| William N. Panzer | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Norton Panzer September 6, 1942 New York City, New York, United States |
| Died | March 18, 2007 (aged 64) Boise, Idaho, United States |
| Education | Princeton University, New York University Film School[1] |
| Occupation | Film and television producer |
William Norton Panzer (September 6, 1942 – March 18, 2007), also referred to as Bill Panzer, was an American television and film producer best known as one half of Davis-Panzer Inc,[2] the production company behind the Highlander franchise.
Panzer was born in New York City and educated at Princeton University.[2] He then attended the New York University Film School,[2] and worked as a cameraman and film editor, then produced television commercials at VPI.[1] In 1968, still at New York University,[2] he produced the feature documentary Mexican Anticipation starring Duke Ellington. Panzer then partnered Phos Cine Productions in New York, making commercials[2] and industrial films for seven years.[1]
In 1976, Panzer moved to Los Angeles and partnered with Peter Davis to found Davis-Panzer Productions.[1][2] They produced more than twenty films, including The Osterman Weekend (1983, directed by Sam Peckinpah), Death Collector with Joe Pesci, Stunts, and Freeway (1988).[2]
This company also made the Highlander franchise,[1][2] which comprises five movies, two television series, animated features and video games. Panzer co-wrote screenplays for three Highlander movies,[2] was Executive Producer of Highlander: The Series, which were nominated three times for the Gemini Awards and once for a Saturn Award in 1998. Panzer regularly attended Highlander conventions, where he mingled with fans and was very popular.[2] Panzer has also been a familiar figure at the Cannes Film Festival since 1982.[2]
On March 18, 2007, Panzer, who owned a home in Ketchum, Idaho,[3] fell while iceskating[4] at the neighbouring resort of Sun Valley. After being transported by helicopter to St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise, he died at 7:01 p.m. Cause of death was a "blunt force trauma of the head due to a ground level fall," stated the Ada County Coroners' office.[3]
Panzer was a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and of the Television Academy. His wife was Priscilla Panzer.[2] There is a scholarship fund in his name at the Lawrenceville School in Princeton, New Jersey.[2]