Nationality American Role Actor Name Dick Williams | Years active 1966–2012 Occupation Actor | |
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Full Name Richard Anthony Williams Born August 9, 1934 ( 1934-08-09 ) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Education Hyde Park High SchoolHerzl Junior College Died February 16, 2012, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, United States Spouse Gloria Edwards (m. 1974–1988) Children Mikah Williams, Mona Williams, Jason Williams TV shows Homefront, Our Family Honor, Heart of the City Movies Similar People Gloria Edwards, Peter Yates, Michael Campus, Ben Ramsey, Carl Reiner | ||
Soul train actor dick anthony williams interview soul train 1986
Dick Anthony Williams (born Richard Anthony Williams; August 9, 1934 – February 16, 2012) was an American actor. Williams is known for his starring performances on Broadway in The Poison Tree, What the Wine-Sellers Buy and Black Picture Show. Williams won the 1974 Drama Desk Award for his performance in What the Wine-Sellers Buy, for which he was also nominated for a Tony Award, and was nominated in 1975 for both a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for his performance in Black Picture Show.
Contents
- Soul train actor dick anthony williams interview soul train 1986
- Dick anthony williams on the urban roundtable
- Life and career
- Death
- Filmography
- References
Dick anthony williams on the urban roundtable
Life and career
Born Richard Anthony Williams in Chicago, Williams was an actor in films and on television. His best-known film roles include Pretty Tony in The Mack (1973), the limo driver in Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Denzel Washington's father in Mo' Better Blues (1990) and Officer Allen in Edward Scissorhands (1990), and his other film credits include Uptight (1968), The Anderson Tapes (1971), Who Killed Mary What's 'Er Name? (1971), Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973), Five on the Black Hand Side (1973), Deadly Hero (1975), The Deep (1977), An Almost Perfect Affair (1979), The Jerk (1979), The Night the City Screamed (1980), The Star Chamber (1983) and Gardens of Stone (1987).
In television, Williams guest starred in the Season 1 episode of Starsky & Hutch, "Kill Huggy Bear." He played the title character in the Phillip Hayes Dean drama Freeman, broadcast on PBS in October 1977. In the 1978 six-hour NBC docudrama King, about the life of Martin Luther King Jr., Williams played the role of Malcolm X. He guest starred on a number of TV shows including The Rockford Files, Cagney & Lacey, Lou Grant and Hart to Hart.
Williams was a regular cast member on the post World War II–era ABC primetime soap opera Homefront (1991-1993), appearing in all 42 episodes as chauffeur Abe Davis. In 1996, he played the father of Larry's assistant Beverley in an episode of The Larry Sanders Show. Williams also starred in the documentary film The Meeting, about two African-American political leaders (Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.) discussing the fate of black people in America.
In 1971-72, Williams appeared in Melvin Van Peebles' acclaimed off-Broadway musical "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death." One of Williams' co-stars in the production was actress Gloria Edwards (1944-1988). They married in 1974 and had two children, Jason Edward Williams and Mikah Lauren Williams. Edwards died of cancer in 1988.
Death
Williams died on February 16, 2012 at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California, after a long illness.
