Bill Thompson
"Wallace"
Born in New York City in 1931, Wallace discovered his passion for humor early on. While attending high school, "Bill," as friends called him, thrived in football and track—but it was making people laugh that truly captured his heart. Whether writing funny stories, sketching cartoons, or jumping into a comedy skit or play, he loved every opportunity to entertain.
During these early years, Bill created a fictional character named Wallace Snead—a goofy, lighthearted figure inspired largely by Bill’s own adventures. The stories may have been labeled "fiction," but they were autobiographical at heart.
Bill later attended DePauw University in Indiana. Torn between his passions for cartooning, comedy writing, and performing, he never intended to stay long—“I just wanted to get rolling,” he often said.
In 1952, newly married to his wife Donna, Bill moved to Phoenix, Arizona. A tip from his cousin led him to a brand-new TV station, Channel 5. He started on the floor crew but quickly found his way in front of the camera—landing a role on The Golddust Charlie Show as Golddust’s nephew, Wallace Snead—bringing his beloved character to life for audiences.
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