Actor Treat Williams, who starred in the TV series “Everwood” and the movie “Hair” during his nearly 50-year career, has died in a motorcycle accident in Vermont.
DORSET, Vt. — Actor Treat Williams, whose nearly 50-year career included the TV series “Everwood” and the movie “Hair,” died Monday in a motorcycle accident in Vermont, state police said. He is 71 years old.
According to a report from Vermont State Police, shortly before 5 p.m., a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it struck Williams’ motorcycle in Dorset.
Williams was ejected from the motorcycle in an unavoidable collision. He suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” the statement said.
Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.
The driver of the SUV suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized. He signaled the turn and was not immediately taken into custody, police said, although the crash investigation continues.
Williams, whose full name is Richard Treat Williams, lived in Manchester Center in southern Vermont, police said.
His agent Barry McPherson also confirmed the actor’s death.
“I am devastated. He is a very nice boy. He’s very talented,” McPherson told People magazine.
“He was an actor’s actor,” McPherson said. “Filmmakers loved him. He was the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s.
Born in Connecticut, Williams made his film debut as a police officer in the 1975 film “Deadly Hero” and went on to appear in more than 120 television and film roles, including “The Eagle Has Landed,” “Prince of the. City” and “Once Upon a Time in America.”
He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of hippie leader George Berger in the 1979 hit musical “Hair.”
He has appeared in dozens of television shows, but is best known for playing Dr. Andrew Brown, a widowed brain surgeon from Manhattan, on “Everwood” from 2002 to 2006.
Williams had a recurring role as Lenny Rose on the television show “Blue Bloods.”
Williams’ stage appearances include Broadway shows including “Grease” and “Pirates of Penzance.”
Colleagues and friends praised Williams as kind, generous and creative.
“Treet Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man,” actor Wendell Pierce tweeted. “In a short time, he quickly befriended me and his adventurous spirit was infectious. We only worked on 1 film together, but connected occasionally over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. Rip off.”
Writer, director and producer Justin Williams tweeted that Williams was “the best”. Actor James Woods said, “I loved him so much and I’m so sad that he’s gone.”
