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![Treat Williams](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/people/thumbs/T/treat-williams.jpg)
Treat Williams
Quick Facts
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Biography
Richard Treat Williams (born December 1, 1951) is an American actor, writer and aviator who has appeared on film, stage and television in over 120 credits. He first became well known for his starring role in the 1979 musical film Hair, and later also starred in the films Prince of the City, Once Upon a Time in America, The Late Shift and 127 Hours. From 2002 to 2006, he was the lead of the television series Everwood and was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has additionally been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, two Satellite Awards and an Independent Spirit Award.
Early life and education
Williams was born December 1, 1951 in Rowayton, Connecticut, the son of Marian (née Andrew), an antiques dealer, and Richard Norman Williams, a corporate executive. His maternal great-great-great-grandfather was Senator William Henry Barnum of Connecticut, a third cousin of the showman P. T. Barnum. Williams is a distant relative of Robert Treat Paine, who was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.
Williams played football in high school. He graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut and Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania.
Career
Williams made his film debut in the 1975 thriller film Deadly Hero. The following year he played a supporting role in The Ritz, a squeaky-voiced private detective looking for his suspect in a gay bathhouse. He came to world attention in 1979, when he starred as George Berger in the Miloš Forman film Hair, which was based on the 1967 Broadway musical. Williams was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in the film. He was featured in the February 1980 edition of Playgirl magazine. He has gone on to appear in over 75 films and several television series. Notable films include: 1941 (1979), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), Dead Heat (1988), Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) and Deep Rising (1998).
Williams' second Golden Globe nomination was for his starring role in Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City (1981). His third nomination was for his performance as Stanley Kowalski in the television presentation of A Streetcar Named Desire. In 1996, he was nominated for a Best Actor Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his work in The Late Shift, an HBO movie, in which he portrayed agent Michael Ovitz.
In 1996, he played villain Xander Drax in Paramount's big budget comic book adaptation The Phantom, in which Williams' character did his best to take over the world and kill Billy Zane's mysterious superhero.
Williams' career includes numerous stage roles.He won a Drama League Award for his work in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, and another for starring in the off-Broadway production of Captains Courageous.Other notable Broadway shows include Grease, the Sherman Brothers' Over Here!, Once in a Lifetime, Pirates of Penzance and Love Letters, and off-Broadway, he has appeared in David Mamet's Oleanna and Oh, Hell (at Lincoln Center), Some Men Need Help and Randy Newman's Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong. He premiered the Los Angeles production of Love Letters and appeared in War Letters at the Canon Theatre in Los Angeles.
Williams played leading role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the WB television series Everwood, about a New York City neurosurgeon who moves his family to Colorado. Although the show's ratings were never spectacular, it won critical acclaim and had a devoted following. Williams received two SAG Award nominations (2003 and 2004) for his role on the show.
Williams has made several guest appearances on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters as David Morton, a friend and potential suitor of Sally Field's character. He starred in the short-lived series Heartland on TNT as Nathaniel Grant, but the series was canceled due to low ratings. He also starred in a Lifetime movie, Staircase Murders, which aired April 15, 2007.
Williams starred in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Beyond the Blackboard, with his former Everwood co-star, Emily VanCamp. It was first broadcast on CBS on April 24, 2011.
![Treat Williams](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/people/bio/T/treat-williams/treat_williams.jpg)
Williams appears in the CBS television pilot Peachtree Lines as Mayor Lincoln Rylan. The serial is an examination of political, social and cultural issues in Atlanta.
Williams has also worked as a director, winning two festival awards for directing Texan in Showtime's Chanticleer Films series.
![Treat Williams](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/media/people/bio/T/treat-williams/thore_birch_-26_treat_williams_-_tes.jpg)
Williams currently plays a role as Mick O' Brien in a Hallmark Channel television series called Chesapeake Shores originally airing August 2016 till current.
He also had a recurring role in Chicago Fire as Kelly Severide's father, Benny Severide until his character's death in season 7.
Williams has authored a children's book, Air Show!, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, published in 2010 by Disney/Hyperion Books). Targeted at an audience of children ages three to seven, the book playfully documents an airshow experience with simple text and bold illustrations of such aircraft as a Boeing B-17, a Pitts Special biplane and the US Navy's Blue Angel F/A-18.
