Why Treat Williams Had a Deep Connection with Vermont, Where He Lived and Died

“I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve never seen a place as beautiful as Vermont," said the actor, who died in a motorcycle accident on Monday

For Treat Williams, a small town in Vermont held far more appeal than the glitz of Hollywood.

The actor, who died on Monday at age 71 following a motorcycle accident, lived a quiet life with his wife, actress Pam Van Sant, and two kids, Gill and Ellie, on a farm in the town of Manchester, a picturesque New England enclave, population: 4,528.

The Everwood star spoke to Vermont Magazine in 2021 about his love for the Green Mountain state, and described how he came to reside in his small town.

“I’ve been a skier all my life. We would come and ski in Vermont as a family when I was growing up, and we would stay at a place in [the town of] Peru when I was five years old called the Russell Inn,” he recalled. “It’s across the street from a wonderfully renovated general store up there. I have extraordinarily happy memories of Christmas vacations up here in Vermont.”

Williams' father would later by a house in the town of Weston that became a regular getaway for Treat. "I just fell in love with Vermont, and I fell equally in love with Weston,” he went on. “My wife Pam and I used my parents’ house in Weston while we were courting. We started skiing together up here.”

Related: Treat Williams' Life in Photos

After finding professional success on stage and screen, Williams decided to buy his own home nearby — a house in Manchester situated on a farm with rolling hills that he would call home for the next three decades until his death.

The Broadway star said he’d always had “an enormous love” for Vermont – even in the notorious long and brutal winter.

“There was something incredibly special about it to me, and the people here are incredibly honest, real, and good-humored,” he said. “There’s also always something new to discover somewhere on a dirt road that you’ve never traveled on before.”

Williams said he always woke up feeling thankful for life in the countryside. “Every day I wake up so grateful to see the view that I see out of my window and to be living up here. I think very few people are lucky as I am to say, ‘I love where I live,’” he shared. “I don’t have any fantasies of being somewhere else.”

“I have everything I want and need in Vermont,” he added. “I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve never seen a place as beautiful as Vermont.”

Williams' Instagram account is also an ode to his beloved home state, as he frequently posted pictures of his gorgeous property, the scenic vistas and the small businesses he enjoyed. Just one day before he died, he shared a video and a photo of some work going on at the farm with his white farmhouse in the distance. He captioned the photo, "There is no better smell than new mown hay."

Related: Gregory Smith, Melissa Gilbert, Kim Cattrall React to Treat Williams' Death: His 'Spirit Was Infectious'

The town of Manchester is known as a charming all-seasons destination with a bookstore, many restaurants and small shops. The residents are a mix of lifelong locals and city-dwelling weekend visitors, who come for the skiing and the slower pace of life. It's even been known to draw celebrities, like Alec Baldwin, who owns a home in the area.

Williams was a true local, however, and would often be seen riding his tractor by neighbors. He was also known to help out local kids who were interested in theater.

With more than 120 credits to his name, Williams' career spanned four decades. He made his film debut in 1975 in the thriller Deadly Hero. From there, he began to take on more film roles, including 1979's Hair, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination for new star of the year — actor. He later earned another Golden Globe nom for best actor in a motion picture drama for his role in 1981's Prince of the City.

In 2002, he began portraying the leading role of Dr. Andrew "Andy" Brown on The WB's Everwood. He starred on the series for all four seasons, and earned himself a SAG Award nomination for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series in 2003-04.

Other credits of his include Steven Spielberg's 1941, Heart of Dixie, Blue Bloods, The Late Shift, Chicago Fire, Chesapeake Shores, Hallmark's The Christmas House, and Netflix's Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square and The Noel Diary.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The actor's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.

"He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," McPherson says. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.