Biography
Billy Van Zandt is an American playwright, television writer and occasional actor. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1957, he began his career as an actor with small roles in films including Jaws 2 (1978), Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and Taps (1981), in which he played the cadet Bug.
He later concentrated on writing, collaborating for more than four decades with Jane Milmore until her death in 2020. Together they wrote and starred in numerous stage comedies, many published and widely produced. On television they contributed episodes and served as producers on series including Newhart, Martin, The Wayans Bros., The Hughleys and Yes, Dear. Van Zandt received an Emmy nomination for the 1990 special I Love Lucy: The Very First Show and shared a People’s Choice Award and NAACP Image Award for Martin.
