William "Billy" Kearns (Seattle, February 17, 1923 – Château-d'Oex, November 27, 1992) was an American actor. A World War II veteran, he moved to Paris in the 1950s, where he began his film career. Thanks to his imposing physique and his accent, he became an iconic figure in French cinema, specializing in portraying American characters such as soldiers, businessmen, or diplomats. Over the course of a prolific career with over one hundred films, he worked with prominent directors such as Jean-Pierre Melville on *Lo spione* (1962) and *L'armata degli eroi* (1969), François Truffaut on *La sposa in nero* (1968), and Henri Verneuil on *Il presidente* (1961). One of his most celebrated performances remains his role in the war classic *Un taxi per Tobruk* (1961). Also active in television, although he received no major awards, his contribution was fundamental in defining the figure of the American in post-war European cinema, earning him lasting recognition as one of the most reliable and prolific character actors of his time.