Bill Balas

American screenwriter, director and producer (1974–2025)

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

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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

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Writers Guild of America, West

* 2015 Writer Access Project Honoree (Affliction) [4]

Slamdance Film Festival

* 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]

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

* 2005 Production Award Winner (The Pros and Cons of Breathing) [8]

## References

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1. ^ "Bill Balas". Internet Movie Data Base.
2. ^ https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/north-hollywood-ca/william-balas-12345362
3. ^ "In Memoriam". Writers Guild of America. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
4. ^ "2015 Writer Access Project Honorees". WGA. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
5. ^ "Slamdance 2010 Winners". Moviebytes.
6. ^ "American Screenwriting Competition". Flatshoe Entertainment.
7. ^ "ISFFH 2010 Winners". International Student Film Festival Hollywood.
8. ^ "Alfred P. Sloan Award". AFI Conservatory.

## External links

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* Bill Balas at IMDb

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