Died February 15, 2012. Born August 9, 1934.

American actor known for his Broadway performance in productions like The Poison Tree, he received a Tony nomination in 1974  for his role in What the Wine-Sellers Buy and in 1975 for Black Picture Show.

His popular film credits include Five On The Black Hand Side, The Jerk, Tap, Mo' Better Blues and Edward Scissorhands among others.  He also played "pretty Tony" in the 1973 blaxploitation film The Mack starring alongside Max Julien and Richard Pryor.  The mini-series King along with Our Family Honor and American Playhouse are included in his long list of television credits.

Williams also co-founded, along with Woodie King Jr., the famous New Federal Theatre (NFT).  The theatre was instrumental in showcasing a multitude of black playwrights and actors/actresses including Amiri Baraka,  Ntozake Shange, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Phylicia Rashad, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson and more.

Williams married Gloria Edwards, an actress, who died in 1988, and had two children with her.