Dick Anthony Williams facts for kids

Dick Anthony Williams (born Richard Anthony Williams; August 9, 1934 – February 16, 2012) was an American actor. He was well-known for his exciting roles on Broadway. These included plays like The Poison Tree, What the Wine-Sellers Buy, and Black Picture Show. Williams also played important parts in movies from the 1970s. Some of these were The Mack and Slaughter's Big Rip-Off.

Early Life and Education

Dick Anthony Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a neighborhood called Bronzeville. When he was a young child, Williams spent several years in a hospital. This was because he had polio, a disease that can affect muscles.

For high school, he went to Hyde Park Academy High School. After that, Williams attended Herzl Junior College. This college is now known as City Colleges of Chicago.

Acting Career

Williams started his career as a singer when he was a teenager. He was part of a group called the Williams Brothers Quartet in Chicago. Later, he moved to Los Angeles to begin acting.

He played many memorable roles in movies and on TV. In the 1973 film The Mack, he was known as Pretty Tony. He also played the limo driver in Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Williams was Denzel Washington's father in Mo' Better Blues (1990). He also appeared as Officer Allen in Edward Scissorhands (1990).

Some of his other film roles include Uptight (1968) and The Anderson Tapes (1971). He was also in The Deep (1977) and The Jerk (1979). Later, he appeared in Gardens of Stone (1987) and Blood and Bone (2009).

On television, Williams was a guest star on many popular shows. He appeared in an episode of Starsky & Hutch called "Kill Huggy Bear." In 1978, he played Malcolm X in a TV series about Martin Luther King Jr. He also had roles on The Rockford Files and Cagney & Lacey.

Williams was a regular actor on the TV show Homefront. This show was set after World War II. He played a chauffeur named Abe Davis in all 42 episodes. He also appeared in a documentary film called The Meeting. This film was about two important African-American leaders, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

In the early 1970s, Williams performed in an off-Broadway musical. It was called "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death." During this time, he met actress Gloria Edwards. She later became his wife.

Awards and Recognition

Dick Anthony Williams was recognized for his talent on stage. In 1974, he won the Drama Desk Award. This was for his performance in the play What the Wine-Sellers Buy. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for the same role.

The next year, in 1975, he received more nominations. He was nominated for both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. These nominations were for his work in the play Black Picture Show.

Personal Life

Dick Anthony Williams was married two times and had three children. In 1974, he married actress Gloria Edwards. They had two children together: Jason Edward Williams and Mikah Lauren Williams. Williams also had a daughter named Mona from an earlier marriage. He and Gloria Edwards were married until she passed away in 1988.

See also

In Spanish: Dick Anthony Williams para niños