The legendary TV actor died in Los Angeles after a battle with colon most cancers. Study extra about Clarence Williams III.
Clarence Williams III, the actor who performed Linc Hayes on the influential counterculture police sequence The Mod Squad, in addition to Prince’s father in Purple Rain, has sadly handed away on the age of 81. His administration confirmed he died on June Four following a battle with colon most cancers. The New York Metropolis native, who was the grandson of legendary jazz musician Clarence Williams, made his performing debut on Broadway, earlier than breaking onto the massive display screen. Right here’s 5 extra issues to learn about him.
1. Followers are mourning the lack of the legendary TV star.
Individuals around the globe took to social media, to share tributes to the enduring actor, who made a reputation for himself in movie, TV and on the stage. “Mod Squad broke new floor,” one individual tweeted after information of his demise broke on June 6. “Clarence Williams III broke new floor. You’ll be able to draw a direct line from Clarence Williams III to each Denzel [Washington] & Idris [Elba]. It’s his MF moody blood working by means of The Child in Purple Rain that’s the furnace of his ache & genius.”
One other consumer write, “RIP to Clarence Williams III. His profession was assorted and great however clearly I’ll all the time keep in mind him for his phenomenal efficiency in Tales from the Hood, an underrated basic. Thanks for the depth, sir. Your performing was… THE S***!” A 3rd individual chimed in, “RIP Clarence Williams III He had a high quality profession in theatre, movie & television however he made an actual influence with me as Taft in Deep Cowl. He needed to play a very earnest character however imbued him with ardour & humanity.”
2. Clarence started his profession on the stage.
He began his performing profession on the stage and even earned a Tony Away nomination in 1965 for greatest featured actor in a play for his work within the three-person drama Gradual Dance on the Killing Floor. Quickly after, he landed his notorious TV position, nonetheless he returned to Broadway a long time later to star reverse Maggie Smith within the authentic 1979 manufacturing Tom Stoppard’s Evening and Day. Amongst his different memorable Broadway credit, he led Joseph Papp’s “King John” on the Delacorte Theatre.
3. ‘The Mod Squad’ catapulted him to worldwide stardom.
Clarence starred because the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the favored ABC drama, which ran from 1968 to 1973. He informed the Los Angeles Instances in 1995, “It was a really completely different position for an African American and an exquisite lead character that numerous kids, black and white, and principally African American kids may establish with. I get a lot suggestions from that present even now and it’s virtually 30 years outdated.” He starred alongside Michael Cole, and Peggy Lipton, who sadly handed away in 2019.
4. Invoice Cosby helped him get his begin on the display screen.
Comic Invoice Cosby had seen a few of Clarence’s work, and really useful him to producer Aaron Spelling, who was casting The Mod Squad. As a trial, he gave the younger actor a small half on a sequence he was producing, as the driving force of a getaway automotive. “They went in, they rob the shop, you heard a pistol shot and so they ran within the automotive,” Aaron recalled in a 1999 interview for the Archive of American Tv. “Then [Williams] drove off and smashed proper right into a phone pole. I assumed everyone was killed. All of us rushed over. I mentioned, ‘Clarence, Clarence, what occurred?’ He mentioned, ‘I’ve by no means pushed earlier than.’ I mentioned, ‘Why didn’t you inform me that?’ He mentioned, ‘As a result of I wished the job.’ I employed him that night time for Mod Squad.’ “
5. Clarence beforehand served within the navy.
After showing in an uncredited position within the 1960 Broadway manufacturing of The Lengthy Dream, he enlisted within the U.S. Military and served as a paratrooper within the 101st Airborne Division. He spent two years within the navy earlier than returning to New York to pursue his performing profession.