brother-in-law of his wife, actress

Maureen Van Zandt Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...

. Billy married actress Adrienne Barbeau on December 31, 1992. The couple met in 1991 during the West Coast premiere of Billy's play ''Drop Dead!''. They separated in 2012 and divorced in 2018. They have twin sons, William and Walker (born March 17, 1997). Two years after his marriage ended, Billy and actress Teresa Ganzel met during his Off-Broadway play ''You've Got Hate Mail'' and have been together ever since. They announced their engagement over Christmas 2020 and married September 12, 2021.

Full-length plays

*''Love, Sex, and the I.R.S.'' *''Suitehearts'' *''Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect'' *''Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her'' *''Playing Doctor'' *''A Little Quickie'' *''Drop Dead!'' *''Bathroom Humor'' *''Infidelities'' *''The Senator Wore Pantyhose'' *''Till Death Do Us Part'' *''Do Not Disturb'' *''What the Bellhop Saw'' *''Merrily We Dance and Sing'' *''What the Rabbi Saw'' *''Confessions of a Dirty Blonde'' *''Silent Laughter'' *''The Pennies'' *''The Property Known as Garland'' *''A Night at the Nutcracker'' *''You've Got Hate Mail'' *''Wrong Window'' *''High School Reunion: The Musical'' *''The Boomer Boys Musical'' The plays are published with Samuel French, Inc. and performed worldwide.

Television

* ''

Life With Lucy ''Life with Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball that aired for one season on ABC from September 20 to November 15, 1986. It is the only Lucille Ball sitcom to not air on CBS and the very last sitcom she starred in before her death ...

'' (as Delivery Guy) * '' Newhart'' * ''

Anything But Love ''Anything but Love'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from March 7, 1989, to June 3, 1992, spanning four seasons and 56 episodes. The show stars Richard Lewis as Marty Gold and Jamie Lee Curtis as Hannah Miller, coworkers at a Chicago m ...

'' (series regular as Harold; Exec Story Consultant) * '' Nurses'' (Supervising Producer) * '' I Love Lucy: The Very First Show'' (Primetime Emmy nomination) * ''

'' (Creative Consultant; guest-starred as Father Van Zandt) * ''

'' (People's Choice Award, NAACP Image Award) (Co-Executive Producer; guest-starred as Jeffrey/White Couple) * ''

''(created by) (Executive Producer; guest-starred as Maitre'D) * ''

The Wayans Bros. ''The Wayans Bros.'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on The WB from January 11, 1995, to May 20, 1999. The series starred real life brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans. The series also starred John Witherspoon and Anna Maria Hors ...

''(developed by) (Executive Producer) * ''Staten Island 10309'' (unaired pilot; created by) (Executive Producer) * '' Bless This House'' (Executive Producer) * '' Suddenly Susan ''(developed original pilot) * ''

Yes Dear ''Yes, Dear'' is an American television sitcom created by Alan Kirschenbaum and Gregory Garcia, that aired on CBS from October 2, 2000, to February 15, 2006, with the total of six seasons and 122 episodes. It starred Anthony Clark, Jean Louis ...

'' (Consulting Producer) * '' The Hughleys'' (Multi-Cultural Image Award, NAACP Image Award nomination) (Consulting Producer; guest-starred as Bartender) * '' Center of the Universe'' (Consulting Producer) * ''Jack and Janet Save the Planet ''(unaired pilot; created by) (Executive Producer) * ''

American Dad ''American Dad!'' is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman for the Fox Broadcasting Company. Since 2014, the series has been airing new episodes on TBS. ''American Dad!'' is the first television ...

'' (guest-starred as Jerry the dentist) * ''

That Girl Lay Lay ''That Girl Lay Lay'' is an American comedy television series created by David A. Arnold that premiered on Nickelodeon on September 23, 2021. The series stars That Girl Lay Lay, Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Tiffany Daniels, Thomas Hobson, Peyton ...

(guest-starred as Funky Old Joe; episode "That Dude Dylan")

Film

* '' Jaws 2'' (1978, actor only) - Bob Burnsides * '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979, actor only) - Alien Ensign * ''

Skag ''Skag'' is an American drama series that aired on NBC and starred Karl Malden. ''Skag'' originated as a three-hour television movie that aired on January 6, 1980 (as an installment of ''The Big Event''). Over a week later, it then premiered as ...

'' (1979, actor only) * ''

Taps (film) ''Taps'' is a 1981 American drama film starring George C. Scott and Timothy Hutton, with Ronny Cox, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, and Evan Handler in supporting roles. Hutton was nominated for a Golden Globe award in 1982. The film was directed by Har ...

'' (1981, actor only) - Bug * ''

'' (1999, co-author) - Louie

References

External links

*
Van Zandt/Milmore website You've Got Hate Mail website
(March 10, 2006)
SilentLaughter websiteThe Property Known as Garland websiteBoomer Boys websiteThe Samuel French website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Zandt, Billy 1957 births American people of Dutch descent American writers of Italian descent Living people People from Middletown Township, New Jersey People from Red Bank, New Jersey Writers from New Jersey Male actors from New Jersey 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights American male stage actors American male television actors 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights