Billy Nolan (character)

William "Billy" Nolan is a fictional character created by Stephen King. He is one of the main characters of his first published novel entitled Carrie. He is the boyfriend of Carrie's nemesis, Chris Hargensen.

Novel

In the novel, Billy is a delinquent youth who was kicked out of school a few years before the events of the novel take place. After Chris is banned from the prom, he agrees to help her get revenge on Carrie, for whom she has a deep and unexplained grudge. So while Chris's friends rig the voting system to ensure that Carrie would be elected prom queen, Billy and his friends raid a pig farm one night and kill enough pigs to fill two buckets with their blood. Then they put the two buckets of blood high up in the rafters of the gymnasium, right over where the King and Queen of the Prom would stand to be crowned. Chris, hiding just out of sight, would then pull a cord, tipping the blood over on Carrie.

On prom night, their plan works without a hitch, but Chris and Billy only stick around long enough to witness a blood-soaked Carrie run from the gym in tears. It is not until later that night that they learn of the true chaos they have unwittingly created.

Riding in Billy's car, the two spot Carrie wandering in the road, still covered in blood and seemingly in a trance. Billy attempts to run her over, but she telekinetically sends the car slamming into a tree where it bursts into flames, killing both Chris and Billy.

1976 film

In the 1976 adaption of the novel, he is portrayed by John Travolta.

As in the novel, he is Chris's boyfriend who joins her to humiliate Carrie. As in the novel, Billy, Chris, and Billy's friends broke into a pig farm, slaughtered two pigs, and snuck their blood in two buckets into the school's main gym. As planned, they dump the blood onto Carrie, and waste no time and leave. About half an hour later Carrie is walking home when Chris and Billy arrive in Billy's car, prepared to run over Carrie. At first, Billy's drunken haze disables his far-sight, but it isn't until Chris takes the wheel that finally notices Carrie's blood image. However, Carrie senses the car speeding behind her and mentally "throws" the car off the road and sends it rolling before causing it to explode, killing both of them.

Musical

In the musical of the same name Billy is portrayed by Gene Anthony Ray. Like in the novel and films he is the boyfriend of Chris and helps her out in the blood prank. He dies in the prom when trying to escape form Carrie's revenge.

2002 Film

In the television remake, Billy is more of a thug and is seen as abusive towards Chris. Again, like in the earlier adaptions, he is an accessory in the prank that makes Carrie snap. He dies when trying to run over Carrie and is ran into a tree. He is portrayed by Jesse Cadotte.