AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Clarence Williams III, who is remembered as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes on ABC's then trendy The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973, lost his battle with colon cancer on Friday, June 4. Foster guest-starred as a blind friend of Linc Hayes. He was a prolific actor with numerous credits to his name. In Giuseppe TornatoresThe Legend of 1900 (1998), Williams tapped into his familys musical roots to appear as jazz legend Jelly Roll Morton. Aaron Spelling, the shows producer, never liked Lincs Afro, Mr. Williams recalled in an NPR interview in 1999, so the style was toned down. In a 2006 interview, Williams told The Buffalo News that Philbys mysterious past with the government appealed to him and was part of the reason he wanted the role. Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton starred in the 1960s show 'The Mod Squad' which was considered groundbreaking for featuring an interracial cast. During the 1970s, he had many guest appearances on Wonder Woman, The Love Boat and CHiPs, and appeared in the made-for-TV thriller Evening in Byzantium in 1978. Spelling was on hand for Williams scene. "It's not a 100-yard dash, it's a long-distance run," he said of his career in 1997. Yet he was persuaded to reprise his character - played by Omar Epps in the little-liked 1999 film reboot - in a 1979 TV movie that reunited the show's original cast. Lipton appeared in the1979 Mod Squad TV reunion andmade a cameo appearancein a 1999 movie version of "The Mod Squad" that starred Claire Danes (as Julie Barnes),Omar Epps and Giovanni Ribisi. He also served as artist-in-residence at Brandeis University in 1966.[6]. He played the character of Linc Hayes in the police television series The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973. The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete. The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete.The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete.The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete. Clarence Williams III, star of "The Mod Squad" and known among Hallmark fans as a lead character in the "Mystery Woman" series, has died at the age of 81. Inside Robin Williams' $30M Estate Which He Called 'Villa of Smiles' & Enjoyed for 11 Years before His Death. The cause was colon cancer, his manager, Allan Mindel, said. However, five years on the show was enough for him. Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. At the time, she also pursued a singing career, releasing her album, Peggy Lipton, in 1968. I had the opportunity to work with Peggy for a few days on a film. In the latter's case, it was genetic, and affected her mother, sister, and son; they all died before her. Comedian Kathy Griffin said she was "heartbroken":"Ive honestly always thought of Peggy asperfect. When he started his Hollywood career, the drinking continued, and the fast-life of the entertainment business only served to make the actor consume more. He first appeared on Broadway in The Long Dream (1960). See production, box office & company info, Beverly Hills Marriott - 1150 S Beverly Dr, Los Angeles, California, USA. Promotional studio portrait of Clarence Williams III, Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton for the television series, "The Mod Squad" in 1968. [4] Raised by his paternal grandmother, he became interested in acting after accidentally walking onto a stage at a theater below a Harlem YMCA. The couple divorced in 1989. In high school, his schoolmates made fun of him because he reeked of beer, and he once said about tasting alcohol early, "I think it had a lot to do with [my addiction], but if I had said anything, it would have sounded like an excuse.". Her "Twin Peaks" co-star Kyle MacLachlan tweeted, "The RR diner is dark today.". By the end of the evening he had been cast in the production. A representative for Williams. While Cole might have started on the wrong track, he is now healthy and happy. He has a deep appreciation for the life he has, and do not take it for granted. Williams career started on the Broadway stage where he earned a Tony nomination for his acting in the three-person drama, "Slow Dance." Williams was married to actress Gloria Foster (Oracle in the first two Matrix movies) from 1967-84. Williams added that he loved acting and wasnt interested in switching to directing the movies. He also portrayed Princes father in Purple Rain in 1984, played FBI agent Robert Hardy on Twin Peaks, and starred in Reindeer Games in the 2000s. We stopped in 1972 and people still bring it up to me when Im walking in airports or down the boulevard. The two appeared together in the movie The Cool World (1963). The actor had a troubled childhood, and at age 12, he already had his first taste of alcohol. [8] Funes helped stage an intervention for Cole's alcoholism; Cole has been living sober ever since. Decades later, he returned to Broadway to star opposite Maggie Smith in the original 1979 production of Tom Stoppards Night and Day. Out of the three, the latter passed away in 2019. I said, Clarence, Clarence, what happened? He said, Ive never driven before. I said, Why didnt you tell me that? He said, Because I wanted the job. I hired him that night for Mod Squad.'