[9][10] He is buried in St Charles Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York. [11] He said he enjoyed the challenge of trying to breathe life into something on paper. Pictured are Peggy Lipton (Julie Barnes), Michael Cole (Pete Cochran) and Clarence Williams III (Lincoln Hayes) Williams' management team said the celebrated actor died of colon cancer. The unfortunate news was shared by the actor's management to the publication Variety over the weekend, citing colon cancer as the cause behind his death. Clarence also made guest appearances on TV programs, "Cold Case," "Memphis Beat," "Justified" and "Empire," to name a few. She attended Professional Childrens School in Manhattan, began modeling in her teens and studied acting with Uta Hagen. Cole's boyish good looks and brooding, deep-voiced personality meshed perfectly with his character's backstorya ne'er-do-well son of wealthy parents who had evicted him from their home after he had stolen a car. Known for his prodigious afro and gap-toothed smile, Williams also worked regularly with famed director John Frankenheimer, first on Elmore Leonards 52 Pick-Up (1986) and then on The Generals Daughter (1999), Reindeer Games (2000) and two telefilms, the Attica-set Against the Wall in 1994 and George Wallace in 1997. The three starred in The Mod Squad, which ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973. He played the iconic role of Linc Hayes, a troubled teen who became an undercover cop. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Sean Michael Coulthard (born December 8, 1968), better known by his ring name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator. The actor's management confirmed his death to multiple outlets on Sunday, sharing . I love that character, he said. Read about our approach to external linking. The news was confirmed by her two daughters Kidada and Rashida Jones (star of TV's "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation"), from Lipton's 15-year marriage to music producer Quincy Jones. He owed his screen career to Bill Cosby, then a rising star. Cole Hauser's Wife Sacrificed an Egg to Help Twin Sister Have Her Niece Meet the 'Sweet Valley High' Stars, 'Yellowstone' Star Wes Bentley's Children Saved His Life Following His Addiction and Unemployment, 'Family Affair's' Johnny Whitaker's Family Threatened to 'Divorce' Him after He Became Penniless, Patrick Swayze's Last Words Before He Slipped into a Coma, Martin Sheen's Longtime Wife Helped Him 'Heal Psychically' When He Thought He Was Going to Die, Meet Charlotte Raes 2 Kids with Husband of 25 Years Who Fell in Love with Man of His Dreams', Colin Farrell Was Told Son James Padraig May Never Walk He Gave up Drugs to Fight for Him. He was 81. He also worked on shows such as The Eddie Capra Mysteries; Murder, She Wrote; Fantasy Island, and Diagnosis: Murder. He was 81. Lipton played Julie Barnes, one of a trio of Los Angeles undercover "hippie cops"on the counter-culture "The Mod Squad" with Michael Cole and Clarence Williams III. Before Moore passed away at the age of 80, she had overcome her addiction. The second One Black, one white, one blonde referred to the cast: Mr. Williams, Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton. The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete. He began his acting career on Broadway, where his grandfather had appeared as early as 1908. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," died June 4 at his home in Los Angeles.. "She made her journey peacefully with her daughters and nieces by her side. She shared her story consistently, hoping that it would help one person, just as Cole does, and hopefully, the good will outweigh the bad in the end. Williams died on June 4 in Los Angeles of colon cancer, his management company confirmed to USA TODAY. Sometimes its just the little things you notice, she said. Faced with the possibility of ending up alone and drunk for the rest of his life, Cole chose to go to rehab at the Betty Ford Center. He was 81. May 10, 2022. On the big screen, the Harlem native portrayed Princes troubled father in Purple Rain (1984) and was Wesley Snipes and Michael Wrights drug-addled dad in Sugar Hill (1993). ", #PeggyLiptons generosity, wild sense of humor and style, and deeply sensitive wisdom inspired all who had the joy of meeting her. She will always be a part of us.". They wanted to go six or seven years, and I decided I didnt want to do that, Williams told the Chicago Tribune in 1997. June 4, 2021 Michael Cole (born July 3, 1940) is an American actor. The prolific actor was also known for his roles on Purple Rain, Twin Peaks, and numerous other productions. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [4] Raised by his paternal grandmother, he became interested in acting after accidentally walking onto a stage at a theater below a Harlem YMCA. He was best known for playing Linc Hayes on The Mod Squad and Prince's father in Purple Rain. Co-Director, Interdisciplinary Trauma Team Training. He went on to play FBI agent Roger Hardy on the original Twin Peaks and the humanoid Ometiklan on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Williams died Friday in Los Angeles of colon cancer, his repAllan Mindel toldThe Hollywood Reporter. Williams died. Her "Twin Peaks" co-star Kyle MacLachlan tweeted, "The RR diner is dark today.". After serving in the US Air Force he started out on stage, earning a Tony nomination in 1965 for Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. This article contains content provided by Twitter. He first appeared on Broadway in The Long Dream (1960). [8] The two also acted in a 1964 film The Cool World. According to his representatives, the actor died of bowel cancer in Los Angeles on 4 June. Cole has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, beginning in 1961 with a role in the film drama Forbid Them Not. The older the actor got, the more he drank without a care in the world. In the latter's case, it was genetic, and affected her mother, sister, and son; they all died before her. He portrayed Linc Hayes, a hip undercover police officer who was teamed with Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole. Out of the three, the latter passed away in 2019. He also served as artist-in-residence at Brandeis University in 1966.