William Crain is an American film and television director. He was one of the first black filmmakers from a major film school to achieve commercial success. Crain was born in Columbus, Ohio. A graduate of UCLA's film school, Crain, unlike many of the so-called, "L.A. Rebellion" filmmakers who made films of a deeply personal or political nature, his work consisted almost entirely of mainstream and genre driven works. Throughout the 1970s he produced educational short films. In 1972, he directed Blacula. While largely ignored by critics, the film has become somewhat of a cult favorite. 

June 20th, 1949 in Columbus (Age 75)