Montel Williams facts for kids
Montel Brian Anthony Williams (born July 3, 1956) is an American television host, actor, and motivational speaker. He is best known for hosting The Montel Williams Show, a popular talk show that ran from 1991 to 2008. Montel also hosts The Balancing Act and Military Makeover with Montel on Lifetime. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and later started the Montel Williams MS Foundation to help others. Before his television career, Williams served for 22 years in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy.
Quick facts for kids
Montel Williams
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Williams at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
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| Born |
Montel Brian Anthony Williams
July 3, 1956 |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
| Occupation | Television host, actor, motivational speaker |
| Spouse(s) |
Rochele See
(m. 1982; div. 1989)Grace Morley
(m. 1992; div. 2000)Tara Fowler
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 4 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Marine Corps United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1974–1996 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant commander |
| Unit | Naval Intelligence Naval Security Group |
| Awards |  Meritorious Service Medal Navy Expeditionary Medal Navy Superior Public Service Award |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Montel Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 3, 1956. He grew up in Linthicum, Maryland, and went to Andover High School. There, he was elected class president during his junior and senior years.
He was a good student, athlete, and musician. He also took part in student government activities across the county. Montel was raised as a Roman Catholic and served as an altar server. His father, Herman Williams Jr., became Baltimore's first African American Fire Chief in 1992.
Military Career
Williams joined the United States Marine Corps in 1974. After a year of preparation, he was accepted into the four-year officer training program at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975. He was the first Black Marine to enter this program.
He graduated in 1980 with a degree in engineering. He then trained as a cryptologic officer, working with secret codes and messages. He spent 18 months in Guam working for naval intelligence. Later, he supervised cryptologic operations at Fort Meade, Maryland.
While working for the National Security Agency, Williams was involved in the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada. He also helped secure the release of American military personnel captured in other countries. After 17 years of active duty and five years as a reservist, Williams retired in 1996. He left the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant commander, completing 22 years of service.
In 2008, after his military service, Williams received the Navy Superior Public Service Award. This award recognized his ongoing support for Sailors, Marines, and their families.
Television Career
The Montel Williams Show
Montel Williams started his talk show, The Montel Williams Show, in 1991. The show became very popular. In 1996, Williams won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
The show's ratings were highest during the 1996–97 season. He was nominated for the award again in 2002. The show itself was nominated for Outstanding Talk Show in 2001 and 2002. The final episode of The Montel Williams Show aired on May 16, 2008.
Acting Roles
Besides hosting, Williams also acted in TV shows and plays. He played a Navy SEAL in three episodes of the TV series JAG. He also produced and starred in a short TV series called Matt Waters in 1996. In this show, he played an ex-Navy SEAL who became a high school teacher.
In 1997, he was in the movie The Peacekeeper. He also made guest appearances on the soap opera All My Children in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he hosted American Candidate, a political reality show. Williams also appeared on The New Adventures of Robin Hood and Guiding Light.
In 1993, he was in a Perry Mason movie called The Case Of The Telltale Talk Show Host. He also lent his voice to a character's GPS device in the 2008 film War, Inc.. More recently, in 2019, Williams played himself in an episode of the Fox drama The Resident.
Production Work
Williams produced and narrated a documentary film called 4CHOSEN: The Documentary. This film tells the story of a 1998 shooting incident and the racial profiling case that followed. In 1999, he directed a film called Little Pieces.
Spokesman and Other Work
Williams has been a spokesman for various causes. He supported the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA). This program helps people with low incomes get free or cheaper prescription drugs.
In 2009, Williams hosted a daily radio show called Montel Across America. He has also hosted infomercials for health and security products. In 2014, he spoke to a Congressional committee. He supported Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, who was arrested in Mexico.
Williams was once a Republican but became an independent in 1993. He supports LGBT rights. In 2021, he was appointed as a Director on the Board of Better For You Wellness, Inc. He has also worked on developing cannabidiol (CBD) oil products to help manage his own multiple sclerosis.
Personal Life
Montel Williams has four children. He has two daughters, Ashley (born 1984) and Maressa (born 1988), with his first wife, Rochele See. He married Grace Morley in 1992. They have a son, Montel Brian Hank (born 1993), and a daughter, Wyntergrace (born 1994). They divorced in 2000.
In 2007, Williams married Tara Fowler, an American Airlines flight attendant. They had a beach wedding in Bermuda on October 6, 2007.
Williams enjoys playing poker. He participated in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event. He planned to donate any winnings to families affected by the Iraq War.
In 1999, Montel Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. In 2000, he created the MS Foundation, a group focused on research and education about the disease. He has shared that snowboarding helps him manage his MS symptoms, improving his balance and walking for days after.
On May 30, 2018, Williams was hospitalized after having a stroke while working out.
Images for kids
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Williams at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