. Clarence Williams III (August 21, 1939 June 4, 2021) was an American actor. He was married once, to actress Gloria Foster, from 1967 to 1984. It starts with one taste until a person becomes hooked, and would do anything for that which they are addicted to. Then The Mod Squad came along. He was 81. I take it as an absolute compliment that they liked the show and liked my character and liked what I did with it.. Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton as they appeared in The Mod Squad, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. He told Buffalo News: We worked very, very hard in order to let the audience be aware of what the clues are so that they can solve the mystery as we are solving it on screen. The news was confirmed by her two daughters Kidada and Rashida Jones (star of TV's "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation"), from Lipton's 15-year marriage to music producer Quincy Jones. Lipton was 72, and she received a Golden Globes Award in '71 for her performance on the Aaron Spelling produced show. Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon cancer, his manager Allan Mindel said Sunday. Peggy Lipton, the angel-faced actress who starred in The Mod Squad and made a television comeback in the Twin Peaks series, died on Saturday in Los Angeles. Asked about her on Sunday, a family member declined to give her name and described her as largely absent. He was raised by his paternal grandparents. After the series ended in 1973, he worked in a variety of genres on stage and screen, from comedy (I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Half-Baked) to sci-fi (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and drama (Purple Rain). Samantha finds her unfortunately she has just been arrested as a suspect in . (Omar Epps played Linc opposite Claire Danes and Giovanni Ribisi in an ill-advised 1999 feature version of the series.). He also worked on shows such as The Eddie Capra Mysteries; Murder, She Wrote; Fantasy Island, and Diagnosis: Murder. Actress Kellie Martin was among others to remember him fondly, saying it had been "an honour" to work with him on the 2000s TV series Mystery Woman. He is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw, and grandniece Azaria Verdin. June 6, 2021 Clarence Williams III, the reflectively intense actor who starred as Linc Hayes, a young, hip undercover police officer on ABC's "The Mod Squad," died on Friday in Los Angeles. She made her television debut as a secretary on an episode of the sitcom Bewitched in 1965 and followed that with guest spots on series including Mr. [7] Cole later made an appearance in the 2007 thriller Mr. Brooks as the attorney for Demi Moore's character of Detective Tracy Atwood. Weve lost a beautiful soul. ABC wanted him to stay on the show longer, but by 1973 he had had enough. He said he enjoyed the challenge of trying to breathe life into something on paper. We let them in on it and they have to work to see where its leading.. Diahann Carroll starred in the sitcom Julia three years later the same season that The Mod Squad began. Clarence Williams III on Mystery Woman. Embed. He was 81. June 4, 2021 "And so I said let me go back, refresh myself, learn some things, read, travel and just try to put some more arrows in my quiver.". His big break came in 1968 when he was cast in The Mod Squad as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, one of three former juvenile delinquents recruited as an undercover cop. Mr. Cosby saw him on the New York stage and recommended him to Mr. Spelling, who was casting The Mod Squad at the time. Her death was confirmed by her daughters, the actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones. [11] They worked together on The Mod Squad; Foster made two guest appearances. The show addressed issues such as the Vietnam War, drugs and domestic violence. He returned to Broadway, appearing as an African head of state, with Maggie Smith, in a Tom Stoppard drama, Night and Day (1979). Williams made his breakthrough in the 1968 counterculture police crime series, . The Wisconsin native married Shelley Funes in '96, and when she saw that he would drink himself to his grave, she gave him an ultimatum. Showmanship was in Williams' blood as he was born into a musical family. He was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division in the late 1950s. Clarence Williams III starred as Linc on the pioneering TV detective series "The Mod Squad" and played Prince's (1958-2016) father in the movie "Purple Rain." Mod Squad intro Watch on Died:. Following their divorce, they remained friendly and, upon her . Mr. Williams played an F.B.I. Sweet, kind, beautiful & very cool," said Billy Baldwin. She will always be a part of us.". He was formerly a York city councillor and Metro Toronto councillor, where he . The actor's management confirmed his death to multiple outlets on Sunday, sharing . She attended Professional Childrens School in Manhattan, began modeling in her teens and studied acting with Uta Hagen. Unlike her co-star, she had a stable family life and left behind her daughters, Kidada and Rashida Jones, from her marriage to Quincy Jones. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Actor Clarence . The New York Times review offered high praise. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? He portrayed Linc Hayes, a hip undercover police officer who was teamed with Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole. Cole continues to act in various film and television projects, and played the character Charles Hadley in a 2006 episode of the television series ER. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. "From the #ModSquad to #TwinPeaks and everything in between. Williams rose to fame in 1968 with his role on the cop show The Mod Squad, where he starred with Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole until the early 1970s. Being a biracial couple Mr. Jones is black was not without its difficulties. The older the actor got, the more he drank without a care in the world. [5] His breakout theatrical role was in William Hanley's Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Michael Cole (born July 3, 1940) is an American actor. Other film credits include the role of Mark in the 1966 science fiction film The Bubble, later re-titled Fantastic Invasion of Planet Earth; Spivey in the western Chuka (1967); Alan Miller in The Last Child (1971),[2] which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award;[3] and as Cliff Norris in Beg, Borrow or Steal (1973). The series which aired for five years beginning from '68 starred Cole as "Pete Cochran," Clarence Williams III as "Linc Hayes," and Peggy Lipton as "Julie Barnes." Out of the three, the latter passed away in 2019. The actor best known for his breakout role playing undercover police officer Linc Hayes on the 1960s TV series "The Mod Squad," alongside costars Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole passed away . Williams was exposed to acting as a teenager when he stumbled upon a rehearsal for Dark of the Moon at the Harlem YMCA Cicely Tyson was starring in it and the director gave him a couple of lines in the play. Williams, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes and Michael Cole as Pete Cochran portrayed young adults who had run-ins with the law Linc had been arrested during the Watts riots before becoming cops under the command of Capt. Clarence Williams III, an actor known for portraying Linc Hayes on "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," died on June 4. Michael Cole (born July 3, 1940) is an American actor. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The New York Times drama critic Howard Taubman wrote of his performance, "Mr. Williams glides like a dancer, giving his long, fraudulently airy speeches the inner rhythms of fear and showing the nakedness of terror when he ceases to pretend." Peggy Lipton with Michael Cole, left, and Clarence Williams III. My heart is with you Rashida (@iamrashidajones) and Kidada ( @kiddejones ) pic.twitter.com/KfEtUZBaFZ, And actress Rosanna Arquette also called out Lipton's daughters while shemourned the loss of her friend: "We had known each Other for many years and her beautiful girls were the loves of her life. He was 81. THE SADNESS IN HIS DAUGHTER'S EYES MADE NO DIFFERENCE. "Shes the one I always wanted to be," said actress Helen Hunt. He was 81. In the seventh (Mystery Woman: At First Sight) film, he reunited with his Mod Squad co-star Michael Cole. The three starred in The Mod Squad, which ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973. After dating hot doctor Ben, "Mystery Woman" Samantha becomes curious about her family medical history so she sets out upstate to fictitious small town; Whiptail, California in search of her birth mother. Peggy Lipton, the actress who rose to fame in TV's groundbreaking 1960s series "The Mod Squad" and starred in the 1990s series "Twin Peaks," has died at age 72 of cancer. All of this is escapism, fantasy, he told TV Guide in 1970, early in the run of The Mod Squad. This is what the box is about., In the same interview, though, he recalled being happily mobbed by young Black fans at a basketball game and acknowledged, Its kind of nice for kids to see a reflection of themselves., Clarence Williams III, a Star of Mod Squad, Is Dead at 81, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/06/obituaries/clarence-williams-iii-dead.html. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. Cole has also appeared on Gunsmoke, in 1966, as Kipp. "She made her journey peacefully with her daughters and nieces by her side. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! The second One Black, one white, one blonde referred to the cast: Mr. Williams, Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton. Ms. Lipton said she had just relaxed and allowed herself to be a neutral observer and to appreciate their conversation, without feeling a hint of competitiveness. The show had two ad taglines. More than 20,000 Russians dead in Bakhmut, US says, Doja Cat and Lil Nas X arrive at the Met Gala, France May Day protests leave dozens of police injured, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Michal Cole is a British-Israeli artist born in Haifa, Israel in 1974 to parents who emigrated from Morocco. Clarence Williams III, the US actor who played Prince's father in Purple Rain and also starred in 1960s show The Mod Squad, has died at the age of 81. Prince's estate paid tribute to him for his "gripping performance" as Prince's abusive dad in the singer's 1984 film. Novak, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The John Forsythe Show the same year. Rest In Peace. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. The actor chronicled his addiction and recovery in his memoir, and once stated that it took a lot of pain and tears to write it. Clarence Williams III, best known for portraying Linc on TV's The Mod Squad, has died at the age of 81, according to The Hollywood Reporter. