Will Bellais

Author Bio File: The Marsh Hen Author

The Author

Will Bellais, M.F.A, son of a U.S. Navy man, was born in Cristobal, Republic of Panama, and grew up in Maryland, Virginia, California, and New Mexico. He served in the U. S. Navy and was part of Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica and Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mr. Bellais taught theatre and film at Montgomery College, Rockville, MD, for thirty years, and a four-year stint at Savannah State University. He attended New Mexico State University (BA), The George Washington University (MFA), with post graduate work at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., The American University, The Corcoran College of Art and Design, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. He did his doctoral studies at Maryland University. All his academic work was in theatre, film, television, and journalism. Today he volunteers in the Film and Television Department of The Savannah College of Art and Design.

An inveterate researcher, Mr. Bellais, began to form the story of the influenza epidemic of 1918 at the Georgia fort from his many visits to Tybee Island. When he discovered the old railway depot and the remnants of the Fort, he knew there was a story amongst these architectural artifacts. Many hours were spent reading the Savannah Morning News of 1917-1918. In addition, he worked with historical organizations and professors at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Mr. Bellais has published a novel, Echo Park, a Novel, and three plays in an anthology, A New Mexico Triptych. He was a magazine editor before entering academe, and after studying acting and working in film and television, he wrote a textbook, This Will Be a Picture, the Actor’s Guide to Making Movies. Mr. Bellais is a member of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and The Screen Actors' Guild. He has appeared in such films as Homicide (NBC), Major League II, Guarding Tess, and Avalon.