William  Joseph Knittle Jr.

William Joseph Knittle Jr.
"Bill" or "Brud"

Obituary

Bill "Brud" Knittle crossed over on April 27th 2025 due to complications of an unknown origin, likely cancer, but we prefer to think it was the cordyceps that finally got him. Which means he was not, in fact, patient zero of the zombie apocalypse, or invaded by the body snatchers, as we had long suspected. He is survived by his daughter Kristen, son Jonathan, and grandkids Caelan, Morrigan, Billy, Arlan, and Abigail.



Bill was a fascinating man! He was extremely proud of his multiple degrees, BA MBA PhD & his ordination as a Venerable Monk in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Some might think he was simply unable to accomplish all that he claimed, in fact, many doctors who didn't know him yet put him through a battery of psychology tests to determine whether or not he was clinically insane! Which always made him giggle. When a patient comes in claiming to be a Psychologist, Film Critic, Martial Arts Expert, Buddhist Monk, Actor, Newsman, and Radio DJ, who met or knew more famous people than you or I can count... well, let’s just say that it raises a few red flags. But Bill was all those things and more.



As a young boy/teen Bill studied Martial Arts, earning multiple Black belts in many disciplines. He then became one of the first associate editors of Black Belt magazine. His proudest claim to fame was that he was the one who got Bruce Lee to write his first article for the magazine, which later brought the two of them together in-person and they became friends. One of the letters that Bruce Lee wrote to Bill is published in the book Bruce Lee; Letters of the Dragon.



Having a deep love for film and television, Bill then began a career in acting and live performance in and around Hollywood. His career was short lived, as he decided to pursue work in the newsroom as a reporter and news editor instead, which then led him to his long-lived side-hustle as a film critic. In the early 70's he had his own radio show "At Your Leisure" on his alma mater Loyola Marymount's radio station in Los Angeles. He also wrote a syndicated column across the nation in multiple publications including Columbia Magazine. This side hustle allowed him to meet and interview everyone in Hollywood, literally everyone. If you said a name, Bill had a story about them! He was a storyteller through and through, and most of them were even true.



During this time Bill turned away from his Catholic roots and pursued Buddhism at the International Buddhist Meditation Center in LA. His mentor, the Venerable Tich Thien An, told Bill that he would be the one to help modernize and westernize Buddhism, allowing Bill to remain married while taking his vows to become a fully ordained Monk. Hence why so many found it hard to believe, I mean, how many Buddhist Monks are married with children, wear street clothes and a full beard? I'm happy to report that Bill was fully shaved and on his best behavior during his high ordination ceremony in China in 1976, but soon let it all grow back, introducing the ever popular and fashionable Toni home perm. He was such a rebel... but that rebellious side also led him to try things others shied away from, like inviting the Dalai Lama to come to the US for the first time. Bill was a key player in extending that invitation and hosting the Dalai Lama and his entourage during that historical first visit to the US in Los Angeles. I do believe he met him with a full head of hair, but I could be mistaken as the photographic evidence is hidden in books that he could never remember the names of. It became a lifelong quest. We once found one book in 1988 on a shelf in a little Tibetan shop in NYC. The shop owner wouldn't stop bowing at Bill's feet!



Bill was an educator through and through. No matter the subject, he was most comfortable educating. In the late 70's and early 80's Bill was Vice President of a teacher's education company, Media Five. They produced many well-known education shows including the original Scared Straight. Bill was so proud of the work he accomplished, but even more so that he was featured in the famous Marquis Who's Who listing.



Media Five was sold and relocated to Chicago, a city which was not for Bill, a native Angelino, so he remained in Los Angeles and found work at UCLA. Once an educator, always an educator... but his positions at UCLA were more administrative in nature. He worked as the assistant to the Dean of Medicine for a time, then eventually retired from the UCLA office of Summer Sessions.



During his retirement years Bill continued to enjoy his weekly film screenings and memberships to exclusive film clubs. He always said that movies and martial arts are what saved him in his youth. I dare say they saved him in his retirement too. He told everyone how much he hoped to get back on the mat one day. Sadly, his body failed him, but his mind was sharp, and his dream was alive.



Bill was incredibly proud of his family. His grandkids Billy & Caelan formed a Rock Band that once scheduled a show at The Viper Room on the famous Sunset Strip. Unfortunately, Bill went into the hospital that week for an infection in his leg, but he was not about to let that stop him from seeing his grandkids perform! He checked himself out of the hospital early and showed up in a wheelchair to cheer them on. He caught many of their shows along the west coast over the past couple of years, and held out hope that he would live long enough to see them achieve fame and fortune now that they are signed with a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Bill supported his kids and grandkids in everything they do. He was an incredible father/grandfather who gave his family many memories of time spent together watching movies, visiting movie studios or famous locations, and probably the best of all... many many hours thrifting! He LOVED to thrift!



Bill was a very private man, not letting many people in, but if he did let you in, if you were lucky enough, you quickly discovered he was a charismatic and fascinating character, absolutely wonderful to converse with! He was so very loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

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