Treat Williams, a star of stage, television and film, died in a motorcycle accident, his family said Monday night. He was 71 years old.
«It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Treat Williams passed away tonight in Dorset, Vermont following a fatal motorcycle accident,» her family said in a statement. «As you can imagine, we are shocked and very heartbroken at this time.»
Vermont State Police said in a statement that Williams was critically injured in Dorset at about 4:53 p.m. Monday when a Honda pickup truck spun in front of him, ending in a collision that threw Williams from his 1986 Honda motorcycle.
He was taken to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead, state police said.
The driver of the truck, who was uninjured, was not cited; an investigation into the collision was ongoing, police said.
Williams most recently guest-starred on HBO’s “We Own This City,” a Baltimore corruption drama that aired and aired this spring. In 2016, she played the title character in the theatrical and streaming release of «The Congressman.»
He developed as an actor actor starting out as an understudy on the Broadway hit «Grease» in the 1970s before taking on the lead role as Danny Zuko. But his real breakthrough was as director Miloš Forman’s hippie character George Berger in a defining counterculture film, «Hair,» in 1979.
That opened the door to roles in countless movies, including Steven Spielberg’s «1941,» Sidney Lumet’s «Prince of the City,» Sergio Leone’s «Once Upon a Time in America,» and John Erman’s adaptation of the classic. Tennessee Williams «A Streetcar Named Desire.» .»
In his television career, Williams had roles on «Law & Order,» «Blue Bloods» and other shows, often as a seemingly benevolent patriarch with just a hint of corruption beneath the surface.
Most recently, he played Dr. Andrew Brown on the WB series «Everwood» and Brian Grabler, a retired Baltimore police detective, on «We Own This City.» In the last series, he teaches at the police academy and, according to HBO press release«acknowledges a lot of what has gone wrong» with the city force.
Williams was born in Rowayton, Connecticut, to Marian and Richard Norman Williams, according to his IM Db Biography He went from high school to Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, where he was immersed in the world of stage and screen.
His summers were spent immersed in theater classics at the Fulton Theater in Lancaster, the biography says. Williams’ later success meant that he could spend his free time flying, and he became a licensed pilot and instructor.
In their statement, his family said their loved ones were «beyond devastated.»
«Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and he really was on top of his game in all of it,» the family said. «Everything is so shocking right now, but know that Treat was deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him.»
Former Baltimore Sun journalist David Simon, the creator of «We Own This City,» said he was honored when Williams signed up for the show.
«After years of reporting to the police, ‘Prince Of The City’ was the only movie that made me believe that someone else knew the truth about the war on drugs,» he said. tweeted. «I was very honored when Treat Williams signed on to deliver our own post-disaster review. RIP to a legendary actor and a great, kind man.»
Williams rejoiced in his first film job, saying in a 2011 interview with audiovisual club that «Hair» was «the best movie experience of my life.»
«It was really, really fun,» he said. «I loved John Savage and Beverly D’Angelo, and Milos Forman is one of the all-time great filmmakers. It was truly an honor to be a part of that.»
He is survived by his wife, Pam Van Sant, and their children, Gill Williams and Elinor Williams.
joseph cradduck contributed.