William Arnold Newton


William Arnold Newton was an American actor, director, producer, beautician, and set-decorator. He acted in gay pornographic films under the name Billy London and Billy Porter and produced gay pornographic films under the name Bill E. London.

Early life

Newton was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. He left home at age 16 and traveled around the United States for three years before settling in Los Angeles in 1985. He received his GED from the L.A. Unified School District in 1989. Newton's friends describe him as somebody who saw himself much more of a poet and an illustrative artist and only did adult material for economic reasons.

Adult film career

While working at the Hollywood Spa, a gay bathhouse in Los Angeles, Newton met adult film producer David Rey, who helped him land roles in several gay erotic videos.
Newton and Rey eventually became lovers and established London-Rey Productions in 1987. Newton began working at London-Rey as a movie producer, make-up artist and set designer under the name Bill E. London.
Before going to L.A. he lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with his partner Terry Elliott, where he earned his beautician license. Elliot still resides there.

Death

Newton was murdered shortly after completing what would be his last film, The Grip of Passion. Newton's dismembered body was discovered by a transient in a dumpster near Santa Monica Boulevard. His murder remains unsolved.

2005 Reinvestigation

In 2005, Detective Wendi Berndt announced that she was re-investigating the case, hoping that advances in technology might help to solve the murder.
In December 2006, reporter Mickey Skee reported that Newton's father, Richard Harriman, contacted him saying that the LAPD had put the investigation of his son's murder "on the back burner." He left an e-mail address, where he could be contacted. As of April 2016, the address does not work.

Videography

As Billy London