William Kerwin

William Kerwin (April 17, 1927 - October 27, 1989) was an American actor and filmmaker. He was most well known for his character roles in the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis.
== Career ==
Kerwin enjoyed some success on the stage and screen before being discovered by Herschell Gordon Lewis through the promotional short Carving Magic. His first feature film with Lewis was Living Venus, and he went on to star in some of the director’s best known works such as Blood Feast.
In addition to playing principal roles, Kerwin served variously as the assistant director, makeup technician, gaffer, key grip and propman for Lewis’ films. Kerwin was thus often involved in creating the gory practical effects that would become Lewis’ trademark.
Whether working with Lewis or other directors, Kerwin was closely associated with the exploitation film movement. In particular, he was known for work in nudist films and splatter films.
Throughout his career, Kerwin often performed under pseudonyms such as Thomas Wood in order to appear in non-union productions. He was registered with the Screen Actors Guild under the name Willam Kerwin.
== Personal Life ==
Kerwin’s first marriage was to actress Hanna Hertelendy from 1952 to 1958. Kerwin had one daughter from his marriage to Hertelendy, costume designer Barbara Kerwin.
In 1964, Kerwin married Connie Mason, who he met while filming Blood Feast.The couple had two daughters, Denise and Kim,and remained married until Kerwin’s death in 1989.
Kerwin was the brother of director Harry Kerwin and appeared in several of his films throughout the 1970s including God’s Bloody Acre, Barracuda and Tomcats.
All three of Kerwin’s daughters pursued film careers for at least a decade. Half-sisters Barbara and Kim Kerwin had bit roles in Herschell Gordon Lewis’ The Gruesome Twosome (1967 film)|The Gruesome TwosomeThe Gruesome Twosome (1967) - IMDb as children; William Kerwin himself did not appear in this movie. Both girls also collaborated with their uncle Harry Kerwin; Barbara had a small role in Sweet Bird of Aquarius while Kim acted in Cheering Section. Denise, William Kerwin’s youngest daughter, is the only of the three to never work with Lewis or Harry Kerwin during her acting career.
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes 	References
1959	Carving Magic 	Joe 	Short promotional film sponsored by Swift & Company.	
1961	The Long Rope 	Steve Matthews 	 	https://rarefilmm.com/2019/07/the-long-rope-1961/
1963	Blood Feast 	Det. Pete Thornton 	Credited as Thomas Wood 	https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/blood-feast-digging-into-the-guts-of-the-very-first-splatter-film
1963	Goldilocks and the Three Bares 	Tommy Sweetwood 	Credited as Tommy Sweetwood 	https://www.grindhousedatabase.com/index.php/Goldilocks_and_The_Three_Bares
1964	Two Thousand Maniacs! 	Tom White 	Credited as Thomas Wood 	https://www.arrowvideo.com/product/two-thousand-maniacs/889
1967	A Taste of Blood 	Dr. Hank Tyson 	Credited as Thomas Wood 	https://www.moviefone.com/movie/a-taste-of-blood/1076559/main/
1968	Suburban Roulette 	Marty Conley 	Credited as Thomas Wood 	
1969	Childish Things 	Mr. Sullivan 	 	https://rarefilmm.com/2019/04/childish-things-1969/
1971	Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things	Lead Detective 	Credited as Thomas Wood 	https://www.mondo-digital.com/auntmartha.html
1974	Impulse 	Soldier 	 	https://www.grindhousedatabase.com/index.php/Impulse
1976	No Way Back 	 	 	https://www.grindhousedatabase.com/index.php/No_Way_Back
1977	Tomcats 	Detective Tom Garrett	Credited as Thomas Dowling 	http://www.screenarchives.com/title_detail.cfm/ID/40289/TOMCATS-1977/
1978	Barracuda 	Sheriff Ben Williams 	 	https://www.thefilmyap.com/movies/barracuda-1978/
1981	Absence of Malice 	Walker 	Credited as Rooney Kerwin 	https://www.tvguide.com/movies/absence-of-malice/cast/100633/
1985	The Heavenly Kid 	Suburbaner 	Credited as Rooney Kerwin 	https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-heavenly-kid/cast/125752/
=== Television ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes 	References
1958	Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock	Tom 	5 episodes	
1982	Romance Theatre 	Jacob	5 episodes	
==In the media==
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==External links==
* William Kerwin on imdb
* William Kerwin: Movies & TV on Amazon.com
* William Kerwin - Rotten Tomatoes]
* Rooney Kerwin (1927-1989) - Find A Grave Memorial
== References ==
Category:1927 births
Category:1989 deaths
Category:American actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:Filmmakers