The following tribute was paid by Carmel Macpherson, highlander Worldwide's president upon Bill Panzer's untimely death.
"Today is a sad day for Highlander fans everywhere. Today, Bill Panzer died in Los Angeles. He was too young and too full of life and his passing will leave a huge vacuum in the lives of all who knew him.
Bill was one of those people who was larger than life and we will be the poorer for the loss of his energy and his love of the Highlander franchise and fandom.
No matter how busy he was he always made time for fans - Bill respected and acknowledged the fanbase that has been so loyal to the vision than Bill and Peter turned into Highlander.
He was always thinking of some new approach for Highlander. Yes, he knew that as fans we didn't always like his choices - and he always listened. He was delighted to be able to come to HLWW7 in Leeds. He arrived in Leeds in typical Bill fashion - on the train, black beret nattily perched on his silver hair...coat flowing out behind him....old fashioned leather satchel crammed full of papers and books. He could only stay in Leeds for a few hours on the Saturday but was determined to come and keep faith with the fans. What touched him was that the fans still cared that deeply about Highlander.
As fans we may not always have liked his creative choices - but as fans we are privileged indeed because the man who brought Highlander to the screen for us had a passion and a drive and an entrepreneurial spirit that just wouldn't take no for an answer. He respected fans and was deeply thankful for our loyalty and determination to never let Highlander die. At the end of every Convention, Bill always raised a glass and said, in tribute to fans: "Without all of you there would be none of us..." - and even when he wasn't at a Convention, Peter or David or Adrian would repeat Bill's tribute.
So Bill, thank you for the richness of the Highlander universe, and the many friendships that have been forged as a result of our collective shared love of Highlander. Fans have gone to places they would never have travelled to; supported each other through the trials, tribulations and joys of everyday life, discussed the ethically perplexing questions that Connor's and Duncan's existence brought to center-stage. Lives have been lived in different ways because of your vision. It is fitting that we now toast you and your passing.
We wish for you what Adrian has so aptly wished you: "May the winds be with you."
Bill Panzerwas educated at Princeton University before attending the New York University Film School. In 1976 he moved to Los Angeles where, with Peter Davis, he founded Davis-Panzer Productions. Together they produced more than twenty films, including The Osterman Weekend however it is the Highlander franchise that comprised the core of Bill’s business activity and passion.
