Born June 3, 1929 in London, England, William Desmond Williams, known professionally as Billy Williams, was the son of a cinematographer also known as Billy.
Williams left school at 14 to go to work for his father as an apprentice cameraman, working with him for four years. At 18, he joined the RAF as a photographer for two years. He then went to work for BTF ( British Transport Films), working for them for five years during which he filmed all forms of transportation.
In the 1950s, Williams worked in the TV advertising industry. He began as an operator, becoming a director of photography in the early 1960s working with such directors as John Schlesinger and Ken Russell. He married his wife, Anne Pearce in 1957 with whom he had four children.
In 1965, Williams shot San Ferry Ann, his first feature as director of photography. His first major film was 1967’s Billion Dollar Brain directed by his old friend, Ken Russell. Several films later, he worked for Russell again as director of photography on 1970’s Women in Love for which he was nominated for an Oscar and a BAFTA. The following year, he was director of photography for another old friend, John Schlesinger, on Sunday Bloody Sunday for which he received a second BAFTA nomination.
In 1972, Williams was director of photography on Michael Anderson’s Pope Joan starring Liv Ullmann, Olivia de Havilland, and Franco Nero. In 1973, he shot Anthony Harvey’s TV film version of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie starring Katharine Hepburn, Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, and Michael Moriarty. He also shot the opening sequence to William Friedkin’s The Exorcist featuring Max von Sydow.
He was President of the British Society of cinematographers from 1975-1977.
In 1975, Williams shot John Milius’ The Wind and the Lion in which he had a cameo in the film that starred Sean Connery, Candice Bergen, Brian Keith, and John Huston. In 1976, he shot Stuart Rosenberg’s Voyage of the Damned starring Faye Dunaway, Oskar Werner, Lee Grant, Max von Sydow, James Mason, and Malcolm McDowall. In 1977, he shot Guy Green’s last film, The Devil’s Advocate starring John Mills and Stéphane Audran.
In 1978, Williams shot Daryl Duke’s The Silent Partner starring Elliott Gould, Christopher Plummer, and Susannah York. In 1979, he shot Going in Style starring George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg.
Williams was nominated for an Oscar for the second time for 1981’s On Golden Pond for which Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn won Oscars under Mark Rydell’s direction. He won on his third nomination for Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi the following year.
Williams’ post-Oscar films included 1985’s Dreamchild starring Coral Browne and Ian Holm directed by Gavin Millar, and 1987’s Suspect starring Cher, Dennis Quaid, and Liam Neeson directed by Peter Yates. His last film was 1992’s Shadow of the Wolf. He retired on New Year’s Day, 1996.
Williams’ wife Anne died in 2004. He died on May 20, 2025 at 95.
ESSENTIAL FILMS
WOMEN IN LOVE (1970), directed by Ken Russell
Nominated for four Oscars and winner of one for Best Actress Glenda Jackson, the film’s other nominations were for Russell’s direction, Larry Kramer’s adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s novel and Billy Williams’ stunning cinematography. Jackson’s Oscar, though well-deserved, was a surprise win over presumed frontrunner Ali MacGraw in Love Story. The film, which takes place in 1920, the year of the novel’s release, aside from Jackson’s performance, is probably best remembered for the nude wrestling scene between Alan Bates and Oliver Reed. Jennie Linden, Eleanor Bron, and Alan Webb co-star.
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY (1971), directed by John Schlesinger
Nominated for four Oscars for Best Actor Peter Finch, Best Actress Glenda Jackson, along with Schlesinger’s direction and Penelope Gilliatt’s original screenplay, Williams missed out on a nomination for his cinematography although he did receive a BAFTA nomination for his once again stunning cinematography. Finch as a lonely gay doctor and Jackson as a frustrated office worker share a lover in Murray Head’s young artist. Finch lost the Oscar to Gene Hackman in The French Connection while Jackson lost to Jane Fonda in Klute. The supporting cast included Peggy Ashcroft as Jackson’s mother and Bessie Love as a telephone message service operator.
ON GOLDEN POND (1981), directed by Mark Rydell
Nominated for ten Oscars and winner of three for Best Actor Henry Fonda, Best Actress Katharine Hepburn, and Best Adapted Screenplay by Ernest Thompson, this was the first collaboration between the film’s two legendary stars. Fonda’s nomination was only his second in his long career. It was Hepburn’s twelfth nomination and her fourth win. No other actor has won more than three. The film was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress Jane Fonda, as well as Best Picture, Direction, Cinematography (Williams’ second), Film editing, Sound, and Original Score. Doug McKeon and Dabney Coleman co-sar.
GANDHI (1982), directed by Richard Attenborough
Nominated for eleven Oscars and winner of eight, Attenborough’s film of the life of the famed leader of the Indian revolts against British rule through nonviolence was a passion project. Its Oscar wins were for Best Picture, Actor (Ben Kingsley), Director, Original Screenplay (John Briley), Cinematography (Williams’ third nomination and only win), Art Direction, Costume Design, and Film Editing. It was also nominated for Best Sound, Original Score, and Makeup. Also in the cast were Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, John Mills, and Martin Sheen among many others.
DREAMCHILD (1985), directed by Gavin Millar
Billy Williams’ exquisite cinematography beautifully captures 1930s New York City with flashbacks to the world of Alice in Wonderland with Coral Browne as the elderly Alice, the inspiration for the book, Ian Holm as author Lewis Carroll in the flashbacks, and Jim Henson’s creatures in this acclaimed work which earned awards recognition for both Browne and Holm though neither received an Oscar nomination for their memorable performances. Also contributing to the narrative are Peter Gallagher, Jane Asher, and James Wilby prominent amongst a large supporting cast.
BILLY WILLIAMS AND OSCAR
Women in Love (1970) – nominated – Best Cinematography
On Golden Pond (1981) – nominated – Best Cinematography
Gandhi (1982) – Oscar – Best Cinematography
