William Gordon Carroll
October 14, 1948 ~ January 12, 2016
Resident of Walnut Creek Area
Actor and Vocalist
William Gordon Carroll beloved Actor and Vocalist passed away after a long and valiant battle with his health. He touched a multitude of lives with his gentle and giving spirit, talents, and positive outlook on life. William was born in Libertyville, Ill. to Charles E. Carroll, Jr. and Kathryn Dee Carroll (nee Abney). He graduated from Los Lomas High School with a degree in Business. He was fluent in both. French and English. William had a unique ability to charm a person with his numerous accents. As an Honored Tuba player he was a member of the California University Berkeley Marching Band. William was versatile with musical instruments, playing five different instruments from the violin to the bassoon. He worked 35 years for the Pacific Bell Company now AT&T, working his way from climbing telephone poles and phone installation to Senior Data Specialist and Data Center Management. At age 5 he fell in love with music surrounded by his brothers and the families pet hamster. William donned in his fathers hat, tooted to his mothers organ music with a bugle made from the insides of a of an old coffee perculator. He went on to dedicate 55 plus years to being a technician, musician, singer and actor. William sang in barbershop quartets and for 3 years he was a singing bartender at the Sea Witch in Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco. He added his romantic and spiritual tenor voice to many weddings, church services and stage productions. William has over 65 plus shows, commercials and company training videos to his credit. His on stage appearances included the roles Snug the Joiner in the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as Mr. Bumble in Oliver, and Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. A few of his favorite roles were Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Robert Livingston in 1776, and The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. The highlight of his many years working backstage and on stage was playing the role of Sancho in The Man of La Mancha beside his loving friend Robert Roger. William was co-founder and president of the highly acclaimed Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble, where children see fairy tales come true. He won the coveted Shelly award for his contribution to children’s theater. He played Santa Claus for the City of Walnut Creek, and was blessed to hear many children’s wishes for others. William enjoyed a well planned practical joke, and there were many! His fun, loving, and generous spirit will be missed by all who knew him. Friends and family are invited to a Memorial to be held on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, 1050 Flores, Rio Vista, CA. (707-374-5003) All are welcome to attend a dessert reception after the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, William asked that donations be given to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Rio Vista to enhance their music and art programs.