[6]. For the American football tight end, see, King: A Filmed Record Montgomery to Memphis, "Clarence Williams: Composer, Producer, Director, Performer, Writer, Lyricist, Musical Director", "The Theater: 'Slow Dance on the Killing Ground'; William Hanley Makes His Broadway Debut Story of Tortured Trio Opens at Plymouth", "Review: Brilliant Washington powers 'Gangster', "Clarence Williams III Dies, Mod Squad and Tales from the Hood Star Was 81", "Clarence Williams III Dies: 'Linc' On 'The Mod Squad' Was 81", "Clarence Williams III, Linc on 'The Mod Squad,' Dies at 81", "Clarence Williams III: Tributes paid to late star of Purple Rain and The Mod Squad", "Clarence Williams III, cop Linc Hayes on The Mod Squad, dies aged 81", "Clarence Williams III Dies: Tales From the Hood Star Was 81", "Clarence Williams III, Played Linc on The Mod Squad, Dead at 81", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarence_Williams_III&oldid=1151719229, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "Maniac at Large" Season 4, Episode 10, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 20:34. Michael Cole (born July 3, 1940) is an American actor. And you enjoy being a witness., Peggy Lipton, Mod Squad and Twin Peaks Actress, Dies at 72, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/12/obituaries/peggy-lipton-mod-squad-dead.html. All of this is escapism, fantasy, he told TV Guide in 1970, early in the run of The Mod Squad. This is what the box is about., In the same interview, though, he recalled being happily mobbed by young Black fans at a basketball game and acknowledged, Its kind of nice for kids to see a reflection of themselves., Clarence Williams III, a Star of Mod Squad, Is Dead at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/06/obituaries/clarence-williams-iii-dead.html. He played Bumpy Johnson in the film American Gangster. Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon cancer, his manager Allan Mindel said Sunday. His last film was American Nightmares (2018), a horror comedy. [4] Produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, The Mod Squad resonated with counterculture-era viewers and ran for five seasons, during which a total of 123 episodes were produced.[5]. See production, box office & company info, Beverly Hills Marriott - 1150 S Beverly Dr, Los Angeles, California, USA. Asked about her on Sunday, a family member declined to give her name and described her as largely absent. He was raised by his paternal grandparents. The young Mr. Williams appeared in three plays, including Slow Dance on the Killing Ground (1964), for which he received a Tony Award nomination and a Theater World Award. Weve lost a beautiful soul. During the 1970s, he had many guest appearances on Wonder Woman, The Love Boat and CHiPs, and appeared in the made-for-TV thriller Evening in Byzantium in 1978. Lipton's co-stars and others took to Twitter to remember the actress. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. Her death was confirmed by her daughters, the actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones. In a 2006 interview, Williams told The Buffalo News that Philbys mysterious past with the government appealed to him and was part of the reason he wanted the role. Prince's estate paid tribute to him for. In the series, Williams played the role of Philby, a man with a mysterious past who helps Samantha solve mysteries. Hallmark fans know Williams best for his leading role in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series, Mystery Woman. He played the role of Philby in 10 movies from 2003 to 2007, including: Mystery Woman starred Kellie Martin as Samantha, a mystery bookstore owner who found herself thrust into a world of real-life murders. Lipton was 72, and she received a Golden Globes Award in '71 for her performance on the Aaron Spelling produced show. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series The Mod Squad and Prince's father in Purple Rain, has died. Im proud of what I did. Mr. Williams played an F.B.I. