Baker, William B(uck) 1954-

views updated

BAKER, William B(uck) 1954-

(W. B. Baker, W. Buck Baker)

PERSONAL: Born September 1, 1954, in Orange, TX; son of Carl and Alvada (Sanders) Baker. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: College of the Ozarks, B.S., 1978; University of Hawaii at Manoa, M.F.A., 1979; University College, Wales (Cardiff, Wales), postgraduate diploma, 1980; Columbia Pacific University, Ph. D., 1988; trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: International travel, antiques.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Xlibris, 436 Walnut St., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703.

CAREER: Professional actor for film, television, stage, and radio; appeared in industrial films and videos; film roles, under name Buck Baker, include appearances in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, 1990; Kansas City, 1996, Ride with the Devil, 1999, and The Painting, 2002; television appearances include roles in Sometimes They Come Back, 1991, The Burden of Proof, 1992, I Can Make You Love Me, 1993, and A Matter of Justice, 1993. College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO, associate director of Beacon Hill Summer Stock Theater, 1979-81; Avila University, Kansas City, MO, associate professor, 1982-96, chair of theater board, 1987-96. Also acting coach, seminar presenter, and public speaker.

MEMBER: Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

AWARDS, HONORS: Graduate foreign fellowship, Rotary International, 1979-81.

WRITINGS:

(Under name W. Buck Baker) Celtic MythologicalInfluences on American Theatre, 1750-1875 (bilingual in Welsh and English), University Press of America (Lanham, MD), 1994.

A Solitary Frost (poetry), New Millennium, 1998.

The Orphans of Carmarthen (mythical fiction), Xlibris (Philadelphia, PA), 2001.

(Under name W. B. Baker) Vault of the Griffın (mythical fiction), Xlibris (Philadelphia, PA), 2004.

Contributor to periodicals, including Ozarks Mountaineer. Also author of The Director's Handbook, 1995.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Crimson, the third novel in "Carmarthen Trilogy"; research on Celtic mythology and Dyfed archaeological research related to Carmarthen.

SIDELIGHTS: William B. Baker told CA: "I have lived in Cardiff, Wales and in London, England for years and continue to write novels and classical poetry about the mythology and legends of the United Kingdom.

"My primary motivation for writing would be my lifelong interest and fascination with Celtic mythology. Indeed, having resided in the United Kingdom for years (as well as being of Welsh heritage and descent), I became consumed with British superstitions, myths, and legends, all of which I have carefully researched and included in my various texts and novels."