Research Catalog

Title

Clarence Williams III papers.

Author

Williams, Clarence, III, 1939-2021

Publication

1965-1989.

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

1.92 linear feet (5 boxes)

Summary

• Born on August 21, 1939, Harlem-born African American actor Clarence Williams III was raised by his musical grandparents, the legendary jazz and boogie-woogie composer/pianist Clarence Williams, who wrote such classics as "T'Aint Nobody's Business If I Do" and "Baby, Won't You Please Come Home", and blues singer Eva Taylor. While attending a local YMCA as a teen, Williams became interested in dramatics. After a two-year stint with the U.S. Air Force, he started acting, making a minor New York stage debut with "The Long Dream" in 1960. Subsequent roles followed, in "Walk in Darkness" (1963), "Sarah and the Sax" (1964), and "Doubletalk" (1964). He received a Tony nomination for the three-person play "Slow Dance on the Killing Ground" (1964). Williams's "big break" arrived with the role of undercover cop Linc Hayes on the highly popular TV cop series "Mod Squad" (1968). Following the series' demise in 1973, he returned to the stage, notably on Broadway opposite Maggie Smith in Tom Stoppard's play "Night and Day" (1979). He also was known for the following roles: Prince's abusive father in "Purple Rain" (1984), a burnt-out political activist in the spoof "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988), the recurring part of Roger Hardy in the TV series "Twin Peaks" (1990), a good-guy cop in "Deep Cover" (1992), and Wesley Snipes's heroin-addicted dad in "Sugar Hill" (1993), among others. Additionally, he appeared in the films "Reindeer Games"(2000) and "Lee Daniels' The Butler" (2013), and on the television shows "Justified" and "Empire", to name a few. Clarence was first married to actress Gloria Foster (1967-1984); he was married to his second wife, Kelly, before passing away in June 2021.
• The Clarence Williams III papers consist of personal and professional material related to this actor. The personal matter is small and contains biographical information and correspondence. The professional material focuses on Williams's early career and is comprised of contracts, correspondence, and scripts. Additionally, there are scrapbooks and printed matter.

Subjects

• African Americans in the performing arts > United States
• African Americans in the motion picture industry
• African American actors

Source (note)

• Gift of the Estate of Gloria Foster, 2008.

Call Number

Sc MG 801

OCLC

1264412413

Author

Williams, Clarence, III, 1939-2021, creator.

Title

Clarence Williams III papers.

Production

1965-1989.

Type of Content

text

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Location of Other Archival Materials

Materials Separated from the Resource: Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: photographs.

Source

Gift of the Estate of Gloria Foster, 2008.

Connect to:

Finding aid

Research Call Number

Sc MG 801