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Clarence Williams III passed away in Los Angeles, California after a battle with colon cancer. Did Clarence Williams lll die? The show aired on ABC from . THE SADNESS IN HIS DAUGHTER'S EYES MADE NO DIFFERENCE. Williams rose to fame in 1968 with his role on the cop show The Mod Squad, where he starred with Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole until the early 1970s. He also said that he enjoyed the way the movies are presented in general: allowing viewers to slowly learn more clues and solve each mystery themselves, too. I thought everybody was killed. Williams' management confirmed his. This article is about the actor. In her 2005 memoir, Breathing Out, she revealed that as a child she had been sexually molested by an uncle. COLE IS HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND GRATEFUL In the Next Tribe interview, she mentioned one of the pleasures of being older. Chris Meloni's Mom Knew Sherman Williams Was "The One" First . The book also covers his time on "The Mod Squad.". Known for his signature gap-toothed smile and simmering intensity, he was nominated four times for the NAACP's Image Awards. Director Don McDougall Writers Robert Hamner Buddy Ruskin Tony Barrett Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast Edit "Shes the one I always wanted to be," said actress Helen Hunt. In the 1990s, she played the role of Norma Jennings in the TV series "Twin Peaks." Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! When he started his Hollywood career, the drinking continued, and the fast-life of the entertainment business only served to make the actor consume more. Williams is survived by his daughter Jamey Phillips, his sister Sondra Pugh, his niece Suyin Shaw, and his grandnephews and grandniece, NBC News reported. Clarence Williams III in 2013, the year he appeared in The Butler. Clarence Williams III, the US actor who played Prince's father in Purple Rain and also starred in 1960s show The Mod Squad, has died at the age of 81. The actor best known for his breakout role playing undercover police officer Linc Hayes on the 1960s TV series "The Mod Squad," alongside costars Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole passed away . Hulton Archive/Getty. At the time, she also pursued a singing career, releasing her album, Peggy Lipton, in 1968. Clarence Williams III, who was considered a Black power icon in the 1960s and '70s, breathed his last on Friday, June 4. He was married three times and divorced twice. Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. He was 81. Peggy Lipton, the angel-faced actress who starred in The Mod Squad and made a television comeback in the Twin Peaks series, died on Saturday in Los Angeles. The show had two ad taglines. The showaired on ABC from 1968 to 1973. The actor went on to act in Twin Peaks, in which Lipton also appeared, as well as such films as The General's Daughter, Reindeer Games and Johnny Depp's The Brave. The actor chronicled his addiction and recovery in his memoir, and once stated that it took a lot of pain and tears to write it. Television brought Mr. Williams new opportunities too. The Mod Squad tapped into the countercultural vibe of the era, incorporating timely issues like racism, anti-war protests and drug addiction into storylines as Linc, Julie and Pete infiltrated high schools, acting classes, prisons, hippie newspapers, gangs, movie sets, etc., to catch the bad guys. His body of work also included movies The Cool World (1963), Deep Cover (1992), Hoodlum (1997), Life (1999), Impostor (2001), Constellation (2005), American Gangster (2007), A Day in the Life (2009) and Lee Daniels The Butler (2013) and appearances on TVsHill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Law & Order, Everybody Hates Chris, Burn Notice, Justified and Empire. Director Robert Michael Lewis Writers Mann Rubin Buddy Ruskin Tony Barrett Stars Michael Cole Clarence Williams III Peggy Lipton Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. Honest, funny, nurturing, oh and loved some good, juicy, gossip", Im heartbroken. First they got busted; then they got badges summarized the shows back story: three hippies in trouble with the law who then joined the police force as plainclothes cops with built-in disguises their youth and their counterculture personas. 1500 E Medical Center Drive. Aaron Spelling, the shows producer, never liked Lincs Afro, Mr. Williams recalled in an NPR interview in 1999, so the style was toned down. After the family moved to Los Angeles, in 1964, Peggy, then in her late teens, moved out. Williams died in Los Angeles on June 4, 2021, from colon cancer at the age of 81. Mr. Williams was recommended for the role by Bill Cosby, who had seen him on stage. He was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division in the late 1950s. In the 1980s and 1990s, he worked on Nickel Mountain. His interest in acting began when he visited a Harlem Y.M.C.A., where his sister was working, and dropped in to watch a plays run-through. The Wisconsin native married Shelley Funes in '96, and when she saw that he would drink himself to his grave, she gave him an ultimatum. 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She largely disappeared from the screen until she appeared in David Lynchs 1990-91 cult-hit series, Twin Peaks, about a teenage girls murder and the surprising number of dark secrets in her Pacific Northwest hometown. Clarence Williams III, who is remembered as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes on ABC's then trendy The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973, lost his battle with colon cancer on Friday, June 4. Williams' breakout television role was as undercover cop Linc Hayes on the popular ABC counterculture police television series The Mod Squad (1968), along with fellow relative unknowns Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton. He changed his mind, however, when he read the script and gathered the show's potential appeal. Spanning over forty years, his career included the role of Prince's tormented father, who was also a musician, in Purple Rain (1984), A guest appearance in Miami Vice (1985), a recurring