Personal life
In 1969, Williams' high school football coach, who was also a flight instructor, offered to train him in a Piper Super Cub. At age 21, he was a private pilot. Williams became an FAA instrument-rated commercial pilot with privileges in both single engine and multi-engine airplanes as well as rotorcraft helicopter. He holds a type-rating for Cessna Citation jets. He also is certified as a flight instructor. He has owned a Piper Clipped-wing Cub, Piper Cherokee 180, Piper Seneca II and a Piper Navajo Chieftain which is used for family travel between homes.
Williams resides in Park City, Utah and Manchester Center, Vermont with his wife, Pam Van Sant, and two children, Gille and Ellie.
Select theatre credits
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972-80 | Grease | Danny Zuko | ||
1974-75 | Over Here! | Utah | ||
1978 | Once in a Lifetime | Jerry Hyland | ||
1981-82 | The Pirates of Penzance | The Pirate King | ||
1982 | Some Men Need Help | Hudley T. Singleton III | 47th Street Theatre | |
1989-90 | Love Letters | Andrew Makepiece Ladd III | ||
1989 | Bobby Gould in Hell | Bobby Gould | Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater | |
1992-94 | Oleanna | John | Orpheum Theatre | |
1999 | Captains Courageous, the Musical | Manuel | Manhattan Theatre Club | |
2001 | Follies | Buddy Plummer | Belasco Theatre |
Filmography
Theatrical releases
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Deadly Hero | Billings | ||
1976 | The Ritz | Michael Brick | ||
Marathon Man | Central Park Jogger | Uncredited | ||
The Eagle Has Landed | Captain Harry Clark | |||
1979 | Hair | George Berger | Nominated: Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor | |
1941 | Corporal Chuck 'Stretch' Sitarski | |||
1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | Echo Base Trooper | Uncredited | |
Why Would I Lie? | Cletus | |||
1981 | Prince of the City | Daniel Ciello | Nominated: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | |
The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper | D.B. Cooper | |||
1983 | Neapolitan Sting | Ferdinando | ||
1984 | Once Upon a Time in America | James Conway O'Donnell | ||
Flashpoint | Ernie Wyatt | |||
1985 | Smooth Talk | Arnold Friend | Nominated: Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead | |
1986 | The Men's Club | Terry | ||
1988 | Sweet Lies | Peter | ||
Night of the Sharks | David Ziegler | |||
The Third Solution | Mark Hendrix | |||
Dead Heat | Detective Roger Mortis | |||
1989 | Heart of Dixie | Hoyt Cunningham | ||
1990 | Beyond the Ocean | Christopher | ||
1993 | Where the Rivers Flow North | Champ's Manager | ||
1994 | Hand Gun | George McCallister | ||
1994 | Texan | Man In Chinos | Short film; also director Chicago International Film Festival Award for Best Short | |
1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Bill 'Critical Bill' | ||
1996 | Mulholland Falls | Colonel Nathan Fitzgerald | ||
The Phantom | Xander Drax | |||
1997 | The Devil's Own | Billy Burke | ||
1998 | Deep Rising | John Finnegan | ||
The Substitute 2: School's Out | Karl Thomasson | |||
1999 | The Deep End of the Ocean | Pat Cappadora | ||
The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All | Karl Thomasson | |||
2000 | Critical Mass | Mike Jeffers | ||
2001 | Crash Point Zero | Jason Ross | ||
Skeletons in the Closet | Will | |||
The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option | Karl Thomasson | |||
Venomous | Dr. David Henning | |||
2002 | Gale Force | Sam Garrett | ||
Hollywood Ending | Hal | |||
The Circle | Spencer Runcie | |||
2005 | Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous | FBI Assistant Director Walter Collins | ||
2007 | Moola | Luis Gordon | ||
The Hideout | Father Amy | |||
2008 | What Happens in Vegas | Jack Fuller Sr. | ||
2010 | Maskerade | Mr. Tucker | ||
Howl | Mark Schorer | |||
127 Hours | Larry Ralston | |||
Martino's Summer | Captain Jeff Clark | |||
2011 | A Little Bit of Heaven | Jack Corbett | ||
Oba: The Last Samurai | Colonel Wessinger | |||
2012 | Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader | Dr. Grey | ||
Deadfall | Sheriff Marshall T. Becker | |||
2013 | In the Blood | Robert Grant | ||
Reaching for the Moon | Robert Lowell | |||
2014 | Barefoot | Mr. Wheeler | ||
Operation Rogue | General Hank Wallace | |||
