Actor Treat Williams, best known for his roles in the TV series Everwood and the movie Hair, has died at the age of 71. The news was confirmed by his agent Barry McPherson, who also revealed that Williams was killed following a motorcycle accident in Vermont.
According to Vermont State Police, Williams was riding his motorcycle on Route 30 near Dorset, Vermont, when a Honda SUV turned in front of him and collided with his bike. Williams was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered critical injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in New York, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
Williams was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and the driver of the SUV received minor injuries and was not cited. The investigation into the collision is ongoing, police said.
Williams had a long and successful career in film and television, spanning nearly five decades. He made his film debut in 1975 in the thriller Deadly Hero and rose to fame in 1979 as hippie leader George Berger in the film adaptation of the musical Hair, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for new star of the year.
He also starred in films such as The Eagle Has Landed, Prince of the City, Once Upon a Time in America and The Late Shift. He received another Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a motion picture drama for Prince of the City in 1981.
On television, Williams appeared in dozens of shows, but was perhaps most beloved for his role as Dr. Andrew Brown, a widowed brain surgeon who moves with his two children to a small Colorado town, on The WB’s Everwood from 2002 to 2006. He also had recurring roles on shows like Law & Order, Blue Bloods and Chicago Fire.
Williams was also a stage actor who performed on Broadway in shows such as Grease and Pirates of Penzance. He had been working on a new project with Ryan Murphy called Feud: Capote’s Women, in which he played former CBS head Bill Paley.
McPherson praised Williams as an actor’s actor who was loved by filmmakers and fellow actors. “He’s been the heart of the Hollywood since the late 1970s,” he said. “He was really proud of his performance this year. He’s been so happy with the work that I got him. He’s had a balanced career.”
Williams is survived by his wife Pam Van Sant and his two children Gill and Ellie Williams. His family said in a statement that they were shocked and greatly bereaved by his death.
Colleagues and friends also expressed their condolences and shared their memories of Williams on social media. Actor James Woods tweeted: “Treat and I spent months in Rome filming Once Upon a Time in America. It can be pretty lonely on the road during a long shoot, but his resilient good cheer and sense of humor was a Godsend. I really loved him and am devastated that he’s gone.”
Relevant articles:
– Treat Williams Dead at 71 After Motorcycle Accident, People.com, June 12, 2023
– Treat Williams, 71, is killed in motorbike crash ‘after car cut him off …, Daily Mail, June 13, 2023
– ‘Hair,’ ‘Everwood’ actor Treat Williams killed in Vermont motorcycle crash, ABC News, June 13, 2023
– Actor Treat Williams Killed in Motorcycle Accident at Age 71, The Daily Beast, June 13, 2023