Bill Oberst Jr.

Known for Daytime Emmy Award-winning "Take This Lollipop" and a ratings-winning role on CBS-TV's "Criminal Minds," Bill Oberst Jr. is an American actor, indie horror icon, and gay Christian. His real-life gentleness, barefoot lifestyle, and service as a Eucharistic minister are at odds with his often macabre screen persona. Ron Chaney, great-grandson of Lon Chaney, presented Oberst with the first Lon Chaney Award For Outstanding Achievement In Independent Horror Films.

Oberst's staged theatrical reading "Ray Bradbury's Pillar Of Fire" won an Ernest Kearney Platinum Award for its Los Angeles debut, and was named Best Solo Show Of Hollywood Fringe and Best LA Solo Show in the Best Of LA Theater Roundup at Bitter-Lemons. "Ray Bradbury's Pillar Of Fire" won a United Solo Theatre Festival Award for its Off-Broadway debut on Theatre Row in New York City. Oberst later played Ray Bradbury on tour and Off-Broadway in "Ray Bradbury Live! (forever)", a solo portrayal authorized by Ray Bradbury's estate.

The premiere of the horror-themed episode of CBS-TV's "Criminal Minds" which introduced Oberst's deformed killer character (also guest-starring Adrienne Barbeau and Tobin Bell) was the evening's most-watched TV program. CBS included Oberst's character in their list of "Criminal Minds' 14 Most Notorious Serial Killers." The character remains one of only a handful of uncaptured "Criminal Minds" killers.

He is perhaps most widely-known internationally as the face of director Jason Zada's "Take This Lollipop," awarded a Daytime Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the category of New Approaches-Daytime Entertainment. Oberst has been seen by over 100 million viewers worldwide as an online stalker in the interactive application for Facebook users.

Oberst's fascination with the nature of evil, reflected in his screen portrayals, his solo stage performance about Satan, "Adversary," and his gothic fiction podcast, "Gothic Goodnight," is an outgrowth of his faith; an integration of Christianity and Native American spiritual practices. An advocate of minimalism, he frequently asks that script dialogue be deleted or shortened, believing that non-verbal moments are the strongest. Bill Oberst Jr. lives barefoot as a spiritual practice which grew out of his reflections on the humility of Christ, the concept of kenosis, or self-emptying, and the sacredness of all creation. He often performs barefoot onstage and is known for being shoeless on film sets.

His individual award wins include a Horror Icon Award at The Optical Theatre Festival in Italy, a Lifetime Achievement Award at Killuride Film Festival, a Lifetime Achievement Award at iHolly International Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Dark Veins Horror Film Festival, an Eastman Award for Best Actor at Stock Shock Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at the Los Angeles Movie Awards, a Best Actor Award at Chicago Horror Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Ontario Fright Night Theatre Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Biloxi Fear Fete Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Dallas Twisted Tails Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at FANtastic Horror Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Housecore Horror Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Tucson Terrorfest, a Best Actor Award at Los Angeles ZedFest Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Pollygrind Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Shockfest Film Festival, a Golden Cobb Award for Best Rising B-Movie Actor, a Baddest Villain Award at ZedFest Film Festival, a Monstey Award for Great Historical Monster Moments, a Best Supporting Actor Award at FANtastic Horror Film Festival, a Best Actor Award at Italy's Optical Theatre Festival and a Best Actor Award at An Anti-Hero Production Genre Film Festival in Los Angeles, a Best Actor Award at FANTastic Horror Film festival, a Best Actor Award at Shawna Shea Film Festival and a Best Actor Award at Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival

His shared awards include an International Critics Award at Deauville Film Festival in France, a Best Narrative Feature Award at The Los Angeles Movie Awards, a Director's Award at Boston Underground Film Festival, a Audience Award at Phoenix Film Festival, an Audience Award at New Orleans Film Festival, a Copper Wing Award at Phoenix Film Festival, a Best Feature Award at Unreal Film Festival, a Narrative Feature Award at Pollygrind Film Festival, a Shocker Award at LA Shockfest Film Festival, a Best Ensemble Acting Award at Sacramento Horror Film Festival a Best Ensemble Acting Award at Phoenix Film Festival, an Outstanding Achievement Award at L'age d'Or International Arthouse Film Festival, a Festival Award at Crown Wood International Film Festival, a Judges Award at Culture & Diversity Film Festival, and an Award of Prestige at the Vegas Movie Awards.

Off-screen, Bill lives quietly with his long-time male partner, works with older adults as a certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist, and serves as a Eucharistic minister in the Episcopal Church.