Billy Williams

Who is Billy Williams?

Billy Williams OBE, BSC is a British cinematographer.

Williams was responsible for shooting a number of films, including Women in Love, Gandhi, for which he won an Oscar, and On Golden Pond. Williams joined his father, also named Billy, as an apprentice cameraman, remaining with him for four years. Later he served in the RAF as a photographer. On leaving the RAF he obtained a job with British Transport Films, filming all forms of transportation.

After this, it was to Iraq, filming for the Iraq Petroleum Company. At this time he owned his own Arriflex camera. He spent several years in documentary work, hoping that one day he could break into features.

Before his feature debut, he became a cameraman on commercials, where he made contact with future directors Ken Russell and John Schlesinger. In 1965 he shot his first feature as director of photography, having by-passed the focus puller and operator stages. His first feature offering was San Ferry Ann. He made several others before shooting Billion Dollar Brain with Russell in 1967.