A few notes about Billy's career and the path that has lead him to working with students in the heart of the city of angels.

A HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE

Acting since the age of seven, William (Billy) O’Leary (BA, MFA), has been a professional actor for over thirty years. Cutting his sophomore math class in high school to be directed by seniors Gary Sinise and Jeff Perry, William finally graduated with a C- and paid his way (on scholarship and as a garbage man) through Illinois State University with John Malkovich, William Peterson, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Cole and many others. He went on to train classically in the Professional Actors Training Program, at the ‘Top Ten’ ranked (New York Times, U.S News and World Report) University of Washington where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree.

SEATTLE TO BROADWAY

Billy paid for his last two years of graduate school playing lead roles at the Seattle Rep and other theaters before moving to New York where he continued his stage work regionally, Off Broadway and finally on Broadway with Ed Harris and Judith Ivey in George Furth’s Precious Sons. Billy went on to become a senior faculty member at the fabulous Lesly Kahn and Co. and many of his clients have booked feature film and current series regulars.

FILM AND TELEVISION

Billy has played leading  and starring roles in feature films such as Bull Durham, Hot Shots, Black Angel  and Nice Girls Don’t Explode! (Produced by John Wells), as well as a dozen others. His most memorable experience was filming Walker starring Ed Harris, in Communist Nicaragua in 1986, and almost dying in a hospital there.

Additional Credits