DORSET, Vt. (AP) 鈥� Actor Treat Williams, whose nearly 50-year career included starring roles in the TV series 鈥淓verwood鈥� and the movie 鈥淗air,鈥� died Monday after a motorcycle crash in Vermont, state police said. He was 71.
Shortly before 5 p.m., a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it collided with Williams' motorcycle in the town of Dorset, according to a from Vermont State Police.
鈥淲illiams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,鈥� according to the statement.
Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.
The SUV's driver received minor injuries and wasn't hospitalized. He had signaled the turn and wasn't immediately detained although the crash investigation continued, police said.
Williams, whose full name was Richard Treat Williams, lived in Manchester Center in southern Vermont, police said.
His agent, Barry McPherson, also confirmed the actor's death.
鈥淚鈥檓 just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented,鈥� McPherson told People magazine.
鈥淗e was an actor鈥檚 actor," McPherson said. "Filmmakers loved him. He鈥檚 been the heart of ... Hollywood since the late 1970s.鈥�
The Connecticut-born Williams made his movie debut in 1975 as a police officer in the movie 鈥淒eadly Hero鈥� and went on to appear in more than 120 TV and film roles, including the movies 鈥淭he Eagle Has Landed," 鈥淧rince of the City鈥� and 鈥淥nce Upon a Time in America.鈥�
He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as hippie leader George Berger in the 1979 movie version of the hit musical 鈥淗air.鈥�
He appeared in dozens of television shows but was perhaps best known for his starring role from 2002 to 2006 in 鈥淓verwood鈥� as Dr. Andrew Brown, a widowed brain surgeon from Manhattan who moves with his two children to the Colorado mountain town of that name.
Williams also had a recurring role as Lenny Ross on the TV show 鈥淏lue Bloods.鈥�
Williams' stage appearances included Broadway shows, including 鈥淕rease鈥� and "Pirates of Penzance."
Colleagues and friends praised Williams as kind, generous and creative.
鈥淭reat Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man,鈥� actor Wendell Pierce tweeted. 鈥淚n a short period of time, he quickly befriended me & his adventurous spirit was infectious. We worked on just 1 film together but occasionally connected over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. RIP.鈥�
Justine Williams, a writer, director and producer, tweeted that Williams was 鈥渢he best.鈥� Actor James Woods said, 鈥淚 really loved him and am devastated that he's gone.鈥�
The Associated Press