role in the surreal TV series Twin Peaks (1990), a good cop in Deep Cover (1992), a rioter in the mini-series Against the Wall (1994), and Wesley Snipes' chemically dependent father in Sugar Hill (1993). Beginning in the 1980s, he had a busy film career. Twice, the "Mr. Brooks" star had fatal accidents that had him thrown through his windshield. Williams married the actress Gloria Foster in 1967. [2], Williams began pursuing an acting career after spending two years as a paratrooper in C Company, 506th Infantry, of the 101st Airborne Division. We let them in on it and they have to work to see where its leading.. Whoever writes has a character in their head. Lipton married Jones in 1974, and focusedon herfamily andtwo daughters. The actor's management team confirmed that Williams . The couple separated in 1986 and divorced in 1990. His father was musician Clay Williams while his grandparents were composer-pianist Clarence Williams and singer-actress Eva Taylor. Mr. Williams often contended that he didnt take being a role model that seriously. He was 81 years old. She was nominated for Emmys and won a Golden Globe in 1971 for her performance. He has performed multiple on-screen hosting and commentary roles across his two-decade-plus-long . I take it as an absolute compliment that they liked the show and liked my character and liked what I did with it.. Following their divorce, they remained friendly and, upon her . His other roles on television include Hill Street Blues, the Canadian cult classic The Littlest Hobo, Miami Vice, The Highwayman, Burn Notice, Everybody Hates Chris, Justified, Cold Case, and Law & Order. So I kept an eye on her because she has a tendency to run out and do things.. Before he passed away, he said to look out for her. ammy Davis Jr., Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton on "The Mod Squad" | Photo: Getty Images. Williams management shared that the star died of colon cancer at the age of 81, NBC News reported. Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton starred in the 1960s show 'The Mod Squad' which was considered groundbreaking for featuring an interracial cast. In the seventh (Mystery Woman: At First Sight) film, he reunited with his Mod Squad co-star Michael Cole. He appeared in all but the first of the eleven films alongside Kellie Martin (J.E. Clarence Williams III starred as Linc on the pioneering TV detective series "The Mod Squad" and played Prince's (1958-2016) father in the movie "Purple Rain." Mod Squad intro Watch on Died:. The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. 734-936-3168. agent on Twin Peaks in 1990 and appeared in many films and television series after The Mod Squad ended. Promotional studio portrait of actors Michael Cole (L), Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton for the television series, 'The Mod Squad,' c. 1968. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. Very sorry to hear Peggy Lipton is gone. We stopped in 1972 and people still bring it up to me when Im walking in airports or down the boulevard. Sweet, kind, beautiful & very cool," said Billy Baldwin. Then you [the actor] put it on stage or on film and add a little something they didnt have and make it more enriching, READ NEXT: Hallmarks Schedule of New Movies for June 2021, Clarence Williams III Dies: Hallmark Mystery Woman Stars Cause of Death, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Peggy Lipton with Michael Cole, left, and Clarence Williams III. He was a leader of the Attica prison riots in HBOs Against the Wall (1994); a segregationist governors manservant in the mini-series George Wallace (1997); Muhammad Alis father in Ali: An American Hero (2000); and a retired C.I.A. Early life and education. Continuing his work on stage, he appeared in Walk in Darkness (1963), Sarah and the Sax (1964), Doubletalk (1964), and King John. He starred in 11 Hallmark movies. I absolutely fell in love with her. "And so I said let me go back, refresh myself, learn some things, read, travel and just try to put some more arrows in my quiver.". He also portrayed Princes father in Purple Rain in 1984, played FBI agent Robert Hardy on Twin Peaks, and starred in Reindeer Games in the 2000s. Foster guest-starred as a blind friend of Linc Hayes. Clarence Williams III was born in Manhattan on Aug. 21, 1939. Oh my God. His career in TV, theater, and film lasted for four decades, NBC News shared. After the show ended, Mr. Williams dropped out of sight for a while, expressing disappointment in the kinds of roles available to Black men. "It's not a 100-yard dash, it's a long-distance run," he said of his career in 1997. The veteran actor starred on the counter-culture police series "The Mod Squad" alongside. Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. Is climate change killing Australian wine? His character was asked by Samanthas late uncle, who originally owned her bookstore, to look out for her, The Buffalo News reported. Then [Williams] drove off and smashed right into a telephone pole. He returned to Broadway, appearing as an African head of state, with Maggie Smith, in a Tom Stoppard drama, Night and Day (1979). It starts with one taste until a person becomes hooked, and would do anything for that which they are addicted to. He is currently signed to WWE, where he serves as the play-by-play commentator for the SmackDown brand and as the Vice-president of Announcing since 2020. Williams was married to actress Gloria Foster (Oracle in the first two Matrix movies) from 1967-84.