Filmography
Actor
2011
Shadow Hills (TV Movie)
2010
Breathe (Short) as
Pence
2009
Blood and Bone as
Roberto
2008
Players at the Poker Palace (TV Series short) as
Dick
- A Couple of Black Yankees (2008) - Dick
2007
Steam as
August
2007
The Stolen Moments of September as
Asa Jamir / Henry Washington
2004
Virgin Again as
David
2003
Jonah (Short) as
Elder Jonah
2003
Black Listed (Video) as
Missouri
2002
The Shield (TV Series) as
Reverend Neal Cook
- Two Days of Blood (2002) - Reverend Neal Cook
- Cupid & Psycho (2002) - Reverend Neal Cook
2001
That's Life (TV Series)
- The Devil and Miss DeLucca (2001)
- Miracle at the Cucina (2001)
- Banister Head (2001)
- Or What's a Heaven For? (2001)
2000
Hot Boyz (Video) as
Harold
1999
The Parent 'Hood (TV Series) as
Dr. Lathum
- 'Hood Sweet' Hood: Part 2 (1999) - Dr. Lathum
1998
A Room Without Doors (Short) as
Clem
1998
The Players Club as
Mr. Armstrong
1997
The Player (TV Movie)
1997
Chicago Hope (TV Series) as
Charles Wilkes
- All in the Family (1997) - Charles Wilkes
1997
NYPD Blue (TV Series) as
Harvey Boutier
- Dead Man Talking (1997) - Harvey Boutier
1997
JAG (TV Series) as
Special Agent Lang
- Code Blue (1997) - Special Agent Lang
1991
Homefront (TV Series) as
Abe Davis
- On the Rebound (1997) - Abe Davis
- All Good Things (1993) - Abe Davis
- Shabbat Shalom (1993) - Abe Davis
- The Lacemakers (1993) - Abe Davis
- By Word or Act (1993) - Abe Davis
- Garfield Slept Here (1993) - Abe Davis
- Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How (1993) - Abe Davis
- Like Being There When You're Not (1993) - Abe Davis
- Signed, Crazy in Love (1993) - Abe Davis
- Life Is Short (1992) - Abe Davis
- First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage (1992) - Abe Davis (credit only)
- The Traveling Lemo All-Stars (1992) - Abe Davis
- When the Stars Begin to Fall (1992) - Abe Davis
- A Nickel Plate Romance (1992) - Abe Davis
- Appleknocker to Wed Tomatohawker (1992) - Abe Davis
- Can't Say No (1992) - Abe Davis
- The Lemo Tomato Juice Hour (1992) - Abe Davis
- By Popular Demand (1992) - Abe Davis
- Take My Hand (1992) - Abe Davis
- Songs Unsung Are Sweetest (1992) - Abe Davis
- Spanish Moss (1992) - Abe Davis
- If You Want It Done Right- (1992) - Abe Davis
- Obstinacy or Constancy? (1992) - Abe Davis
- At Your Age (1992) - Abe Davis
- First Sign of Spring (1992) - Abe Davis
- No Man Loyal and Neutral (1992) - Abe Davis
- Getting to First Base (1992) - Abe Davis
- Bad Connection (1992) - Abe Davis
- That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles (1992) - Abe Davis
- When It Rains, It Pours (1992) - Abe Davis
- All These Things Will I Give Thee (1992) - Abe Davis
- Sinners Reconciled (1991) - Abe Davis
- Szabo's Travels (1991) - Abe Davis
- Splitting Hairs (1991) - Abe Davis
- Man, This Joint Is Jumping (1991) - Abe Davis
- Kids (1991) - Abe Davis
- Toledo (1991) - Abe Davis
- Holier Than Thou, Too (1991) - Abe Davis
- Patriots (1991) - Abe Davis
- So All Alone (1991) - Abe Davis
- Bedsprings (1991) - Abe Davis
- S.N.A.F.U. (1991) - Abe Davis
1996
Sparks (TV Series) as
Judge Pettigrew
- One on One (1996) - Judge Pettigrew
1995
Due South (TV Series) as
ATF Agent MacFadden
- Bird in the Hand (1995) - ATF Agent MacFadden
1995
The Larry Sanders Show (TV Series) as
Beverly's Father
- Beverly and the Prop Job (1995) - Beverly's Father
1995
The Client (TV Series) as
Whitney Roland
- Them That Has- (1995) - Whitney Roland
1995
Martin (TV Series) as
Dick Anthony Williams
- All the Players Came (1995) - Dick Anthony Williams
1995
CBS Schoolbreak Special (TV Series) as
Mr. Prince
- What About Your Friends (1995) - Mr. Prince
1995
Renegade (TV Series) as
Police Capt. Frank
- Stalker's Moon (1995) - Police Capt. Frank
1994
Law & Order (TV Series) as
Sam Burdette
- White Rabbit (1994) - Sam Burdette
1994
The X-Files (TV Series) as
Agent Reggie Purdue
- Young at Heart (1994) - Agent Reggie Purdue
1994
Roc (TV Series) as
Ray Boyd
- Citizen Roc: Part 2 (1994) - Ray Boyd
1993
The Gifted
1990
L.A. Law (TV Series) as
Franklin Hovey / Charles Jackson
- Pacific Rimshot (1993) - Franklin Hovey
