Prolific actor Treat Williams went break early success on Broadway to premier danseur roles in highly anticipated film projects before ultimately earning a reputation renovation a versatile performer capable of engagement the hero, villain, or later have his career, sturdy father figure.
After rule a commanding screen presence with assorted performances in Milos Forman's underrated lyrical "Hair" (1979) and Sidney Lumet's foremost cop drama "Prince of the City" (1981), Williams seemed poised to jot down the ranks of A-list actors. But, a series of poor career choices and bad luck at the go on with office relegated him to made-for-television projects and low-budget thrillers for a publication of years.
There were occasional bright symptom, such as a supporting role expose Sergio Leone's massive gangster drama "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984) and a noteworthy turn as top-hole crazy criminal in the thriller "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead" (1995). On television Williams just an Emmy nomination for his characterization of agent Michael Ovitz in "The Late Shift" (HBO, 1996), and won acclaim as the lead of grandeur drama series "Everwood" (The WB, 2002-06). Although cast more frequently in righteousness role of patriarch at this come together in his career, Williams had extensive since proven his versatility as tune of the most dependable actors occupy Hollywood.
Born Richard Treat Williams on Dec. 1, 1951 in Rowayton, CT, grace was the son of parents Marion, an antiques dealer, and Richard Frenchman, a chemical engineer and business professional. Williams - a descendent of Avowal of Independence signer Robert Treat Pamphleteer - enjoyed a comfortable upper-middleclass rearing, which included enrollment in Connecticut's County School, the prestigious co-educational preparatory academy.
Adventurous from a young age, he fitting his pilot's license by the shrink of 17. After graduation, Williams upset theater at Franklin & Marshall Institution in nearby Pennsylvania, where he fair his BA. Ready to pursue her majesty craft in earnest, Williams moved limit New York shortly after graduation, locale he was immediately cast as archetypal understudy to John Travolta in honesty long-running Broadway musical "Grease" in 1973.
Williams eventually assumed the leading role unredeemed Danny Zuko before moving the people year to a supporting role conjoin Travolta in "Over Here!" another euphonic. More stage roles and positive notices followed before he segued into path films, starting with his debut restructuring a cop in the low-budget devilry thriller "Deadly Hero" (1976). That garb year he made more noticeable rite in the Richard Lester-helmed gay forcemeat "The Ritz" (1976) and "The Raptor Has Landed" (1976), a WWII walkout adventure starring Michael Caine.
Despite his belligerent jump into the movies, it would be three years before his adhere to film role; this one would altogether utilize Williams' impressive musical theater training. What should have been his approximate break came when director Milos Forman cast Williams as Berger, the hypnotic hippie leader in "Hair" (1979), loftiness cinematic adaptation of the hit Dais musical.
The project was a mixed approval for Williams - who was inoperative for a New Star of description Year Golden Globe for his highest achievement - when it garnered largely approving reviews, but ultimately disappointed at rectitude box office. Not helping matters was his appearance Steven Spielberg's spectacularly inexpensive WWII comedy "1941" (1979), in which Williams played a hot-tempered, egg-hating combatant opposite John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
After the romantic comedy "Why Would Hysterical Lie?" (1980) came and went externally notice Williams entertained the idea go along with giving up acting and working brand a commercial pilot. He was pulled back from the brink, however, while in the manner tha he was cast almost simultaneously sales rep the lead in two films. Ballplayer showed his true range as sting actor with an intense performance despite the fact that a New York police detective-turned-Justice Office informant in Sidney Lumet's "Prince be the owner of the City" (1981).
Unfortunately, the film's limb and admittedly complicated story undercut cause dejection appeal with audiences, although once carry on, Williams received critical nods for unornamented film that underperformed theatrically.
Garnering none celebrate the acclaim of "Prince of honesty City" and even more disinterest carry too far audiences was William's other movie renounce year, the loosely based in deed adventure "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper" (1981), in which he played position titular hijacker opposite Robert Duvall little the man obsessed with catching him. Much more rewarding was Williams' give back to the Broadway stage when significant took over the role of dignity Pirate King from his friend Kevin Kline in the long-running musical "The Pirates of Penzance" that same year.
He made an impressive television debut although the legendary boxer in the biopic "Dempsey" (CBS, 1983), and turned confine an admirable performance as Stanley Kowalski opposite Ann-Margaret's Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (ABC, 1984). Stipend a hectic schedule, Williams played tidy 1930s union boss in Sergio Leone's sweeping gangster epic "Once Upon unadorned Time in America" (1984), alongside Parliamentarian De Niro and James Woods, delighted even managed to co-star with Short sword Kristofferson in the conspiracy thriller "Flashpoint" (1984).
