“He Was an Actor’s Actor”: Hollywood Pays Tribute to Treat Williams

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Treat Williams, the veteran film and television actor who died Monday in a motorcycle accident at 71.

His agent, Barry McPherson of APA, confirmed Williams’ death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s,” McPherson told People.

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In a career that spanned six decades, Williams was best known for playing a New York City neurosurgeon who moves his family to Colorado on the WB series Everwood and in such films as Sidney Lumet’s Prince of the City and Milos Forman’s Hair. Most recently, he was a series regular on the popular Netflix drama Chesapeake Shores.

Beverly D’Angelo, who starred opposite Williams in Hair, shared on Instagram a screenshot of their last text exchange, explaining, “I was thanking him after our last phone call minutes earlier, I wanted to memorialize it I guess — We always gave each other pep talks like the kids we had been. But this conversation had been particularly encompassing — we talked about the wrap party he’d just come from, how it feels to have such a depth of experience, and yet … the changes we’ve seen as actors, directors, where do we fit, the importance of adapting, growing, family, how to love, apple orchards, wild flowers, health hacks, longevity, politics, gossip, Milos Forman, everything, what came before what lies ahead.”

Prior to that she wrote, “We started our journey together with the film ‘Hair’ brother and sister from the start. Went through that tunnel together – bonded when the light scorched with its attention in the first flush of being ‘discovered’…On and on and on through the years. Always revisiting the old and welcoming the new. Inside jokes and outward affection. Such a beautiful friendship.”

Everwood creator Greg Berlanti remembered Williams on Instagram. He posted a photo that he said he keeps by his “writing desk” of Williams and Berlanti’s sister after the Everwood pickup at upfronts.

“I’ve always loved it because it reminds me of the best about this business. As it, and you, always will,” Berlanti wrote.

“I remember our first lunch like it was yesterday,” Berlanti wrote, seemingly addressing Williams. “Myself and my fellow producer were meeting you about playing Doctor Andy Brown. I was only 29 and had never worked with a star of your stature, let alone had lunch about anything I had written. I was shaking (it was only months after September 11th and the whole world was still shaking). The assignment by the studio was to somehow vibe and see if “you were Andy”. The lunch lasted hours and at the end you gave me a hug that made me feel like everything would be okay. My answer to the network after was that if we were able to capture half of Treat’s warmth, humor, wisdom and heart we would have a TV show. I can still feel the warmth of your presence back then. People could feel it through the screen when watching Everwood. That was the secret magic of the show, every week you were giving the world a much needed hug. The kindness you showed me from that lunch through our time working together changed the course of my life and my own heart. Your loss from this world, especially only weeks after the loss of the beloved John Beasley, is heartbreaking and inconceivable to me. My love and prayers for you and your beautiful family who you loved so dearly and always reminded me nothing was worth anything without.”

Chris Pratt, who played Bright Abbott on Everwood, took to Instagram on Wednesday to remember Williams and fellow series co-star John Beasley, who died last month. “It’s an incredibly sad season for the cast and crew of Everwood,” Pratt wrote. “Both men were exceptional actors, wonderful husbands, fathers and friends. They will be missed tremendously. I learned a great deal from working with each of them. The Beasley family and Williams family will be in my family’s prayers.” He also recommended Williams’ performances in Prince of the City, Hair and Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead.

Danny Boyle, who directed Williams in the feature 127 Hours, shared a remembrance with THR: “Treat did us all a great honour playing a small part in 127 Hours. It was a remote Utah location. ‘No problem, I’ll make my own way there Danny, just have production send me the address.’  He nailed the scene, made his goodbyes to cast and crew and said he’d buzz me later on his way home. That afternoon we’d moved on to another even more remote Utah  location and I was expecting him to call at some point when a tiny light aircraft circled over us, low enough to make sound despair, close enough to see the pilot waving and laughing: Treat Williams the adventurer, on his way home. God Speed Treat.”

Actor James Woods tweeted, “Treat and I spent months in Rome filming Once Upon a Time in America. It can be pretty lonely on the road during a long shoot, but his resilient good cheer and sense of humor was a Godsend. I really loved him and am devastated that he’s gone. #RIP #TreatWilliams”

Famed critic Richard Roeper tweeted, “I loved following the wonderful Treat Williams, who shared so many warm and lovely and peaceful Tweets with us over the years. So deeply sorry to hear of his passing.”

Matt Bomer looked back on Williams’ time playing his character’s dad on White Collar, calling Williams “an absolute treasure…as an actor and a person.”

“I was so honored that he agreed to play my father on White Collar, and he jumped in and made every day on set a joy. He taught me in the most beautiful way — through patient example,” Bomer wrote on Instagram. He’s one of the few actors I’ve worked with who always checked in on me — even years after we worked together. Treat — you were an amazing actor and an even better person and I will miss you. I count myself so blessed to have known you.”

Another recent Williams co-star, Vanessa Hudgens, who played Williams’ character’s daughter in Second Act, wrote on her Instagram story, “He was a great movie dad and an even better human being. Treat Williams was a fantastic actor, a joy to be around and the kindest soul. He will be missed.”

“What a shock. Treat Williams was a wonderful actor (and a lovely, generous presence here),” tweeted writer Mark Harris. “Check out his starmaking turn in Hair, set aside three hours and give yourself the gift of Sidney Lumet’s great Prince of the City, and don’t miss his funny/startling role in The Ritz.”

Williams recently wrapped filming season two of Feud for FX, in which he plays former CBS head Bill Paley. In a statement, 20th TV and FX said, “Treat Williams leaves behind a legacy of remarkable performances in film and television, and an indelible mark on the entire industry. All who were fortunate enough to work with Treat over his four decade career would agree that his incredible talent was matched only by his utter kindness. He was a friend and inspiration to many, and he will be deeply missed by his colleagues. Our hearts go out to his family during this time.”

“Treat Williams was an all around great guy,” tweeted best-selling writer Don Winslow. “He was a friend and someone I also worked with on a television series. We communicated frequently and his performance in PRINCE OF THE CITY remains one of the biggest performances I have EVER seen. RIP brother.”

Below are some more tributes to Williams.

Christy Piña and Hilary Lewis contributed to this report.

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