- Safe Sex (1993) - Franklin Hovey
- Bound for Glory (1990) - Charles Jackson
1993
Percy & Thunder (TV Movie) as
Caswell Baker
1991
The Rapture as
Henry
1990
WIOU (TV Series) as
Billy Randfield
- Ode to Sizzling Sal (1991) - Billy Randfield
- Mother Nature's Son (1990) - Billy Randfield
1990
Edward Scissorhands as
Officer Allen
1990
Mo' Better Blues as
Big Stop Williams
1990
Shannon's Deal (TV Series) as
McGuire
- Inside Straight (1990) - McGuire
1989
Cast the First Stone (TV Movie) as
Jackson Phillips
1989
Snoops (TV Series) as
Andrew Devilar
- Remember When (1989) - Andrew Devilar
1989
A Man Called Hawk (TV Series) as
Frank Gilbert
- Life After Death (1989) - Frank Gilbert
1983
American Playhouse (TV Series) as
Malcolm X / Professor Carter / Samuel Traylor
- The Meeting (1989) - Malcolm X
- For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983) - Professor Carter
- Keeping On (1983) - Samuel Traylor
1989
B.L. Stryker (TV Series) as
Rick Herd
- Carolann (1989) - Rick Herd
1989
Tap as
Francis
1988
Bustin' Loose (TV Series) as
Dr. Chuck
- The Kindest Cut (1988) - Dr. Chuck
1987
Gardens of Stone as
Slasher Williams
1987
227 (TV Series) as
Det. Fredickson
- A Good Citizen (1987) - Det. Fredickson
1986
Heart of the City (TV Series) as
Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Out on a Limb (1987) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Beauty and a Couple of Beasts (1987) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- A Rough Ride on Life's Merry-Go-Round (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Busted (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- The Chemistry of Rage (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Rock and Rumble (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Cezanne, and Other Dreams (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Working Without a Net (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Don't Sell Yourself to the Cannibals (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Growing Up and Grinding Down (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- When Push Comes to Shove (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Of Dogs and Cat Burglars (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
- Cold Steal and Neon (1986) - Lt. Ed Van Duzer
1986
Stingray (TV Series) as
Det. Kennedy
- That Terrible Swift Sword (1986) - Det. Kennedy
1985
Our Family Honor (TV Series) as
Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones / Jonas Jones
- End of the Line (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Lone Justice (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Mark of Cain (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Homecoming (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- The Hostage (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Cat and Mouse (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Everybody Is a Star (1985) - Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones
- Pilot (1985) - Jonas Jones
1985
Summer Rental as
Dan Gardner
1985
Space (TV Mini Series) as
Gawain Butler
- Part IV (1985) - Gawain Butler
- Part III (1985) - Gawain Butler
- Part II (1985) - Gawain Butler
- Part I (1985) - Gawain Butler
1985
Challenge of a Lifetime (TV Movie) as
Dr. Hume
1984
Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) as
Brian
- I Do, I Don't (1984) - Brian
1984
Hart to Hart (TV Series) as
Grayson
- The Dog Who Knew Too Much (1984) - Grayson
1983
Grizzly II: Revenge as
Charlie Hill
1983
Through Naked Eyes (TV Movie) as
Det. Wylie
1983
Night Partners (TV Movie) as
Instructor
1983
The Star Chamber as
Detective Paul Mackay
1983
The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series) as
Sam Daniels
- Starr Knight (1983) - Sam Daniels
1983
Cagney & Lacey (TV Series) as
Sly
- Let Them Eat Pretzels (1983) - Sly
1982
Something So Right (TV Movie) as
Morris Elliot
1982
Archie Bunker's Place (TV Series) as
Mr. Baker
- The Eyewitnesses (1982) - Mr. Baker
1982
Sister, Sister (TV Movie) as
Reverend Richard Henderson
1982
This Is Kate Bennett... (TV Movie) as