2016 | The Congressman | Charlie Winship | ||
2017 | The Etruscan Smile | Frank | ||
2018 | Second Act | Anderson Clarke | ||
2019 | The Great Alaskan Race | Dr. Welch | ||
Drunk Parents | Dan Henderson | |||
2020 | Run Hide Fight | Sheriff Tarsy | ||
Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square | Carl | |||
2021 | 12 Mighty Orphans | Amon Carter | ||
TBA | The Dougherty Gang | Jameison R. Donovan | Post-production | |
2022 | The Noel Diary |
Television series
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | American Playhouse | Hudley T. Singleton III | Episode: "Some Men Need Help" |
1987 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Prince Andrew | Episode: "The Little Mermaid" |
Echoes in the Darkness | Rick Guida | 2 episodes | |
1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story | Ray Carson | 3 episodes |
1991 | Eddie Dodd | Eddie Dodd | Main cast; Season 1 |
1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Howard Prince | Episode: "None But the Lonely Heart" |
Batman: The Animated Series | Dr. Achilles Milo | Voice, 2 episodes | |
1993 | Road to Avonlea | Zak Morgan | Episode: "Moving On" |
1993–94 | Good Advice | Jack Harold | Main cast; Season 1-2 |
1999 | Journey to the Center of the Earth | Theodore Lytton | 2 episodes |
2002 | UC: Undercover | Teddy Collins | Episode: "Teddy C" |
Going to California | Officer Terrence 'Terry' Miller | Episode: "The West Texas Round-up and Other Assorted Misdemeanors" | |
2002–06 | Everwood | Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Brown | Main cast; Seasons 1-4 Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated—SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Parental Unit |
2006 | Brothers & Sisters | David Morton | 3 episodes |
2007 | Heartland | Dr. Nathaniel "Nate" Grant | Main cast; Season 1 |
2009 | The Storm | Robert Terrell | 2 episodes |
2011 | Against the Wall | Don Kowalski | Main cast; Season 1 |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jake Stanton | Episode: "Spiraling Down" | |
2012 | Leverage | Pete Rising | Episode: "The Blue Line Job" |
The Simpsons | Himself/William Sullivan | Voice, episode: "A Totally Fun Thing That Bart Will Never Do Again" | |
2012–13 | White Collar | Samuel Phelps/James Bennett | Recurring role; Season 4 |
2013–18 | Chicago Fire | Benny Severide | Recurring role; 16 episodes (seasons 1-7) |
2013 | Eve of Destruction | Max Salinger | 2 episodes |
Hawaii Five-0 | Mick Logan | 2 episodes | |
2014 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Sam | Episode: "Dead in His Tracks" |
2015 | American Odyssey | Col. Stephen Glen | Main cast; Season 1 |
2016–22 | Chesapeake Shores | Mick O'Brien | Main cast |
2016–21 | Blue Bloods | Lenny Ross | Recurring role; 5 episodes (season 6-12) |
2022 | We Own This City | Brian Grabler |
Television films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1983 | Dempsey | Jack Dempsey | |
1984 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Stanley Kowalski | Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film |
1987 | J. Edgar Hoover | J. Edgar Hoover | |
1989 | Third Degree Burn | Scott Weston | |
1990 | Max and Helen | Max Rosenberg | |
1991 | Final Verdict | Earl Rogers | |
1992 | Till Death Us Do Part | Alan Palliko | |
The Water Engine | Dave Murray | ||
Deadly Matrimony | Alan Masters | ||
1993 | Bonds of Love | Robby Smith | |
1994 | Parallel Lives | Peter Barnum | |
1995 | In the Shadow of Evil | Jack Brenner | |
Johnny's Girl | Johnny | ||
1996 | The Late Shift | Michael Ovitz | Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
1998 | Escape: Human Cargo | John McDonald | |
Every Mother's Worst Fear | Mitch Carson | ||
1999 | 36 Hours to Die | Noah Stone | |
2000 | Hopewell | David Jonas | |
2002 | Guilty Hearts | Stephen Carrow | |
2007 | The Staircase Murders | Michael Peterson | |
2008 | Good Behavior | Burt Valencia | |
Front of the Class | Norman Cohen | ||
2009 | Safe Harbor | Doug | |
Chasing a Dream | Gary Stiles | ||
2010 | Boston's Finest | Jack Holt | |
2011 | Beyond the Blackboard | Dr. Warren | |
2013 | Age of Dinosaurs | Gabe | |
2016 | Confirmation | Ted Kennedy | |
2020 | The Christmas House | Bill | Hallmark Channel |
2021 | The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls | Bill | Hallmark Channel |