Bill Svanoe
An award-winning playwright, actor, producer and screenwriter, who wrote the teleplays for the second season episodes "The Pioneers" (he is the husband of actress and director Joan Darling, who appeared in that same episode as the scientist Nicole Simmons) and "Stranger in Broken Fork" in 1974.
In 1961 he was a civil activist, member of the Freedom Riders, that challenged the status quo by riding various forms of public transportation in the South to challenge local laws or customs that enforced segregation. The violent reactions they provoked, bolstered the credibility of the American Civil Rights Movement. He was briefly imprisoned for his involvement in the movement.
Along with Erik Darling and Lynne Taylor, he as a member of The Rooftop Singers, a folk trio formed in the late 1962. He produced in 1963 the hit song "Walk Right In". The song was a number one record and also the biggest-selling single in the history of their label, Vanguard Records. That song was featured in the soundtrack of the movie Forrest Gump. He recorded and toured until 1968, when the group disbanded.
Began writing plays and screenplays, living in Los Angeles for most of the 70's, and Vail, Colorado, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, during the 80's.
In the early 70's he had small roles on shows like "Rod Serling's Night Gallery", "M.A.S.H." and "Up In The Cellar".
A highly respected screenwriter, he has created acclaimed television movies, including "Miles To Go Before I Sleep" (which won a Christopher Award in 1975). His feature films include "Waltz Across Texas" and "Fatal Beauty". His first play "The Newstand", won New Playwright Awards in New York and Holland. Many of his plays have been published since.
He is the Playwright-In-Residence for Phare Play Productions. His most recent credited produced screenplay for television was "Seduced By Evil" in 1994.
Since 2001, has taught screenwriting and playwriting at the University Of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill.
He resides on Fearrington Village, North Carolina and owns a summer home in Maine, New England.