Treat Williams, popular star of stage, screen and television dies following motorcycle crash
DORSET, Vt. — Actor Treat Williams, a star of film, television and stage over a 50-year career, died on Monday following a motorcycle accident in southwestern Vermont. He was 71.
State police in Vermont said a Honda SUV making a left turn collided with Williams’ motorcycle shortly before 5 p.m. in the town of Dorset, not far from Williams’ home in Manchester Center, Vermont.
“Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” according to Vermont State Police[1].
Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.
The SUV’s driver received minor injuries and wasn’t hospitalized. He had signaled the turn and wasn’t immediately detained although the crash investigation continues, police said.
The actor’s death also was confirmed by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.
“He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off,” McPherson told People magazine[2]. “I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented.
“He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of the Hollywood since the late 1970s,” McPherson 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, whose full name was Richard Treat Williams, appeared in more than 120 films, TV shows and stage performances over four decades, The Associated Press reported[3].
Williams, born in Connecticut, made his movie debut in 1975 as a police officer in the movie “Deadly Hero.” Other films included “The Eagle Has Landed,” “Prince of the City” and “Once Upon a Time in America.”
Other roles included appearances in films like Steven Spielberg’s “1941″ and “Heart of Dixie,” and television shows like “Blue Bloods,” “The Late Shift,” “Chicago Fire” and “Chesapeake Shores.”
Williams also appeared in several Hallmark projects like “The Christmas House,” “Beyond the Blackboard,” “Safe Harbor” and “Chasing a Dream,” and in Netflix’s “Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square” and “The Noel Diary.”
He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as hippie leader George Berger in the 1979 movie version of the hit musical “Hair.”
Among his television roles, he was perhaps best known as Dr. Andrew Brown in the series “Everwood,” which ran from 2002 to 2006. In that series, he portrayed a widowed brain surgeon from Manhattan who moves with his two children to Colorado.
Williams’ stage appearances included Broadway shows, including “Grease” and “The Pirates of Penzance.”
References
- ^ according to Vermont State Police (vtstatepolice.blogspot.com)
- ^ McPherson told People magazine (people.com)
- ^ The Associated Press reported (apnews.com)