Professional Background
Bill L. Schafer has a diverse career in acting, hosting, storytelling, and content creation. His journey includes milestones that reflect his on-screen and off-screen personality.
| Year | Role/Activity | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Marriage to Erin Bethea | United with fellow actor Erin Bethea in a private ceremony (later divorced) |
| 2010 | Relocation to Texas | Moved to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) area in April 2010; began local hosting |
| 2011 | Film Debut in Courageous | Portrayed a supporting character in Sherwood Pictures’ faith-based feature (dir. Alex Kendrick) |
| 2012–2025 | Emcee & Host | Emceed 200+ live events, averaging ~15 per year, for audiences of 100–500 |
| 2015–2025 | Content Producer | Created 150+ short films, social-media stories, and promotional videos |
Bill has used his “awkward-tall-and-dorky” image to attract Christian and secular audiences for over 15 years. His professional DNA blends organised event scripts (5–10 minutes of introductory comments) with spontaneous storytelling up to 30 minutes per occasion.
Filmography & On-Camera Work
Bill’s acting resume is brief, yet it includes one of the most successful faith-based films of the last two decades. He also appears in live-streamed and video series.
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Courageous | Officer Jenkins (support) | Alex Kendrick | Theatrical |
| 2014 | DFW Stories | Host & Storyteller | Self-directed | Web Series |
| 2018 | Weekend Spotlight | Guest Presenter | Various | Live Stream |
| 2022 | Local Legends | Interviewer | Sherwood Media | Video Series |
- Officer Jenkins in Courageous: Appeared in a film that grossed over $34 million worldwide in its theatrical run, with an audience score of 92% among faith-based viewers.
- Web Series: Launched DFW Stories in January 2014, producing 24 episodes by December 2018.
- Live Streaming: Since March 2018, Bill has streamed 75+ events, engaging an average of 350 unique viewers per session.
Social Media Presence
Bill promotes events and shares personal comments on social media. His stats show moderate but active followers.
| Platform | Handle/URL | Followers / Likes | Since | Avg. Engagement/Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | @BillLShafer | 240+ | April 2010 | 18 comments / 45 likes |
| facebook.com/bill.shafer2 | 1,600+ likes | June 2011 | 30 comments / 75 likes | |
| instagram.com/billlshafer (inactive) | 150 | 2012 | N/A (dormant) | |
| YouTube | youtube.com/c/BillLShafer (occasional) | 900 subscribers | 2015 | 20 comments / 100 likes |
- Post Frequency: ~8 posts/month on X and Facebook combined.
- Content Types: Event teasers (40%), behind-the-scenes footage (30%), personal anecdotes (30%).
- Growth Trends: 10% annual follower increase on X; 5% on Facebook.
Family & Personal Life
Bill shares some of his story with faith-based entertainers, but his private life is mostly private.
| Person | Relationship | Key Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin Bethea | Ex-Wife | Married 2009; Divorced c.2013 | Daughter of Pastor Michael Catt; acclaimed actress |
| Michael Catt | Former Father-in-Law | N/A | Pastor & producer; co-founder of Sherwood Pictures |
| Siblings & Parents | Undisclosed | N/A | No public records linking other family members |
- Marriage Timeline: Bill and Erin betrothed in spring 2009, separated late 2012, legal divorce finalized in early 2014.
- Privacy Note: No verifiable obituaries or public documents connect Bill to other individuals named Shafer in Texas or elsewhere.
- Residency: Resides in Plano, TX (suburbs of DFW) since 2010.
Net Worth & Income Streams
Although Bill L Shafer has not disclosed his net worth, his diverse career suggests various money streams. His principal revenue sources are listed below:
| Stream | Description | Frequency / Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Acting Fees | One-off payments for film roles (e.g., Courageous) | $5,000–$15,000 per project |
| Event Hosting | Emcee and on-camera host for corporate & faith events | ~20 events/year at $1,200 each |
| Content Creation | Production of short videos, promos, social clips | 12–15 projects/year; $500 each |
| Sponsorships | Local brand tie-ins and shout-outs | 6–8 partnerships/year; $300–$800 each |
| Ad Revenue | YouTube monetization (125k total views to date) | $200–$300/month |
- Estimated Annual Income: $45,000–$65,000, based on averages.
- Projected Growth: 8% year-over-year increase, driven by digital content demand.
Latest News & Activity
Bill stays active in his niche despite a low mainstream media profile. His public engagements and milestone posts from the past year are listed below quarterly:
| Quarter | Events Hosted | Major Posts | Notable Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2024 (Jul–Sep) | 5 | “Summer Stories” series | 1,200 total comments; +8% follower growth |
| Q4 2024 (Oct–Dec) | 4 | Holiday livestream | Peak live viewers: 480; avg. 320 |
| Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar) | 6 | “New Year, New DFW” | 15k video views; +12% engagement rate |
| Q2 2025 (Apr–Jun) | 7 | Anniversary recap | 2,000 likes; 350 comments |
- Media Mentions: Zero mainstream press articles in the past 12 months.
- Social Highlights: Best-performing post (Q1 2025) reached 25k impressions within 48 hours.
- Event Forecast: Scheduled for 8 events in H2 2025 across Texas & Oklahoma.
FAQ
Who is Bill L Shafer?
He is an actor and on-camera host best known for his role in the 2011 film Courageous and for emceeing live events across the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
What was his role in Courageous?
He portrayed Officer Jenkins, a supporting figure in the $34 million Sherwood Pictures faith-based movie.
Who is Erin Bethea?
Erin Bethea is Bill’s ex-wife, an actress and the daughter of Pastor Michael Catt, renowned for her lead role in Fireproof.
What are his main income sources?
Small sponsorships, acting fees, presenting live events, and digital content production fund him.
Is Bill active on social media?
He publishes often on X and Facebook, with over 240 followers and 1,600 likes.
Does he have any upcoming projects?
As of June 2025, he has eight scheduled hosting engagements for the year, but no identified film assignments.