Bill Cutting

**William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting** is the main antagonist of Martin Scorsese's 2002 historical drama film, *Gangs of New York*. He is the tyrannical and sadistic leader of the Confederacy of American Natives who had killed Amsterdam Vallon's father. He is based on real-life gangster, William Poole.

He was portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, who also played Newland Archer in *The Age of Innocence.*

## Biography

### Early life

William Cutting was born in 1815 in New Jersey to an unnamed father and an unnamed mother who is never mentioned in the film. Not much is known about Bill's past other than the fact that he was born a patriot and presumably took over his father's role as leader of the Natives after his death.

### 1846

In 1864, Bill is the leader of the Protestant street gang, the Confederation of American Natives in Five Points, Manhattan. During the winter, a gang battle starts involving the Natives and the Irish Catholic street gang, The Dead Rabbits, led by "Priest" Vallon, an Irish immigrant. During the battle, Bill stabs Vallon, leading the battle to end. While Vallon dies, Bill witnesses Vallon's son, cry over his body. Bill finishes Vallon off and gifts him the knife that he murdered him with, due to Bill respecting Vallon's honor. Vallon's son is sentenced to be brought to an orphanage by Bill, until the son steals back the knife and runs off.

### 1862

Sixteen years later, Bill is now a powerful and well-known crime lord, who has started working with former members of the Dead Rabbits, along with celebrating the anniversary of when he murdered Vallon. One day, Bill is encountered by former Dead Rabbit, Johnny Sirocco who would like to pay tribute to Bill. During their conversation, Bill notices Johnny's new friend, who reveals himself to be an Irishman named Amsterdam, who in actuality, is Vallon's son. Eventually, Amsterdam becomes more and more involved in Bill's gang, with Bill becoming a mentor for Amsterdam, along with Bill introducing Amsterdam to corrupt politician, Boss Tweed. Bill is also saved from an assassination by Amsterdam.

On the anniversary of Vallon's death, Bill begins to bait Amsterdam to break by knife throwing act involving Jenny, which causes Amsterdam to reveal his true identity. Amsterdam throws a knife at Bill, which he dodges and then stabs Amsterdam, with Bill then beating afterwards. Instead of murdering Amsterdam, Bill burns Amsterdam's cheek with a hot blade. After hearing rumors about Amsterdam going into hiding and seeking revenge on Bill, Bill sends out former Dead Rabbit, policeman Happy Jack Mulraney to investigate Amsterdam's hiding spot. Instead, Mulraney is murdered, which leads Bill to have Johnny be almost beaten to death, with Amsterdam having to end his misery. After this, Amsterdam and his gang beat McGloin, one of Bill's lieutenants, which leads Bill to swear revenge on Amsterdam and his gang.

After hearing the news that Tweed had lost the election for sheriff to Monk McGinn, Bill murders him in a fit of rage. McGinn's death, leads Amsterdam to challenge Bill to a gang battle, which Bill happily accepts. Just before the gang battles starts the Civil War draft riots begin, this carries out during the gang battle, as canons fire while the gangs prepare to fight. Eventually, Bill and Amsterdam are left alone on the ground, coughing due to the smoke and their injuries from the canons. During this, Amsterdam kills Bill with his father's knife. In a sign of respect, Bill is buried with a makeshift headstone right next to Amsterdam's father.

## Deaths

### Murders Committed by Bill

* **Around 19 Dead Rabbits members:** Stabbed to death.
* **"Priest" Vallon:** Stabbed to death.
* **Monk McGinn:** Stabbed in the back with a thrown meat cleaver.
	+ Total: 21

### Murders Connected to Bill

* **Johnny Sirocco:** Stabbed with a pike by Bill's men, then put out of his misery by Amsterdam Vallon.
	+ Total: 1
		- Total Murders: 22

## Trivia

* Daniel Day-Lewis had to cover his eye with prosthetic glass in order to simulate Bill's glass eye.
* During the ending scene, Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Amsterdam, accidentally broke Day-Lewis' nose, however, he continued to film.