William Winckler

{{short description|American actor and independent filmmaker (born 1964)}}

{{COI|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = William Winckler

| image = William Winckler.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|10|3}}

| birth_place = California, US

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| spouse =

| occupation = Screenwriter, film director, film producer, actor, independent filmmaker, voice actor, businessman

| years_active = 1976-present

}}

William Winckler (born October 3, 1964 in California) is an American actor, businessman, director, producer, and independent filmmaker best known for writing, producing and directing cult movies, horror films and English dubbed animation.{{cite web |url=http://www.horror-web.com/interviews/winckler.htm|title=Unimonster's Interview with William Winckler|publisher=HorrorWeb|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2013-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012022221/http://www.horror-web.com/interviews/winckler.htm}} He is the son of child actor Robert Winckler (often credited as Robert Winkler).

In the 1980s, Winckler appeared as an actor on TV series such as Remington Steele, Knight Rider, Murder, She Wrote, Doogie Howser, M.D., Designing Women, The Fall Guy, and Short Ribbs starring Billy Barty. Winckler has also provided voice-over work, most notably Ultraman X in Ultraman X: The Movie.

In 1984, he produced and directed the English version of the classic Tatsunoko Production Co. Ltd. anime series Tekkaman the Space Knight. He formed his own production company in 2001, producing and directing as the horror film Frankenstein vs. the Creature from Blood Cove, and the Russ Meyer movie star reunion comedy The Double-D Avenger.{{cite web|url=http://drgoresfunhouse.com/interviews/william-winckler/ |title=Interview with William Winckler |publisher=Drgoresfunhouse.com |date=2010-09-10 |access-date=2015-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222105735/http://drgoresfunhouse.com/interviews/william-winckler/ |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mjsimpson.co.uk/interviews/williamwinckler.html |title=William Winckler Interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051029074746/http://www.mjsimpson.co.uk/interviews/williamwinckler.html |archive-date=October 29, 2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.buried.com/interviews/william-winckler-director-producer/218/|title=William Winckler Director/Producer - Exclusive Horror and Sci-Fi Interviews - 218|publisher=Buried.com|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2015-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629022942/http://www.buried.com/interviews/william-winckler-director-producer/218/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.roguecinema.com/article-250--0-0.html |title=William Winckler Interview |publisher=Rogue Cinema |access-date=2005-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010173507/http://www.roguecinema.com/article-250--0-0.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_4413.html|title=Frankenstein vs The Creature. Exclusive Interview with William Winckler|publisher=Horror-movies.ca|date=2005-10-04|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2015-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610202829/http://www.horror-movies.ca/horror_4413.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eatmybrains.com/showfeature.php?id=21|title=Exclusive Interview: William Winckler - Feature Article|publisher=Eat My Brains!|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2015-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319024017/http://eatmybrains.com/showfeature.php?id=21|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nanarland.com/interview/interview.php?id_interview=williamwinckler |title=Interview with William Winckler |publisher=Nanarland |archive-date=2013-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012052905/http://www.nanarland.com/interview/interview.php?id_interview=williamwinckler |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-double-d-avenger-1200544072/|title=Review: 'The Double-D Avenger'|work=Variety|date=2003-01-15|access-date=2015-12-11|archive-date=2015-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164222/http://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-double-d-avenger-1200544072/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/12/05/ultraman-flies-into-american-theaters-in-2017-2|title=Ultraman Flies into American Theaters in 2017! « SciFi Japan|access-date=2018-12-08|archive-date=2018-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124647/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/12/05/ultraman-flies-into-american-theaters-in-2017-2/|url-status=live}}

He produced all-new English movie versions of Toei Animation classics Gaiking, Danguard Ace, Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Fist of the North Star, Ashita no Nadja, Science Fiction Saiyuki Starzinger, Digimon Xros Wars, Yes! PreCure 5, and Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro.{{cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/07/30/classic-anime-gets-star-treatment/|title=Classic Anime Gets Star Treatment!|publisher=Scifijapan.com|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2013-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517183155/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/07/30/classic-anime-gets-star-treatment/|url-status=live}}

North American DVD label Shout! Factory released nine of Winckler's English dubbed anime features from Gaiking, Starzinger, and Danguard Ace throughout 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-10/shout-factory-adds-leiji-matsumoto-starzinger/spaceketeers|title=Shout! Factory Adds Leiji Matsumoto's Starzinger/Spaceketeers|publisher=Anime News Network|date=2013-05-10|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2013-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216175351/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-10/shout-factory-adds-leiji-matsumoto-starzinger/spaceketeers|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-10/shout-factory-to-release-gaiking-anime-on-dvd|title=Shout! Factory to Release Gaiking Anime on DVD|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=2014-08-23|archive-date=2013-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012120828/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-10/shout-factory-to-release-gaiking-anime-on-dvd|url-status=live}}

From 2015 through 2017, William Winckler wrote, produced and directed the American English language versions of Tsuburaya Productions' Ultra Series feature films. Among the movies are Ultraman X The Movie, Ultraman Ginga S The Movie, Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy, Ultraman Zero: The Revenge of Belial, Ultraman Saga, and Ultra Fight Victory. Ultraman X The Movie is in commemoration to the 50th anniversary of the Ultra Series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/08/15/ultraman-movies-get-all-new-english-dubs/|title=Ultraman Movies Get All-New English Dubs « SciFi Japan|work=SciFi Japan |date=16 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-16|archive-date=2016-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816154259/http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016/08/15/ultraman-movies-get-all-new-english-dubs/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-20/william-winckler-productions-announces-english-dubs-for-3-more-ultraman-films/.119120|title=William Winckler Productions Announces English Dubs for 3 More Ultraman Films|website=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-12-08|archive-date=2018-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209130640/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-07-20/william-winckler-productions-announces-english-dubs-for-3-more-ultraman-films/.119120|url-status=live}}