Treat Williams, a versatile actor known for his roles in film, television, and theater, passed away at the age of 71 on June 12 as a result of a motorcycle accident in Vermont, according to state police. Williams, famous for starring in the TV series “Everwood” and the 1979 movie musical “Hair,” resided in Manchester Center, Vt.
The collision occurred in the town of Dorset when an SUV making a left turn into a parking lot collided with Williams’s motorcycle, as reported by the Vermont State Police. Despite wearing a helmet, Williams was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered critical injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in Albany, N.Y., where he succumbed to his injuries.
Born Richard Treat Williams on December 1, 1951, in Stamford, Conn., he grew up in Rowayton, Conn. His father held an executive position at Merck chemical. Williams graduated from the private Kent School in Connecticut in 1969 and Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., in 1973. He had already built an extensive resume in community, college, and summer theater by that time.
After college, Williams made his Broadway debut as an understudy for the role of Danny Zuko in the musical “Grease” and also appeared in the 1974 musical “Over Here!” featuring the Andrews Sisters.
His breakthrough came in 1979 when he portrayed a hippie leader in the film adaptation of “Hair.” This role opened doors to featured and leading roles in high-budget Hollywood movies, including Steven Spielberg’s comedy “1941” (1979) and the police whistleblower drama “Prince of the City” (1981).
William Takes Significant Supporting and Leading Roles
Although Williams continued to take on significant supporting and leading roles in films such as “Once Upon a Time in America” (1984) and “Smooth Talk” (1985), he faced challenges in finding roles that would propel his career further. He also appeared in an ABC-TV movie version of Tennessee Williams’ melodrama “A Streetcar Named Desire” in 1984, playing Stanley Kowalski opposite Ann-Margret’s Blanche Dubois.
Throughout his career, Williams appeared in numerous television shows, but his most notable role was as the lead character in the WB network’s series “Everwood” from 2002 to 2006. He portrayed a widowed brain surgeon who moves with his two children to the Colorado mountain town of the same name.
Apart from his work in theater, Williams had a recurring role as Lenny Ross on the CBS show “Blue Bloods.”
In 1988, he married Pam Van Sant, with whom he had two children. A comprehensive list of survivors was not immediately available.
In a 2022 interview with Vermont Magazine, Williams expressed his preference for versatility over traditional stardom. He mentioned taking on less demanding roles on the Hallmark Channel, such as in “Chesapeake Shores” and a Dolly Parton Christmas special, after having tackled more intense and dramatic roles like those in “Prince of the City” and “Hair.” Williams believed in providing audiences with an escape from their troubles through uplifting and feel-good entertainment.
Treat Williams’s passing leaves a void in the entertainment industry, but his legacy as a talented and multifaceted actor will be remembered by fans and colleagues alike.
