---
name: "Clarence Williams III"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/clarence-williams-iii"
fi1m_id: "clarence-williams-iii"
imdb_id: "nm0929934"
tmdb_id: 15864
wikidata_id: "Q1562861"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 August 1939"
died: "4 June 2021"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 84
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-26T15:19:29.402003+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Clarence Williams III

## Identity

Clarence Williams III

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/clarence-williams-iii
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** clarence-williams-iii
- **IMDb ID:** nm0929934
- **TMDB ID:** 15864
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1562861
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Williams_III, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1562861, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929934/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15864

Actor. Born 21 August 1939 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 4 June 2021.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 August 1939, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 4 June 2021
- **Active:** 1964–2010
- **Also known as:** Clarence Williams
- **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 2000s 80 (1), 2010s 87 (1)
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Comedy 1
- **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Williams_III, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1562861, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0929934/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15864

## 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.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, nytimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Justified* (2010), Fi1m 87, as Jones — [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, as Tate — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *The Cool World* (1964), Fi1m 84, as Blood — [page](https://film.one/film/the-cool-world.md)

## Complete filmography (93)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *American Nightmares* (2018), as Roscoe
- *Empire* (2015), series, as Huey Jarvis
- *The Butler* (2013), as Maynard
- *Justified* (2010), series, as Jones — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md)
- *A Day in the Life* (2009), as Sam
- *The Way of War* (2009), as Mac
- *American Gangster* (2007), as Bumpy Johnson (uncredited)
- *Burn Notice* (2007), series, as Jean Pierre's Father
- *Constellation* (2007), as Forest Boxer
- *Mystery Woman: In the Shadows* (2007), as Philby
- *The Blue Hour* (2007), as Ridley
- *Mystery Woman: Redemption* (2006), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: Oh Baby* (2006), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery* (2006), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: At First Sight* (2006), as Philby
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, as Tate — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Mystery Woman: Game Time* (2005), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: Vision of a Murder* (2005), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder* (2005), as Philby
- *Mystery Woman: Snapshot* (2005), as Philby
- *American Dragon: Jake Long* (2005), series, Actor
- *Mystery Woman: Mystery Weekend* (2005), as Philby
- *Blue Hill Avenue* (2003), as Benny
- *Miracles* (2003), series, as Dr. Bauer
- *The Extreme Team* (2003), as Zachary
- *Fastlane* (2002), series, as Mr. Hayes
- *Happy Here and Now* (2002), as Bill
- *Impostor* (2001), as Secretary of Defense (uncredited)
- *The Legend of Tarzan* (2001), series, as (voice)
- *Mindstorm* (2001), as Walter Golden
- *Civility* (2000), as Glitterman
- *Ali: An American Hero* (2000), as Marcellus Clay
- *Ritual* (2000), as Leron Becker
- *Reindeer Games* (2000), as Merlin
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Joe McKenzie
- *The General's Daughter* (1999), as Colonel George Fowler
- *Last Rites* (1999), as Warden George Pierce
- *Life* (1999), as Winston Hancock
- *The Legend of 1900* (1998), as Jelly Roll Morton
- *Frogs for Snakes* (1998), as Huck Hanley
- *Starstruck* (1998), as Jerry Wallace
- *Half Baked* (1998), as Samson Simpson
- *The Love Bug* (1997), as Chuck
- *Hoodlum* (1997), as Bub Hewlett
- *George Wallace* (1997), as Archie
- *George Wallace* (1997), series, as Archie
- *The Brave* (1997), as Father Stratton
- *Sprung* (1997), as Grand Daddy
- *Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault* (1996), as Coach Pratt
- *Millennium* (1996), series, as Patient Zero
- *Profiler* (1996), series, as Carl Adler
- *The Silencers* (1996), as General Greenboro
- *Encino Woman* (1996), as Javier
- *The Road to Galveston* (1996), as Christopher, the Caretaker
- *Judgement* (1995), as Bryant
- *The Immortals* (1995), as Benny
- *Tales from the Hood* (1995), as Mr. Simms (segment "Welcome to My Mortuary")
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Donald Brooks
- *Against the Wall* (1994), as Chaka
- *Sugar Hill* (1994), as Arthur Romello "A.R." Skuggs
- *Deadfall* (1993), as Dean
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Deputy Commissioner Luther Dobbs
- *Father & Son: Dangerous Relations* (1993), as Raymond
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Omet'iklan — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md)
- *Deep Cover* (1992), as Taft
- *My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys* (1991), as Deputy Sheriff Virgil
- *Shades of L.A.* (1990), series, Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Lateef Miller — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Maniac Cop 2* (1990), as Blum
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as FBI Agent Roger Hardy — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *Nasty Boys* (1990), series, as John Culver
- *Nasty Boys, Part 2: Lone Justice* (1990), Actor
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Grady
- *I'm Gonna Git You Sucka* (1988), as Kalinga
- *Perfect Victims* (1988), as Lt. Kevin White
- *Jake and the Fatman* (1987), series, as Benjamin Tatsa
- *Tough Guys Don't Dance* (1987), as Bolo
- *The Last Innocent Man* (1987), as D.J. Johnson
- *52 Pick-Up* (1986), as Bobby Shy
- *The Cosby Show* (1984), series, as Mr. Thornehill
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Maximilian 'Legba' Ildefonse — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Purple Rain* (1984), as Father
- *The House of Dies Drear* (1984), as Mayhew Skinner
- *The Hero Who Couldn't Read* (1984), as Mr. Simpson
- *T. J. Hooker* (1982), series, as Phil Decker, Martin, Walker Redding
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *The Littlest Hobo* (1979), series, as David
- *The Return of Mod Squad* (1979), as Lincoln Hayes
- *Orson Welles' Great Mysteries* (1973), series, as John Cambridge
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Linc Hayes
- *The Danny Thomas Hour* (1967), series, Actor
- *Tarzan* (1966), series, Actor
- *The Cool World* (1964), as Blood — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-cool-world.md)

