Actor Treat Williams, who made it big in Hollywood starring as doomed hippies George Berger in ‘Hair’ and went on to play dozens of film and TV roles over the ensuing decades, has died at the age of 71, following his involvement in a motorcycle crash.
Williams’ agent Barry McPherson confirmed the tragic news to People magazine on Monday, telling the outlet, “He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off. I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented.”
Treat Williams, the star of Everwood and Hair, has died after being involved in a motorcycle accident. He was 71. The actor's death was confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson. Read the full story: https://t.co/Jm5ixI2jIO pic.twitter.com/PpKa1rkNSq
— People (@people) June 13, 2023
“He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of the Hollywood since the late 1970s. He was really proud of his performance this year,” McPherson continued. “He’s been so happy with the work that I got him. He’s had a balanced career.”
Williams has been appearing in movies and on television since the mid-1970s, beginning with 1975’s “Deadly Hero.” His turn as Berger in the 1979 film version of the Broadway musical “Hair” earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Williams played Sheriff Tarsy in “Run Hide Fight,” the action film The Daily Wire released in 2021 about a girl who takes on a band of live-streaming school shooters using combat skills learned from her father, played by Thomas Jane.
He also made recent appearances in several of Hallmark Channel’s holiday films — such as “The Christmas House” — as well as the network’s series “Chesapeake Shores.”
“So expressive (one of the great eyebrow actors of all time), so charismatic, so consistently good. RIP,” Rolling Stone’s chief television critic Alan Sepinwall said of Williams.
So expressive (one of the great eyebrow actors of all time), so charismatic, so consistently good. RIP https://t.co/VH8gNntkEw pic.twitter.com/Yy6BDoyxAn
— Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) June 13, 2023
“In the cesspool of twitter, you could just tell Treat Williams was a decent human being. And a reliably great actor to boot. Very sad to see this,” podcast host Josh Horowitz added.
“Treat Williams was such a vital, effervescent screen presence. Last summer, I really enjoyed revisiting HAIR, which he’s incredible in & the reason why that ending hits as hard as it does is because of Williams. This is a true loss. Condolences to those who knew & loved him. #RIP,” film critic Jen Johans tweeted.
“Always a friend of genre cinema, Treat Williams was great in everything he did. From THE PHANTOM to DEAD HEAT, and the SUBSTITUTE sequels to my personal favorite, DEEP RISING, he was always a joy to watch. I’ll miss seeing him. RIP, good sir,” writer Ted Geoghegan said.
Treat Williams (1951-2023): pic.twitter.com/RhJxwwrbFx
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) June 13, 2023