Actor, singer, director and educator Wil van der Meer graduated from the Academie voor Kleinkunst in Amsterdam in 1984, having previously completed secondary school at the Bonaventura comprehensive school. He continued his training with workshops led by Warren Robertson (New York), David Jones (New York), Leny Vermaire, Machteld Hauer and Alberto ter Doest.
Over the past four decades, Wil has performed extensively across Dutch theatre. He has worked with leading companies such as Stichting Strooker (a continuation of the renowned Werktheater), Art & Pro, Het Nationale Toneel and Noord Nederlands Toneel. He played major roles in both classical and contemporary productions, including Claudius in Hamlet (directed by Ola Mafaalani) and in Alice in Wonderland (directed by Ko van den Bosch), both selected for the Nederlands Theater Festival. At the Noord Nederlands Toneel, he also featured in Heelhuids Halsoverkop, the company’s only musical.
In the commercial theatre circuit, he has appeared in Soldaat van Oranje, Sweeney Todd (Opus One), Terug naar Toen (DeLaMar) and the tribute show De Dag Dat Ik Robert Long Ontmoette. In total, he has performed in over 70 productions, many of them original musicals. He received a nomination for the John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for his role in Pluk van de Petteflet.
Wil is a member of PS|theater, the city company of Leiden, where he has appeared in productions such as Ons Bloed, Ons Hart, Wij van de Fabriek, Tussenland, Onze Griond, Grens (in collaboration with Het Nieuw Utrechts Toneel) and ANDERS. Since 2021, he has also toured with his own production Een Soirée met Annie M.G., featuring thirteen of her songs in French translation.
His opera performances include roles in Samson et Dalila, Il Tabarro, Gianni Schicchi, Mavra, Buwalsky (his New York debut), Sancta Susanna, God’s Videotheek (Opera Spanga) and Kabaal (Zeeland Nazomer Festival). In 2022, he played a leading role in Bommen Berend, a site-specific opera production in collaboration with the Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso.
On television and in film, Wil has appeared in guest roles in numerous series, including Cast, Dit zijn wij, Koppensnellers, Klem, Oogappels, Gooische Vrouwen, Flikken Maastricht, Baantjer, Wet en Waan, Van God Los, Dokter Tinus and Soof – de serie. His film credits include Filmpje!, Karakter, Het Diner, Bobby en de Geestenjagers, Aanmodderfakker and the short film Elle est Belle. He was also acting coach for the acclaimed television series Zaai, which won the Gouden Stuiver award in 2001.
Since 1998, Wil has taught at the Frank Sanders Akademie voor Musical en Muziektheater. Previously, he was an étude coach at the Academie voor Kleinkunst, supporting students in developing and staging their first theatre performances. As a director, he has worked on cabaret shows by Joep Onderdelinden, Ellen Dikker, Lonneke Dort, De Fransse Eijkel, Beth & Flo and Christian van Eijkelenburg. In the 2023/2024 season, Drift by Christian van Eijkelenburg was nominated for the Neerlands Hoop cabaret award. He also directed Concert in Uitvoering (NPO) and several productions for ABN AMRO.