Bill’s time-traveling partner of film NYT crossword clue

The answer to the clue “Bill’s time-traveling partner of film” is **Ted**. This refers to the character Ted “Theodore” Logan from the cult-classic film series *Bill & Ted*, which debuted with *Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure* in 1989. In the films, Bill and Ted are two lovable slackers who travel through time using a phone booth, encountering historical figures in order to pass a history class and eventually fulfill their destiny as rock legends.

Ted is played by Keanu Reeves, and his partnership with Bill, played by Alex Winter, became iconic for their humorous, laid-back dialogue and their optimistic, if clueless, worldview. The clue leans on pop culture familiarity and works well for crossword puzzles due to the brevity and simplicity of the name “Ted,” especially when paired with the recognizable setup involving time travel.