William McNamara Opens Up About Hollywood, Recovery and The Trouble with Billy

William McNamara is turning one of the most difficult chapters of his life into a story about resilience, humor and starting over.

The ’90s actor, known for films including Stealing Home, Dream a Little Dream, Chasers and Copycat, recently spoke with WorldWide Entertainment TV about his newly released scripted dramedy series, The Trouble with Billy.

The series follows Billy Mack, a former Hollywood actor who returns to Los Angeles hoping to rebuild his career. However, after being forced to live in his car with his beloved pit bull, Boo, his priorities quickly change.

“It really chronicles the struggle of not just actors in L.A.,” McNamara explained. “It really is an everyman struggle.”

Although the series is inspired by McNamara’s experiences, he emphasized that the story is intentionally exaggerated for comedy. The show also introduces an unusual UFO storyline, with Billy attending “AAA” meetings—Alien Abductees Anonymous—instead of traditional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

McNamara said the UFO elements were partly inspired by strange experiences he claims to have had in New York’s Hudson Valley. While the series treats the subject with humor, he also approaches the experiences seriously.

Hollywood, recovery and reinvention

McNamara spoke candidly about the difficult realities of aging in Hollywood and how quickly the industry can move on from actors who were once in demand.

He also discussed his recovery and revealed that he has been sober for 21 years. Rather than making sobriety the central theme of the series, he found a more unconventional way to explore personal struggle through Billy’s belief that he has been abducted by aliens.

The actor also invested his own savings into producing the project. What initially began as a film eventually became a 10-episode series after investors encouraged him to expand the concept.

For McNamara, completing the series became a personal definition of a comeback.

“Comeback is more about character,” he said. “It’s not about fame. It’s about who am I today? What am I going to do? How can I help others?”

Boo and the meaning of success

At the emotional centre of The Trouble with Billy is Boo, Billy’s pit bull and his reason for continuing to fight.

The character was inspired by McNamara’s own dog, who died from cancer. His second pit bull, Twinkie, plays Boo in the series.

McNamara said the story ultimately asks viewers to consider what truly matters in life.

“It’s not about fame or money or driving a Mercedes-Benz or living in Beverly Hills,” he explained. “It’s who loves you and who do you love. Period.”

His passion for animals extends beyond the series. McNamara has worked in animal rescue and advocacy for more than 30 years and remains involved with Eastwood Ranch Foundation, a dog and cat rescue organization.

“My mission is how to help the animals,” he said. “Not how to be a famous actor.”

A familiar cast and a changing entertainment industry

McNamara assembled a cast that includes Billy Baldwin, Alison Eastwood, Tom Sizemore and Claudia Charriez. He said many of the actors agreed to participate because they responded to the writing and believed in the project.

He also remembered Sizemore, who narrated the opening of the series and supported the production before his death.

“He came in, he did it in one take,” McNamara recalled. “His narration is fantastic.”

The interview also explored the changing entertainment industry. McNamara discussed artificial intelligence, YouTube, TikTok and the rise of short-form and vertical programming.

While he acknowledged that AI may transform the entertainment business, he also believes new technology can give independent creators access to opportunities once controlled by major studios.

“People that don’t have a whole lot of money or fame or access can create their own shows and movies,” he said.

The Trouble with Billy is now available through Red Coral Universe, with additional distribution and viewing options connected to the project. The series has also received public reviews through Rotten Tomatoes.

Watch the interview and learn more about the series at TheTroubleWithBilly.com.