William Benedict Friend (October 22, 1931 – April 2, 2015) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

John Paul II erected the Diocese of Shreveport on June 16, 1986, and appointed Friend as its first bishop.

On October 22, 2006, Bishop Friend sent the mandatory letter to Pope Benedict XVI resigning the diocese as he had reached the age of 75.

On April 1, 2008, Pope Benedict named Michael Duca as the new bishop of the diocese ending Friend's duties as apostolic administrator.

On April 2, 2015, William Friend died at his home in Coral Springs, Florida.