Billy Dee Williams chose the path of showbiz and entertainment at a young age and proved himself worthy of the industry. The actor, singer and writer made a name for himself in the 1950s from stage productions to the big screens. He will not be easily forgotten for his notable works, which include his roles alongside Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany, and Others.
There are many reasons to say thank you to Billy Dee. He is best known for making a large contribution to the supply of television and film in the country. Williams isn’t just Lando Calrissian in Star Wars , there are lesser-known facts about the legendary actor available below.
Billy Dee Williams bio, dude
He was born on April 6, 1937 to parents Loretta Anne and William December Williams Sr., his humble parents who worked multiple jobs to get food on their table. Williams attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. He was a classmate with actress Diahann Carroll, with whom he later had a role on the soap opera Dynasty .
He always wanted to entertain; Williams gave a great performance on his first Broadway show. The Firebrand of Florence in 1945. It wasn’t his last. In 1960, the actor returned to Broadway in the adaptation of the novel – The Cool World. Also on Broadway, he appeared in the following productions: Taste of Honey , Fences , and I Have a Dream where he played the role of Martin Luther King Jr
While appearing in Broadway shows, Billy Dee Williams tried his luck with film faculty until he made his film debut in 1959’s The Last Bad Man . He tried other supporting roles until landing a leading role in the popular film Brian’s Song (1971) . The film, which was a smash hit, pushed Billy to celebrities to earn him a number of awards and accolades including Emmy nominations. The ’70s saw many shadows of the actor already enjoying his Brian’s Song fame. Some of his 70’s movies include blockbuster films Lady Sings the Blues where he starred in the Billy Holiday biopic opposite Diana Ross .The film even exceeded expectations and received many nominations – it was nominated five times at the Academy Awards.
Billy entered the eighties in a new style; with science fiction roles. He played “Lando Calrissian” in the popular fictional science fiction films. The Empire strikes back and the Jedi return.
For his prominent roles in the films, he did a speaking role for the same character in Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcasts video game as well as other Star Wars sequels. However, Calrissian was not cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens after Disney gained ownership of Lucasfilm 30 years later.
His wealth and achievements
Billy Dee Williams enjoys an enviable net worth, estimated at $9 million. The actor’s 50+ year career has shown a lot, his versatility and uniqueness has paid off for him. While he credits his numerous films for his earnings, Billy has been making big bucks from various endorsement deals as well as promoting various brands.
For his notable works, the legendary actor earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985. In 2012 he received a lifetime achievement award from the African American Film Critics Association. These are some of his awards. The actor was cited in John Willis’ 1974 Film Annual “Screen World” as one of the most promising screen personalities of 1973.
Personal life – spouse, children
But it could also be his career or his personality. There was something unstable about the personal life of Billy Dee Williams, who was raised by his grandmother. He was married three times to three different women whom he divorced under vague circumstances. The actor was first married to Audrey Sellers in 1959, with whom he had a son, Corey Williams. A few years later, the couple divorced, which, as the actor admits, caused him to become depressed.
Billy remarried in 1968 to Marlene Clark, model and actress. However, just two years after their marriage, they separated in 1971. The actor moved on the following year when he married Teruko Nakagami, who was the mother of one daughter at the time. The couple welcomed a daughter Hanako in 1973. The couple had filed for divorce in 1993, although some sources reported they met again in 1997.
Other interesting facts you should know
- Billy Dee wasn’t just famous in cinemas, and on Broadway the actor has also starred in tons of commercials. One of his notable advertising campaigns was for Fohlen 45 brand of malt liquor, which he made in the 80’s and 90’s. Many criticized the actor for his involvement in promoting spirits, saying he was misleading the public by portraying patronage of the products. The actor has also appeared on various television shows including The 70’s Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Cosby Show and tons of others.
- He got involved with music in the ’60s when he recorded an LP Let’s Misbehave.
- He’s also had a lawsuit. In January 1996, the actor was arrested for allegedly hitting his girlfriend. Soon after, he was released on $50,000 bail.
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