Leonard Hayes
1982
Strike Force (TV Series) as
Warwick
- Internal Affairs (1982) - Warwick
1981
Lou Grant (TV Series) as
Tyler Humphries
- Friends (1981) - Tyler Humphries
1981
The Sophisticated Gents (TV Mini Series) as
Ralph Joplin
- Episode #1.3 (1981) - Ralph Joplin
- Episode #1.2 (1981) - Ralph Joplin
- Episode #1.1 (1981) - Ralph Joplin
1981
A Gun in the House (TV Movie) as
Det. Frank Campbell
1980
The Night the City Screamed (TV Movie) as
Jim Downs
1980
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series) as
Lester Rollins
- It's Easier to Pass an Elephant Through the Eye of a Needle Than a Bad Check in Bel Air (1980) - Lester Rollins
1980
Brave New World (TV Movie) as
Helmholz Watson
1980
The Jeffersons (TV Series) as
Wayne
- Brother Tom (1980) - Wayne
1980
One in a Million (TV Series)
- Shirley's Prince of a Guy (1980)
1979
The Jerk as
Taj
1979
Hollow Image (TV Movie) as
Danny
1979
An Almost Perfect Affair as
Andrew Jackson
1979
Some Kind of Miracle (TV Movie) as
Dr. Hopstone
1978
Sparrow (TV Movie) as
Martin
1978
A Woman Called Moses (TV Mini Series) as
John Tubman
- Episode #1.2 (1978) - John Tubman
- Episode #1.1 (1978) - John Tubman
1978
James at 16 (TV Series) as
Uncle Raff
- Rebel Without a Car (1978) - Uncle Raff
1978
King (TV Mini Series) as
Malcolm X
- Episode #1.3 (1978) - Malcolm X
- Episode #1.2 (1978) - Malcolm X (credit only)
- Episode #1.1 (1978) - Malcolm X (credit only)
1977
Sanford Arms (TV Series) as
Frank Edwards
- Young Love (1977) - Frank Edwards
1977
The Storyteller (TV Movie) as
Anthony
1977
The Rockford Files (TV Series) as
Maceo Prentiss
- Quickie Nirvana (1977) - Maceo Prentiss
1977
Freeman (TV Movie) as
Freeman
1977
Visions (TV Series) as
Freeman
- Freeman (1977) - Freeman
1977
The Deep as
Slake
1976
The Long Night as
Paul
1975
Deadly Hero as
D.A. Winston
1975
Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) as
Harry Martin
- Kill Huggy Bear (1975) - Harry Martin
1975
Dog Day Afternoon as
Limo Driver
1968
Ironside (TV Series) as
Reuben / Spokesman
- The Last Payment (1973) - Reuben
- Robert Phillips vs. the Man (1968) - Spokesman (as Dick Williams)
1973
Five on the Black Hand Side as
Preston (as Richard Williams)
1973
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off as
Joe Creole (as Richard Williams)
1973
The Mack as
Pretty Tony (as Dick Williams)
1971
Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? as
Malthus (as Dick Williams)
1971
The Anderson Tapes as
Edward Spencer (as Dick Williams)
1970
Nanny and the Professor (TV Series) as
Mr. Williams
- The New Butch (1970) - Mr. Williams (as Richard Williams)
1969
The Lost Man as
Ronald (as Richard Anthony Williams)
1968
Uptight as
Corbin (as Richard Williams)
1968
Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) as
Mondo Mabamba
- Public Affairs: DR-07 (1968) - Mondo Mabamba (as Dick Williams)
Thanks
2004
Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (Documentary) (special thanks)
2002
Mackin' Ain't Easy (Video documentary short) (special thanks)
Self
2005
Bid Whist Party Throwdown (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 26 November 2005 (2005) - Self
2002
Mackin' Ain't Easy (Video documentary short) as
Self
2000
HBO First Look (TV Series documentary short) as
Senator Frank Radler
- 'X-Men': The Mutant Watch (2000) - Senator Frank Radler
1992
7th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards (TV Special) as
Self
1992
The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Accepting Award for Favourite New Television Dramatic Program
1986
Soul Train (TV Series) as
Self
- Run-D.M.C./Genobia Jeter/Dick Anthony Williams (1986) - Self
1977
The Richard Pryor Special? (TV Special) as
Writer (as Dick Williams)
1975
The 29th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
1974
The 28th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
Archive Footage
2022
Martin: The Reunion (TV Movie documentary) as
Self
2018
King of Stage: The Woodie King Jr. Story (Documentary) as
Self
References
Dick Anthony Williams Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA