Bill L. Norton
Norton (born August 13, 1943) is an American film and television director, writer, and producer. Among many projects, he is the writer-director of the films Cisco Pike (1971) and More American Graffiti (1979).
Bill L. Norton
- Name
- Bill L.
- Born
- 13 August 1943
- Occupation
- Film and television director, writer, and producer
- Nationality
- United States
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Documentary summary
Norton (born August 13, 1943) is an American film and television director, writer, and producer. Among many projects, he is the writer-director of the films Cisco Pike (1971) and More American Graffiti (1979).
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Note VALÉORINE
Bill L. Norton (born 1943) is a cinematographer, director and screenwriter, of American nationality. The cinematographer was born in Los Angeles.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bill L. Norton • Born — 13 August 1943 • Occupation — Film and television director, writer, and producer • Father — William W. Norton
Life and career
Life and career
Norton is most notable as a film director, including his first feature film, Cisco Pike in 1971, which he also wrote. He worked as a screenwriter in the 1970s and '80s, writing the scripts for Convoy and Outlaw Blues, among other films. He also has directed many television series, among them Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, John Doe, Hack, Las Vegas, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Lincoln Heights and Roswell. He was married to costume designer Rosanna Norton. He is the son of screenwriter William W. Norton, who was convicted in 1986 of importing arms to Northern Ireland for the IRA and the INLA. Sometimes, he is credited as B.W.L. Norton, Bill Norton or William Lloyd Norton.
Television
Television
As Director • Title — Year(s) — Episode — Notes • Gargoyles — 1972 — TV movie • The Twilight Zone — 1985-1986 — "Teacher's Aide" • Monsters!" • Tour of Duty — 1987-1989 — Pilot — Also co-executive producer • Notes from the Underground — Also writer & co-executive producer • Brothers, Fathers, and Sons • Battling Baker Brothers • Pushin' Too Hard — Also co-executive producer • Soldiers • Angel of Mercy • Saigon: Part 1 • Saigon: Part 2" • Popular Forces • Grand Slam — 1990 — Grand Slam • Chop Shop • Angel of Death — TV movies • False Arrest — 1991 • The Boys of Twilight — 1992 — "A Bend in the River" • Crossroads — Unknown episodes • Seaquest DSV — 1993 — Brothers and Sisters • Give Me Liberte • Hercules: The Legendary — 1994 — Hercules and the Amazon Women • Hercules in the Underworld • The Women of Spring Break — 1995 — TV movies • Deadly Whispers • Stolen Innocence • Gone in the Night — 1996 • Them • Vows of Deception • A Deadly Vision — 1997 • Our Mother's Murder • Bad to the Bone • Every Mother's Worst Fear — 1998 • Thirst • Vengeance Unlimited — 1998-1999 — Justice • Legalese • Sons of Thunder — 1999 — Moment of Truth • A Crime of Passion — TV movie • Profiler — 2000 — Quid Pro Quo • Pianissimo • The Fugitive — Sanctuary • Roswell — 2000-2001 — The End of the World • Control • FreakyLinks — 2001 — Subject: Sunrise at Sunset Streams • The Invisible Man — Going Postal • Den of Thieves • Flash to Bang • Angel — 2001-2003 — Happy Anniversary • That Vision Thing • Provider • Supersymmetry • Calvary • Life of the Party • Buffy the Vampire Slayer — 2002 — Two to Go • Pasadena — Someone to Talk To • Haunted — Last Call • John Doe — Past Imperfect • Hack — 2003 — Sinners and Saints • The Guardian — 2004 — Amends • Remember • Medium — 2005 — Coded • A Priest, a Doctor and a Medium Walk Into an Execution Chamber • Threshold — Pulse • Ghost Whisperer — Hope and Mercy • Law & Order: Criminal Intent — 2005-2006 — Ex Stasis • Slither • Country Crossover • The Unit — 2006-2009 — Unannounced • Silver Star • Two Coins • Inside Out • Bad Beat • Heartland — 2007 — Picking Up Little Things • Lincoln Heights — 2007-2009 — Missing • The Old Man and the G • Ode to Joy • Persons of Interest • Las Vegas — 2008 — Three Weddings and a Funeral: Part 1 • Generation Gap — TV movie As Producer only • Title — Year(s) — Episode — Notes • Tour of Duty — 1987-1988 — Dislocations — Co-executive producer • War Lover • Sitting Ducks • Burn Baby, Burn • The Good, the Bad, and the Dead • Nowhere to Run • Roadrunner • USO Down • Under Siege • Gray-Brown Odyssey • Blood Brothers • The Short Timer • Paradise Lost • The Hill • Grand Slam — 1990 — Who's Crazy? — Executive producer
Video game
Video game
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2005, director)
Films
• Year — Title — Director — Writer • 1964 — How to Succeed with Girls • 1971 — Cisco Pike • 1977 — Outlaw Blues • 1978 — Convoy • 1979 — More American Graffiti • 1982 — Losin' It • 1985 — Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend • 1987 — Back to the Beach — Story • Three for the Road Other credits • Year — Title — Role • 1965 — Girl Happy — Uncredited camera operator • 1966 — The Chase • The Fortune Cookie • 1973 — Messiah of Evil — Actor
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Bill L. Norton”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q684771: Bill L. Norton
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Canby, Vincent. ' Cisco Pike':Tale of Has-Been Rock Star Opens at Forum. The New York Times. 1972-01-15. 0362-4331.
- 2.Howe, Sean. The Celluloid Time Capsule. Los Angeles Times. May 28, 2006.
- 3.Horwath, Alexander. The Last Great American Picture Show: New Hollywood Cinema in the 1970s. Amsterdam University Press. 2004. 978-90-5356-631-2.
- 4.Taylor, Tadhg. Masters of the Shoot-'Em-Up: Conversations with Directors, Actors and Writers of Vintage Action Movies and Television Shows. McFarland. October 27, 2015. 9781476620985.
- 5.Rosanna Norton, Oscar-Nominated Costume Designer on 'Tron,' Dies at 80. The Hollywood Reporter. May 9, 2025.
- 6.Woo, Elaine. William W. 'Bill' Norton dies at 85; screenwriter became gunrunner. Los Angeles Times. October 10, 2010.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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