Bill Bray

William Bray (February 2, 1925 – November 14, 2005) was an American security detail officer best known for his long association with singer Michael Jackson. He worked for the Jackson family for more than two decades and later became Michael's head of security. Bray regularly accompanied Jackson during concerts, tours, and public appearances, and they had a close working relationship. He retired in the 1990s. Bray was portrayed by KeiLyn Durrel Jones in the biographical film Michael.

Early career Bray was a retired Los Angeles Police Department chief security officer who began working with the Jackson 5 during early 1971, through Motown. Over the following decades, he became one of Michael Jackson's closest associates and was his head of security during the height of his career.

Michael Jackson Bray was hired by Joe Jackson in early 1971 and worked with Michael until 1996, accompanying him during concerts, recording sessions, tours and public appearances. Rolling Stone later described Bray as Jackson's "top bodyguard" and one of his closest confidants. According to Jackson, Bray closely supervised security arrangements and often remained with him during tours and overseas travel.

Former associates and members of Jackson's security staff also mentioned Bray in later accounts discussing Jackson's private life and travel arrangements during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some accounts described Bray as one of the people responsible for coordinating security and handling guests traveling with Jackson during international trips. He died on November 14, 2005, at the age of 80.

In popular culture Bray was portrayed by actor KeiLyn Durrel Jones in the biographical film Michael (2026).