William "Bill" Berloni is an American animal behaviorist, humanitarian, and author, known for his training of rescue and breeder animals for stage, film, and television. Currently the subject of Discovery Family Reality Show premiering August 2015.[1]
Personal life
"Bill Berloni graduated from Berlin high school in Connecticut desiring to be an actor. While a theater major at Central Connecticut State University he apprenticed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. During his second season of volunteering at Goodspeed the producer Martin Charnin offered him an opportunity to get in the Actors' Equity Association. The offer was contingent upon his finding and training a dog for the new musical they were producing called "Annie". Being a wide eyed kid at the time, he agreed and adopted his first Sandy dog from a local shelter, thus beginning a new career direction."[2] Since that first Sandy, Bill has not only given acting careers to many shelter dogs in film, television and stage, but also has found loving homes for thousands of dogs over the years."[3]
Career
Bill Berloni to star in Discovery Family Network Reality Show "From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni" set to premier August 2015.[1]
Berloni is American Animal Advocate and Behaviorist for the Humane Society of New York.[4]
Bill Berloni is the only Animal trainer to have been honored with a Tony[5]
Berloni was presented with the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre during the 65th Tony Awards.[6]
Bill Berloni is known training numerous shelter animals for film and television including Charlie Wilson's War, Disney Channel Original Movie Frenemies and the Sony Pictures "Annie 2014 Film" starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx due in theaters Christmas 2014.
Bill discovered the newest Sandy, Marti, a 4-year-old Chow Mix who was abandoned at a high kill shelter Georgia then spent two years in various shelters finally ending up in Westchester County, New York where Bill adopted and trained her.
Bill is a published author known for his book "Broadway Tail"[7] and has been featured on many news shows including The Today Show,[8] CBS Sunday Morning,[9] CBS News[10] and Arise Entertainment 360 TV[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Studio/Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Mr Robot (TV Series) | USA Network | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2015 | From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni | Discovery Family | Self |
| 2015 | Peter Pan Live | NBC | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2014–2015 | Power (TV Series) | Starz | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2014 | The Leftovers (TV Series) | HBO | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2014 | Deep in the Darkness | Chiller (TV channel) | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2012 | Frenemies | Disney Channel | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2012 | Hope Springs | Columbia Pictures | Head Animal Trainer |
| 2012 | Annie's Search for Sandy[12] | NBC | Producer |
| 2005 | The Producers | Universal Studios | Head Animal Trainer |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Outer Critics Circle Award[13] |
| 2014 | Pet Philanthropy Circle Pet Hero Award[14] |
| 2011 | Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre |
References
- 1 2 "DISCOVERY FAMILY CHANNEL SETS THE STAG… : Discovery Communications". corporate.discovery.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ↑ Bianculli, David (November 2, 2012). "Animal Stage Trainer Makes Stars Out Of Pound Pups". NPR Radio. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Szabo, Julia (December 10, 2012). ""We Interview William Berloni Trainer of Sandy in "Annie"". Dogster. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Defeo, Saundra (June 2011). "(Press Release) 'We are pleased to announce that Humane Society of New York's Director of Animal Behavior and Training wins a Tony Award!'". Humane Society of New York.
- ↑ Grode, Eric (June 11, 2011). "Good Boy! A Trainers Tony treat". [New York Times]. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 6, 2011). "Athol Fugard, Philip J. Smith, Eve Ensler Win Special Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Berloni, William (September 4, 2012). Broadway Tails (revised ed.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. p. 256. ISBN 9780762783083. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ "From dog shelter to Broadway" (Video). todayshow.com. CBS Today show. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Johnson, Catlin. "Bill Berloni Makes Stars Out of Strays" (Video). CBS Sunday Morning. CBS News. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Award-Winning Animal Trainer Bill Berloni Stops by the Couch". CBS News. the Couch. Archived from the original (Video) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2014. Alt URL
- ↑ "Broadway Dog Trainer Bill Berloin tells his dog training Secrets". Arise Entertainment 360. Archived from the original (Video) on July 3, 2014.
- ↑ Dziemianowicz, Joe (October 26, 2012). "Annie's Search for Sandy" (Newspaper). New York Daily News. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ Cromarty, Peter. "Outer Critics Circle Announce 64th Annual Awards". Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
- ↑ "2014 Pet Hero Award Winner". Pet Philanthropy Circle. Retrieved December 1, 2014.