## Gallery

- ![Clarence Williams III](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-0bc0e4fca9b7.jpg) Clarence Williams III — ABC Television-part of the release is gone but a portion of the ABC New York Avenue of the Americas address remains., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Clarence_Williams_III_Mod_Squad_1971.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Clarence Williams III as Linc Hayes and his wife at the time, actress Gloria Foster, who had a guest star role as a blind friend of Linc's. (1970)](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-ee1c6b1ef8e7.jpg) Photo of Clarence Williams III as Linc Hayes and his wife at the time, actress Gloria Foster, who had a guest star role as a blind friend of Linc's. (1970) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Gloria_Foster_and_Clarence_Williams_Mod_Squad_1970.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photo from the television program The Mod Squad. The main cast is pictured, from left: Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole.](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-b9173ee0fadd.jpg) Publicity photo from the television program The Mod Squad. The main cast is pictured, from left: Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole. — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Mod_Squad_1971.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Main cast photo from the television program The Mod Squad when the series premiered in 1968. Pictured are Peggy Lipton (Julie Barnes), Michael Cole (Pete Cochra](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-6a1461b55cbb.jpg) Main cast photo from the television program The Mod Squad when the series premiered in 1968. Pictured are Peggy Lipton (Julie Barnes), Michael Cole (Pete Cochra — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/Mod_Squad_cast_1968.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Clarence Williams III](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-da1f0446eca5.jpg) Clarence Williams III — Image via TMDB
- ![Clarence Williams III](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-5a91341ac06e.jpg) Clarence Williams III — Image via TMDB
- ![Cast photo from the television program The Mod Squad. From left:Tige Andrews, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole. (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-834659c0b879.jpg) Cast photo from the television program The Mod Squad. From left:Tige Andrews, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole. (1972) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Mod_Squad_cast_photo_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Scene from an episode of the television program The Mod Squad. From left: Clarence Williams III, Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton. (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/485301/gallery-4721893a69a6.jpg) Scene from an episode of the television program The Mod Squad. From left: Clarence Williams III, Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton. (1972) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Mod_Squad_scene_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Theatre World Award 1965: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1965: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/clarence-williams-iii