Biography
Clarence Williams III (1939–2021) was an American actor. Born in New York City, he made his film debut as Blood in The Cool World (1963). He began his career on stage, appearing on Broadway in The Long Dream (1960) and receiving a Tony Award nomination for Slow Dance on the Killing Ground (1964).
Williams served in the US Army before pursuing acting. He gained prominence as undercover officer Linc Hayes in the television series The Mod Squad (1968–1973). Later credits include roles in Purple Rain (1984), Twin Peaks (1990), The Legend of 1900 (1998), American Gangster (2007) and The Butler (2013). He was the grandson of jazz composer Clarence Williams and singer Eva Taylor.