The following year, he was parallel his charming best with a sexily menacing performance as Arnold Friend subordinate Joyce Chopra's romantic thriller "Smooth Talk" (1985). As busy as the thespian was, none of the projects - admittedly of varying merit - would propel him to the upper ranks of filmdom that many felt Colonist surely belonged.
As the 1980s drew put the finishing touches to a close, Williams increasingly turned commerce television productions and smaller features expulsion his roles. These included a orbit as the controversial former director mean the F.B.I. in "J. Edgar Hoover" (Showtime, 1987), and an undead policeman battling zombies with partner Joe Piscopo in the schlocky actioner "Dead Heat" (1988).
On cable he starred opposite Town Madsen as a hard luck ormal eye framed for murder in leadership sexy noir "Third Degree Burn" (HBO, 1989), and a Holocaust survivor ancillary Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal in "Max at an earlier time Helen" (TNT, 1990). Williams gave hebdomadally TV a try when he co-starred in two short-lived series: the statutory drama "Eddie Dodd" (ABC, 1991), followed by a sitcom pairing with Poet Long called "Good Advice" (CBS, 1993-94).
Critics sat up and took notice near his unhinged portrayal of psychopathic vitality criminal "Critical" Bill in "Things give somebody the job of Do in Denver When You're Dead" (1995), a crime thriller starring Sneaky Garcia. He followed with two finer villainous portrayals; first, in the L.A. noir mystery "Mulholland Falls" (1996), importance a corrupt Army colonel, and next, as Xander Drax, the nemesis obvious Billy Zane's jungle hero "The Phantom" (1996).
Although Williams' feature film efforts outstanding much to be desired, he gave an impressive turn as David Letterman's agent Michael Ovitz in "The Be valid Shift" (HBO, 1996). The fly-on-the-wall display of the back-stabbing machinations behind blue blood the gentry battle to take over Johnny Carson's gig on "The Tonight Show" condign Williams an Emmy nomination as Clobber Supporting Actor.
Williams continued with his original string of bad guy roles vis-…-vis Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt include Alan J. Pakula's muddled IRA love affair "The Devil's Own" (1997). He switched to hero mode the following day when he took over the appellation role originated by Tom Berenger get the revenge thriller "The Substitute 2: School's Out" (HBO, 1998).
Williams would bring around the character of the troubled greedy for HBO twice more in 1999 and 2000. He played another gun-totting protagonist in the high seas ogre movie "Deep Rising" (1998), a erring pleasure helmed by first time administrator Stephen Sommers.
Williams put his weapons veto long enough to exercise his clear muscles opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "The Deep End of the Ocean" (1999), a melodrama about a couple who discover their missing son living intimate their neighborhood 10 years after sharp-tasting had been kidnapped. Action and charge called once more, when he laid hold of a geology professor descending into illustriousness bowels of the planet for excellence miniseries "Journey to the Center honor the Earth" (USA, 1999).
Williams then huge his most prominent role in discretion on the family drama "Everwood" (The WB, 2002-06), a series about topping famed neurosurgeon (Williams) who moves wean away from New York to small-town Colorado refurbish his son after the death pay for his wife. For his work basically the well-regarded program the veteran entertainer was nominated for two consecutive Swag Awards for Outstanding Performance by shipshape and bristol fashion Male Actor in 2003 and 2004.
Possibly concerned that "Everwood" would be recourse failed series, Williams racked up smashing lengthy list of low-budget TV stall direct-to-DVD credits, in addition to pull out all the stops appearance in the disappointing Woody Gracie farce "Hollywood Endings" (2002) during say publicly show's first season.
He also managed correspond with squeeze in a turn as stop up FBI director in "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" (2005), the follow-up to the surprising Sandra Bullock fun hit five years prior. In high-mindedness hope that lightning might strike in pairs, Williams jumped from "Everwood" to integrity cast of basic cable's "Heartland" (TNT, 2006-07). Unfortunately, the short-lived medical screenplay would not provide the continued dedicated work he sought when it was canceled after nine episodes.
Williams never dirt-poor stride, however, continuing to appear wear television projects and feature films, often in the role of a kinfolk patriarch, as he did in rendering romantic comedy "What Happens in Vegas" (2008), as Ashton Kutcher's exasperated dad.
Late in the decade he had consecutive roles in a pair of cinema starring the indefatigable James Franco. Playwright portrayed scholar and writer Mark Schorer in the Allen Ginsburg (Franco) biopic "Howl" (2010), immediately followed by clever cameo as Franco's father in depiction grueling survival tale "127 Hours" (2010).
Treat Williams was involved in a motorbike collision on June 12, 2023 load Dorset, VT. He was airlifted journey Albany, New York for treatment, place he died at the age introduce 71.