{{short description|American photographer and screenwriter (1928–2001)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = William Woodfield | birth_name = William Read Woodfield | birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1928|1|21}} | birth_place = San Francisco, California, <br>United States | death_date = {{Death date and age|2001|11|24|1928|1|21}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California | occupation = Photographer, television producer and screenwriter | spouse = Lili (Lily) Woodfield }}

'''William Read "Billy" Woodfield''' (January 21, 1928 – November 24, 2001) was an American photographer, television screenwriter, and producer who took black-and-white photographs of American screen actors. He also wrote the screenplay to ''the Hypnotic Eye'' (1960).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bmonster.com/horror26.html|title = The Astounding B Monster &#124; Horror}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Publishing === In 1946 Woodfield began publishing ''Magicana,'' a trade paper for magicians. In 1948 his newsletter became a regular column in ''Genii'' magazine.<ref name="genii"> {{cite web |last = Billot |first = Philippe |authorlink = |title = Bill Woodfield |work = Magicpedia |publisher = Magicpedia.net |date = December 29, 2011 |url = https://geniimagazine.com/magicpedia/Bill_Woodfield |accessdate = May 23, 2012}} </ref> He would continue writing the column until 1949, eventually shifting his focus to photography. In 1961, Woodfield co-authored ''The Ninth Life'' with Martin Machlin, documenting the infamous Caryl Chessman murder trial and execution. He would continue writing and publishing literature into the 1980s.

=== Photography === Working for Globe Photos, Woodfield's began taking celebrity photographs which began appearing in publications as early as 1957,<ref name="instyle"> {{cite web | title = In Memory of Jane Russell | publisher = Time Inc | url = http://news.instyle.com/photo-gallery/?postgallery=44340#9 | accessdate = May 22, 2012}} </ref> photographing Natalie Wood in 1959 and Elizabeth Taylor for Life magazine. Woodfield's photographs accompanied Peter Ustinov's writing in ''Ustinov's Diplomats''. In 1968, Woodfield published ''The Execution'', his first solo written work.

In 1962 Woodfield—along with Lawrence Schiller and Jimmy Mitchell—gained fame when Marilyn Monroe extended an invitation to a photo shoot on a closed set at the Twentieth Century Fox studio lot. The publicity shoot took place in the swimming pool that was to be used in what would have been her final film ''Something's Got To Give''.<ref name="vanityFair"> {{cite web | last = Schiller | first = Lawrence | authorlink = | title = Marilyn: Inside the Lost Nudes | publisher = Condé Nast | date = June 2012 | url = https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/06/marilyn-monroe-nude-photos-exclusive | accessdate = May 22, 2012}}</ref>

=== Television === In the 1960s and 1970s, Woodfield would team with writer/producer Allan Balter to earn numerous awards for work in television. The team was nominated numerous times. As a screenwriter, Woodfield's award nominations included a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay – Episodic Drama in 1966 for ''Mission: Impossible''; winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series in 1968 as a writer for ''Mission: Impossible;'' and earning another Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1971 for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama credited with ''Original Teleplay'' for the short-lived 1970 NBC series ''San Francisco International Airport.''<ref name="imdb"> {{cite web | last = Konczewski | first = Mike | authorlink = | title = William Read Woodfield | publisher = imdb.com | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940251/awards | accessdate = May 22, 2012}}</ref>

Woodfield and Balter were credited with opening up ''Mission: Impossible's'' story lines, which had previously been physical problems to solve (break into a prison, uncover a hidden message), by having the agents play grand-scale confidence games on the mission targets, to misdirect and manipulate them. "Billy Woodfield, a con devotee and self-described 'apprentice cheat,' was the prime mover behind the IMF's transformation into con artists. The approach had great story potential, gave the series its own identity, and helped make Mission a hit."<ref>{{cite book|last=White|first=Patrick|title=The Complete Mission: Impossible Dossier|year=1991|publisher=Avon Books|location=New York|isbn=0-380-75877-6|page=17}}</ref> He also wrote episodes of Columbo including episodes that featured magicians.

Woodfield died of heart failure in Los Angeles in 2001.<ref name="obituary"> {{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | title = William Woodfield, 73; Writer, Photographer of Monroe, Other Stars | work = The Los Angeles Times | date = November 27, 2001 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-27-me-8754-story.html | access-date = May 22, 2012}}</ref><ref> {{cite web | last = Lota | first = Louinn | title = TV writer-producer William Read Woodfield dies of heart failure | publisher = The Associated Press | date = November 25, 2001 | url = http://www.sacbee.com/static/live/news/calreport/N2001-11-25-2115-0.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011128013527/http://www.sacbee.com/static/live/news/calreport/N2001-11-25-2115-0.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 28, 2001 | accessdate = May 23, 2012}}</ref>

== Filmography == * 1965 ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)'' ''Writer'' * 1967 ''Mission: Impossible'' ''Writer'', ''Producer'' * 1968 ''Mission: Impossible'' ''Writer'', ''Producer''; ''Lost in Space'' ''Writer'' * 1969 ''Mission: Impossible'' ''Writer'', ''Producer'' * 1969 ''Mission: Impossible vs. the Mob'' ''Writer'' * 1971 ''San Francisco International Airport (TV series)'' ''Writer'', ''Producer'' * 1972 ''Earth II'' (TV pilot) ''Writer'', ''Producer'' * 1974 ''Shaft (TV series)'' ''Writer'', ''Producer''

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.fandango.com/williamreadwoodfield/filmography/p166184 Fandango page] * [https://archive.today/20130130113432/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/166184/William-Read-Woodfield/biography New York Times Movies page] * {{IMDb name|0940251}} * French Wikipedia article * [http://www.bmonster.com/horror26.html Interview with Woodfield] * [https://www.mst3kinfo.com/rolodex/Woodfield.html Obituary]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodfield, William}} Category:American television producers Category:American male screenwriters Category:20th-century American photographers Category:2001 deaths Category:1928 births Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners Category:20th-century American male writers Category:20th-century American screenwriters