Treat Williams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Treat Williams
Williams in 2008
Born	Richard Treat Williams (1951-12-01)December 1, 1951 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 12, 2023(2023-06-12) (aged 71) Albany, New York, U.S.
Education	Kent School
Alma mater	Franklin & Marshall College
Occupation	Actor author
Years active	1969–2023
Spouse(s)	Pam Van Sant ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	2

Richard Treat Williams (born December 1, 1951 – died June 12, 2023) was an American actor. He was well-known for his work in movies, TV shows, and plays. He became famous after appearing in the 1979 films Hair and 1941. Many people knew him from his role as Dr. Andy Brown in the TV show Everwood (2002–2006). He was nominated for many awards, including Screen Actors Guild Awards, Golden Globes, and an Emmy.

Williams acted in many movies during his career. Some of his films include Prince of the City (1981), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Phantom (1996), Deep Rising (1998), and 127 Hours (2010).

On television, Williams starred as Mick O'Brien in Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores (2016–2022). He also had regular roles in shows like White Collar (2012–2013), Chicago Fire (2013–2018), and Blue Bloods (2016–2023). On stage, Williams played Danny Zuko in the first Broadway run of Grease in 1972. In 2010, he wrote a children's book called Air Show!.

Early Life and Education

Treat Williams was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on December 1, 1951. His mother, Marian, was an antiques dealer, and his father, Richard, was a business executive. When he was three, his family moved to Rowayton, Connecticut. He was a distant relative of P. T. Barnum, a famous showman. He was also related to Robert Treat Paine, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and Herbert Hoover, the 31st U.S. President.

Williams played football in high school and college. He graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut and Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania. As a teenager, he acted in school plays and local theater. He started thinking seriously about acting during his first year of college. He once performed in three college shows at the same time: a comedy, a Shakespeare play, and a musical.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Stage Work and Film Debut

Williams began his acting career in musical theater. He was an understudy for lead roles in the Broadway show Grease. Later, he toured with the musical. From 1974 to 1975, he starred in the musical Over Here! alongside John Travolta. After that, he returned to Grease on Broadway and played the main role of Danny Zuko for three years.

In 1975, Williams made his first movie appearance in the thriller Deadly Hero. The next year, he received good reviews for his role as Michael Brick in the comedy The Ritz. In 1979, Williams became famous worldwide when he starred as George Berger in the film Hair. This movie was based on a 1967 musical. Critics praised his performance. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role.

Acclaim and Awards

In the 1980s, Williams appeared in many different film roles. These included the comedy 1941 (1979) and the crime movie Once Upon a Time in America (1984) with Robert De Niro. He also starred in the action-thriller Flashpoint (1984) and the horror-comedy Dead Heat (1988).

Williams in 1983

His role as Daniel Ciello in the 1981 crime drama Prince of the City earned him his second Golden Globe nomination. Critics gave him very strong reviews for this demanding role. Film critic Roger Ebert said Williams was "almost always onscreen, and almost always in situations of extreme stress."

During this time, Williams also played Stanley Kowalski in the 1984 TV movie A Streetcar Named Desire. This earned him his third Golden Globe nomination. He was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead for his role in Smooth Talk (1985).

From 1993 to 1994, Williams starred in the TV show Good Advice. He played Jack Harold, a divorce attorney. The show ran for two seasons.

Film, Theater, and Everwood

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Williams appeared in films like The Devil's Own (1997) and The Deep End of the Ocean (1999). In 1996, he co-starred in The Phantom. He played the villain Xander Drax, who tried to take over the world. Critics liked the movie's visuals and performances.

That same year, he received an Emmy Award nomination for his role as talent agent Michael Ovitz in the TV movie The Late Shift.

In 1998, Williams took over the lead role in The Substitute action movie series. He played Karl Thomasson in The Substitute 2: School's Out, The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999), and The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001). He also appeared in the comedy Hollywood Ending (2002) and the action comedy Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) with Sandra Bullock.

Williams was praised for his role as Manuel, a Portuguese fisherman, in the 1999 musical Captains Courageous, the Musical. He also appeared in the Broadway revival of Follies in 2001.

From 2002 to 2006, Williams played Dr. Andrew Brown in the TV show Everwood. This drama was about a widowed neurosurgeon who moved to Colorado with his two children. The show was very popular, and Williams was nominated twice for the Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2006, Williams made guest appearances on the TV show Brothers & Sisters.

Later Career and Children's Book

In 2007, Williams starred in the TV series Heartland. He also played real-life convicted murderer Michael Peterson in the TV movie The Staircase Murders. His film roles during this time included What Happens in Vegas (2008) and the Academy Award-nominated film 127 Hours (2010), where he played the father of Aron Ralston.

With Thora Birch on the set of The Etruscan Smile (2018)

In 2010, Williams wrote a children's book called Air Show!. It was published by Disney-Hyperion and is for ages 6–9. The book describes an air show with text and pictures. Williams said he got the idea after taking his children to an air show and seeing how excited they were, especially his daughter. He wanted to show a little girl who loved flying.

Williams continued to appear in many films between 2012 and 2021. These included Deadfall (2012), Reaching for the Moon (2013), and Second Act (2018) with Jennifer Lopez. His performance in the 2018 drama The Etruscan Smile was also praised.

Williams played Mick O'Brien in the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores from 2016 until 2022. He also had regular roles in White Collar (2012–2013), Chicago Fire (2013–2018), and Blue Bloods (2016–2023).

In 2016, Williams co-starred in the TV movie Confirmation, playing U.S. senator Ted Kennedy. He also appeared in Hallmark's The Christmas House, which was notable for featuring a same-sex couple. He was also in the Emmy Award-winning Netflix film Christmas on the Square with Dolly Parton.

At the time of his death in June 2023, Williams had finished filming his role as Bill Paley for the second season of Feud.

Personal Life

In 1969, Williams' high school football coach, who was also a flight instructor, taught him how to fly. At age 21, Williams became a private aircraft pilot. He later became a commercial pilot and was certified as a flight instructor. He owned several airplanes.

Williams with Dana Delany in 1982

Williams learned to scuba dive in 1982 with his girlfriend at the time, Dana Delany. They both became certified divers.

Williams lived in Park City, Utah, and Manchester Center, Vermont, with his wife, Pam Van Sant, and their two children, Gille and Ellie.

Death

On June 12, 2023, Williams was in a motorcycle crash in Dorset. A car turned into the path of his motorcycle, and he could not avoid hitting it. He was taken to Albany Medical Center, where he died at age 71.

Selected Theatre Roles

Filmography

Movies

Television Series

Television Films

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See also

In Spanish: Treat Williams para niños