Treat Williams

Richard Treat Williams (December 1, 1951 – June 12, 2023) was an American actor, author, writer, and aviator who appeared on film, stage, and television. He has over 120 credits to his name. He first became well known for his starring roles in two 1979 films, the musical Hair and Steven Spielberg's 1941. He later starred in the films The Eagle Has Landed, 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 was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, two Satellite Awards, and an Independent Spirit Award.

Treat was the son of Marian (Andrew), an antiques dealer, and Richard Norman “Dick” Williams, a corporate executive. He had considerable Colonial American ancestry, with deep roots focused in Connecticut in particular. He was raised mostly in Rowayton, Connecticut, and was from an upper-class family. Treat was married to Pam Van Sant, until his death, with whom he had two children.

On June 12, 2023, Williams was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle on Vermont Route 30, near Dorset. He was airlifted to Albany Medical Center, where he died. He was 71.

References

• Wikipedia contributors, "Treat Williams," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed June 13, 2023). “His maternal great-great-great-grandfather was William Henry Barnum, a U.S. Senator from Connecticut and third cousin of the showman P. T. Barnum.[2] Williams was a distant relative of Robert Treat Paine, who was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.[3][4].
  • 1. Williams, Treat (June 24, 2021). "Q&A with Treat Williams". Vermont Magazine (Interview). Interviewed by Joshua Sherman. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  • 2. The Darien Times. November 30, 2006. Archived from the original on September 20, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  • 3."Treat Williams is Aiming for Success on Many Fronts". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 4, 1984.
  • 4. Schiff, Barry (February 5, 2011). "Pilots: Treat Williams". AOPA Pilot. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
• “Treat Williams, Actor Known for ‘Hair’ and ‘Everwood,’Dies at 71”. Updated June 13, 2023. The New York Times; archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023. ““Treat” is a Welsh name that has been in his family for generations.”
• IMDb, Internet Broadway Database; Internet Off-Broadway Database; nndb
• ethnicelebs; famouskin.com; Famous Kin of Treat Williams
• Marian Williams Obituary (2006); Richard Williams Obituary (2013)
• Jackson, Dory and Christine Pelisek. "Treat Williams' Cause of Death Determined Nearly 2 Months After Fatal Motorcycle Accident." People, published 1 August 2023. < link > Accessed 4 August 2023.