Bill Balas
American screenwriter, director and producer (1974–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Balas (February 19, 1974 – April 16, 2025) was an American screenwriter, film director and television producer best known for his work on the A&E series Bates Motel and the TNT series Animal Kingdom.[1]
Background
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Balas graduated from the American Film Institute, where he earned a MFA in Screenwriting. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, California, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an infant and underwent a successful double-lung transplant in his early twenties. Balas died at his home on April 16, 2025, at the age of 51.[2][3]
Awards
Writers Guild of America, West
- 2015 Writer Access Project Honoree (Affliction) [4]
- 2010 Teleplay Competition: Original Pilot Winner (Murphy's Last Stand) [5]
American Screenwriting Competition
- 2006 Grand Prize Winner (The Pros and Cons of Breathing) [6]
International Student Film Festival Hollywood
- 2006 Best Horror/Thriller Winner (House of the Rising Sun) [7]
- 2005 Production Award Winner (The Pros and Cons of Breathing) [8]
