Terrible news: actor Treat Williams died this afternoon in a motorcycle accident. He was 71. The accident took place near his place in Dorset, Vermont. Only a few hours earlier he’d posted videos of mowing the lawn on his farm.
His family issued this statement:
“It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Treat Williams has passed away tonight in Dorset, Vermont after a fatal motorcycle accident. As you can imagine, we are shocked and greatly bereaved at this time. Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it. It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him. We are beyond devastated and ask that you respect our privacy as we deal with our grief. To all his fans, please know that Treat appreciated all of you and please continue to keep him in your hearts and prayers.”
I knew Treat Williams, and interviewed him many times, once for the old US Magazine. He was a great guy, popular with everyone. He got his start in the original production of “Grease” on Broadway. He starred in the film version of “Hair!” and appeared in several Broadway productions including taking over for Kevin Kline in “The Pirates of Penzance.”
His major breakthrough was starring Sidney Lumet’s classic film, “Prince of the City.” In recent years he’d starred in the TV series, “Everwood.” Williams came from Fairfield County, Connecticut was old friends with actress Dana Delany. An even older friend was the late “60 Minutes” essayist Andy Rooney, who was his neighbor growing up. In his family tree he counted P.T. Barnum and robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Earlier today, Williams posted the Tweet below. What a shock. Condolences to his family.
What a real Vermonter does pic.twitter.com/gNflWGoxdN
— Treat Williams (@Rtreatwilliams) June 12, 2023
