Billy Van Zandt

Comedy Writer / Actor / Author / Playwright

Billy Van Zandt was born in Red Bank, New Jersey on December 19, 1957. He was a half-brother of Steven Van Zandt and his parents are Mary Lento and William Brewster Van Zandt. He married Adrienne Barbeau on December 31, 1992 and the couple has twin sons named William and Walker, born on March 17, 1997.

In contrast to his half-brother Steven, Billy is more specialized but still is an actor, director and playwright. He is the actor and co-author of “You’ve Got Hate Mail, Silent Laughter, Drop Dead!”, and twenty other theatrical plays. Some of the titles are: “Night at the Nutcracker”, “Wrong Window” and “Love, Sex and the I.R.S”.

Van Zandt was nominated for an Emmy for his television special “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show”. He also won People’s Choice and NAACP Image Awards for his work on the Martin Lawrence comedy “Martin” and a Prism Multi-Cultural Award for his work on TV’s “The Hughleys”.

Along with partner Jane Milmore, Van Zandt created and/or developed television’s “The Wayan Brothers” for Shawn and Marlon Wayans, “Suddenly Susan” for Brooke Shields, “Bless the House” for Andrew Dice Clay, and “Daddy Dearest” for Don Rickles and Richard Lewis.

Van Zandt has also had roles as an alien “Starfield” ensign in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. He was a military cadet in the 1981 movie “Taps”, teenage shark-bait in “Jaws 2” and a mobster wannebe in the 1999 film “A Wake in Providence”. He also co-wrote the latter film. In addition to the above he also has done other television work from the ones shown above.

Van Zandt has been involved in the following stage plays as an actor, director or writer:

Love, Sex and the I.R.S.

Suitehearts

Lie, Cheat and Genuflect

Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her

Playing Doctor

A Little Quickie

Drop Dead!

Bathroom Humor

Infidelities

The Senator Wore Pantyhose

Till Death Do Us Part

Do Not Disturb

What the Bellhop Saw

Merrily We Dance and Sing

What the Rabbi Saw

Confessions of a Dirty Blonde

Silent Laughter

The Pennies

The Property Known as Garland

A Night at the Nutcracker

You’ve Got Hate Mail

Wrong Window

High School Reunion: The Musical

The television programs Van Zandt has been involved with are:

Newhart

Anything but Love

Nurses

I Love Lucy: The Very First Show---Emmy nomination

Sydney

Martin---Peoples’ Choice Award and NAAPC Image Award

Daddy Dearest

The Wayans Brothers

Bless the House

Suddenly Susan

Yes Dear

The Hughleys---Multi-cultural Image Award and nomination for NAACP Image Award

Center of the Universe

Jack and Janet Save the Planet

In addition to the above Van Zandt also participated in various ways in “A Wake in Providence”, “Taps”, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and “Jaws 2”.