In Memoriam : Clarence Williams III, Iconic Actor (1939 – 2021)

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Clarence Williams III, who was a Black power icon in the 1960s and 1970s, has died.

Clarence Williams III has passed away

Williams died in Los Angeles on Friday June 4 of colon cancer, according to his management. He was 81.

Tributes came quickly on social media from both those who worked with Williams and those who admired him for his pioneering roles and impactful performances.

“Tales from the Hood” director Rusty Cundieff tweeted that his sadness over Williams’ passing, “cannot be overstated. His artistry and sheer coolness was extraordinary. I will forever be in his debt for his brilliant performance in Tales From the Hood. Loved working with him! Blessed travels good sir!”

Acting career

Clarence Williams III began his career in theatre and earned a Tony nomination in 1965 for best featured actor in a play for his work in the powerful drama Slow Dance on the Killing Ground.

Decades later, he returned to Broadway to star opposite Maggie Smith in the original 1979 production Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day.

But Williams broke through in 1968 as one of the stars of the cop show “The Mod Squad.” Williams played the cool detective “Linc Hayes.

He was a mainstay of the series until its end in 1973, and went on to have a career in film, television and theater spanning four decades.

Films

On the big screen, Williams played Prince’s father in Purple Rain, and had a recurring role as FBI Agent Roger Hardy on the TV show “Twin Peaks.”

He also had a long-running collaboration with director John Frankenheimer, playing Bobby Shy in 1986’s “52 Pick-Up,” Chaka in 1994’s “Against the Wall,” Archie in the 1997 TV movie “George Wallace” and Merlin in 2000’s “Reindeer Games.”

Williams’ other film credits include “The General’s Daughter,” “Sugar Hill,” “Half Baked,” “Deep Cover,” “Hoodlum,” “The Brave,” “Happy Here and Now,” “The Legend of 1900” and “Life.” More recently, Williams appeared in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” in 2013 as Maynard.

Clarence Williams III Legacy

Clarence Williams III was born in New York City on Aug. 21, 1939.

He is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw and grandniece Azaria Verdin.