William Broyles Jr.

William Dodson "Bill" Broyles Jr. (born October 8, 1944) is an American screenwriter, who has worked on the television series China Beach, and the films Apollo 13, Cast Away, Entrapment, Planet of the Apes, Unfaithful, The Polar Express, and Jarhead. He also assisted in the screenplay of Saving Private Ryan. He was married to the actress Linda Purl from 1988 to 1992. Thereafter, he married Andrea Berndt and had two daughters with her. 2Early life Broyles was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Elizabeth (née Bills) and William Dodson Broyles. He was raised in Baytown, Texas and attended Rice University, earning a B.A. degree in History in 1966. While at Rice, Broyles was an active member of the student body and a contributing editor to the student newspaper, the Rice Thresher. As early as 1966, Broyles was also contributing articles to the Houston Post. Broyles served as president of the Rice student association during the 1965–1966 academic year, and was awarded the Hugh Scott Cameron award for outstanding community servic