Bill Hoag was born to Helen Hogg, a church secretary and William Hogg a manager of a lithograph company in New York City. His father graduated NYU University and both parents resided in Brooklyn.He attended and played football at Saint Francis Preparatory High School when it was still located on North Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He continued his education at Saint Francis College where he began taking acting classes and performing with the college theatre group The Troupers.Upon graduation he began pursuing an acting career and soon was cast in the starring role of an Off Broadway comedy called Dungalore. His acting career spans over 40 years including theatre, TV and film.He portrays John Elder in the feature film First Reformed with Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried written and directed by Paul Schrader.