William Lustig

{{For|the American gang leader and labor racketeer|Billy Lustig}}

{{Infobox person

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|2|1}}

| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

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| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|film producer}}

}}

William "Bill" Lustig (born February 1, 1955, in The Bronx, New York) is an American film director{{cite journal |last=Lustig|first=William |author2=Steve Voce |author2-link=Steve Voce |date=Spring 1995 |title=William Lustig; Interview by Steve Voce|journal=Psychotronic Video|volume=20|pages=52–59}} and producer who has worked primarily in the horror film genre. He is the nephew of former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta.

Film career

As a film director, Lustig is best known for his low-budget horror films Maniac,{{cite news | url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0DEFDA113BF932A05752C0A967948260 | title=Maniac | author-link=Vincent Canby | author=Canby, Vincent | work=The New York Times | access-date=2011-05-04 | date=1981-01-31}} Vigilante, Uncle Sam, and the Maniac Cop series.{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34443/nyc-horror-film-festival-announces-2009-lineup-and-lifetime-achievement-award-recipient|title=NYC Horror Film Festival Announces 2009 Lineup and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient|publisher=DreadCentral|date=November 6, 2009}} Lustig has also worked as an actor playing small roles in his own films as well as in films by Sam Raimi, most notably as a fake shemp in Army of Darkness and a dockworker in Darkman.[http://larecord.com/interviews/2008/03/25/tue-mar-25-william-lustig-interview/ March 2008 Interview] with L.A. Record As of 2009, Lustig is the CEO of Blue Underground; an entertainment company specializing in the release of obscure films and exploitation films on DVD.[http://www.cultfilmsenkutfilms.com/extras/bill_lustig.html Cultfilms en Kutfilms] Interview with Bill Lustig (April 13, 2007) He also produced a remake of his film Maniac (2012) and is rumoured to be producing a new upcoming Maniac Cop with Nicolas Winding Refn.{{cite web|publisher=Bloody Disgusting|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3369951/maniac-cop-sales-art-presented-by-nicolas-winding-refn/|title='Maniac Cop' Sales Art Presented by Nicolas Winding Refn!|date=13 November 2015 }} In an interview with Vulture in January 2023, Refn, when asked whether the creation of the series was still under discussion, said: "All I can say is, unfortunately, it’s not going to happen."{{cite web|publisher=Vulture|url=https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/nicolas-winding-refn-explains-how-copenhagen-cowboy-changed.html|title=Nicolas Winding Refn Answers Some Questions, Leaves the Rest to His Shrinks|date=9 January 2023}}

Selected filmography

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Notes
1974 \| Death Wish \| Apprentice editor (uncredited)
1976 \| The Zebra Force \| Stunts (uncredited)
rowspan="3" \|1977 \| Hot Honey \| rowspan="2" \|Credited as Billy Bagg
The Violation of Claudia
Sylvia \| Production manager (uncredited) Assistant director (uncredited)
1978 \| The Squeeze \| rowspan="2" \|Production manager (uncredited)
rowspan="3" \|1980 \| Inferno
Maniac \| Also producer Uncredited role as Al the hotel manager
Bella \| Production manager (uncredited)
rowspan="2" \|1982 \| Vigilante \| AKA Street Gang Also producer Uncredited role as First man exiting elevator
Tenebrae \| Production manager (uncredited)
rowspan="2" \|1988 \| Maniac Cop \| Uncredited role as Motel Manager
Cameron's Closet \| Uncredited cameo appearance as Man eating ice cream
rowspan="2" \|1989 \| Hit List \|
Relentless \| Also role as Cop #2
rowspan="2" \|1990 \| Darkman \| Cameo appearance as Dockworker #4
Maniac Cop 2 \|
1992 \| Army of Darkness \| Cameo appearance as Fake Shemp
1993 \| Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence \| Credited as Alan Smithee
1995 \| The Expert \| Uncredited Co-directed with Rick Avery
1996 \| Uncle Sam \| Direct-to-video
2012 \| Maniac \| Producer
{{TBA}} \| Untitled Maniac Cop remake \| Executive producer

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Notes

1974

| Death Wish

| Apprentice editor (uncredited)

1976

| The Zebra Force

| Stunts (uncredited)

rowspan="3" |1977

| Hot Honey