William Vance (Bill) Arnold, Jr., North Carolina’s first Film Commissioner, died Sunday, August 14, 2011, at the age of 75, at his home in Raleigh. In 1980, then-Governor Jim Hunt created the North Carolina Film Office and named Arnold as its first Commissioner. He served in that role for 26 years until his retirement in September 2006.
During his time on the job, Arnold helped develop and promote North Carolina’s production industry, establishing the state as one of the busiest production centers outside of New York or California. During Arnold’s tenure in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the state experienced a tremendous increase in production activity. Some of the landmark films that were produced in the state during that time included “The Color Purple” (1985), “Dirty Dancing” (1987), “Bull Durham” (1988), “Days of Thunder” (1990), “Sleeping with the Enemy” (1991), “Last of the Mohicans” (1992), “The Fugitive” (1993) and “The Crow” (1994).
“Bill leaves a great legacy and will always be remembered among of the pioneers of the North Carolina Film Industry,” said current NC Film Commissioner Aaron Syrett, who succeeded Arnold in 2007.
Born May 8, 1936, in Greenville, North Carolina, Arnold was a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of East Carolina University. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Jackson Arnold; son, Stephen Arnold of Raleigh; brother, John E. Arnold of Greenville; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made in his name to the SPCA of Wake County.
