2006 HALL OF FAME

Bill Thomas

Bill Thomas was born on October 13, 1921, in Chicago. Illinois. After USC and the Chouinard Art Institute, Los Angeles, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II , designing costumes for the USO.

An apprentice at MGM from 1947 to 1949, he later designed for Universal and Walt Disney Studios. Bill Thomas created costumes for more than 300 films in every genre from "Touch of Evil" (1958) to "The Parent Trap" (1961), with "Pillow Talk" (1959) and "Logan's Run" (1976) featured on that eclectic list, as well. He could design anything.

Thomas shared the Oscar with Valles for their magnificent work on "Spartacus" (1960). Thomas received 8 Oscar nominations for both color and black and white films and twice nominated for films in both categories the same year. These Academy nominations include "Seven Thieves" (1960), "Babes in Toyland" (1962), "Toys in the Attic" (1963), "Inside Daisy Clover" (1966), "Ship of Fools" (1966), "The Happiest Millionaire" (1967), "The Hawaiians" (1970) and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971).

An avid collector of Hollywood costumes, Thomas became an expert on movie memorabilia and acted as a consultant at auctions.

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