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. The prolific actor was also known for his roles on Purple Rain, Twin Peaks, and numerous other productions. The tag line First they got busted, then they got badges referred to three attractive, streetwise flower children (One black, one white, one blonde, as another tag line explained) who, after some trouble with the law, joined the police force and worked undercover. Williams died on June 4 in Los Angeles of colon cancer, his management company confirmed to USA TODAY. In the past, it could be ugly out there, she told the Next Tribe website last year. Williams died Friday in Los. After the family moved to Los Angeles, in 1964, Peggy, then in her late teens, moved out. Clarence Williams III, star of The Mod Squad and known among Hallmark fans as a lead character in the Mystery Woman series, has died at the age of 81. All Rights Reserved. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. See production, box office & company info, (Pete rescues a suicidal man here - stacks still standing), LADWP Valley Generating Station, 11819 Sheldon St., Sun Valley, California, USA. Born Michael Charles Cole on July 3, 1940, in Madison, Wisconsin, into a working-class neighborhood, the actor was raised by a single mother, Kathleen Hyland, who also gave birth to his. And from 2003-07, Williams portrayed father figure Philby Cross opposite Kellie Martin in 10 Mystery Woman telefilms on Hallmark Channel. From left: Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton on 'The Mod Squad', Amazon Studios Nabs J.J. Abrams, Imaxs The Blue Angels Documentary, Robert Patrick, Kennedys Children Playwright, Dies at 85, Harry Belafonte, Singer, Actor, Producer and Activist, Dies at 96, Ron Faber, Busy New York Stage Actor, Dies at 90, Jock Zonfrillo, Chef and 'MasterChef Australia' Judge, Dies at 46, Jerry Springer, Host of a Scandalous Talk Show, Dies at 79, FXs Alien TV Series Taps Sydney Chandler to Star, Trevor Noah Producing U.S. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. In 2006, Williams told The Buffalo News about how much he loved playing Linc Hayes. His character was asked by Samanthas late uncle, who originally owned her bookstore, to look out for her, The Buffalo News reported. Williams announced Foster's death in 2001. From 2003 to 2007, Williams had a recurring role as Philby Cross in the Mystery Woman film series on the Hallmark Channel. It started with a sip, and soon, Cole discovered that he preferred it to the juice box boys his age loved. Addiction is a terrible thing, and no one knows it better than "The Mod Squad" star, Michael Cole, whose relationship with the bottle stopped him from becoming all that he could be. 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The three starred in "The Mod Squad," which ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973. . In the 1990s, she played the role of Norma Jennings in the TV series "Twin Peaks." Lipton married Jones in 1974, and focusedon herfamily andtwo daughters. 734-936-3168. His father was musician Clay Williams while his grandparents were composer-pianist Clarence Williams and singer-actress Eva Taylor. For the American football tight end, see, King: A Filmed Record Montgomery to Memphis, "Clarence Williams: Composer, Producer, Director, Performer, Writer, Lyricist, Musical Director", "The Theater: 'Slow Dance on the Killing Ground'; William Hanley Makes His Broadway Debut Story of Tortured Trio Opens at Plymouth", "Review: Brilliant Washington powers 'Gangster', "Clarence Williams III Dies, Mod Squad and Tales from the Hood Star Was 81", "Clarence Williams III Dies: 'Linc' On 'The Mod Squad' Was 81", "Clarence Williams III, Linc on 'The Mod Squad,' Dies at 81", "Clarence Williams III: Tributes paid to late star of Purple Rain and The Mod Squad", "Clarence Williams III, cop Linc Hayes on The Mod Squad, dies aged 81", "Clarence Williams III Dies: Tales From the Hood Star Was 81", "Clarence Williams III, Played Linc on The Mod Squad, Dead at 81", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clarence_Williams_III&oldid=1151719229, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode: "Maniac at Large" Season 4, Episode 10, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 20:34. Action Crime Drama The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. In 1967, Mr. Williams married Gloria Foster, a stage actress who appeared twice on The Mod Squad and later played the Oracle in The Matrix. They divorced in 1984. Williams owed a debt of gratitude to Bill Cosby, who had seen Slow Dance on the Killing Ground and recommended the actor to producer Aaron Spelling, who was casting The Mod Squad. The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. She was nominated for Emmys and won a Golden Globe in 1971 for her performance. The actor's management team confirmed that Williams . ", The statement called for privacy for the family and continued: "We can't put all of our feelings into words right now but we will say: Peggy was, and will always be our beacon of light, both in this world and beyond. Sometimes its just the little things you notice, she said. Honest, funny, nurturing, oh and loved some good, juicy, gossip https://t.co/RfQd0CqJG3. Michael Cole at The Hollywood Show held at The Westin Hotel LAX on January 24, 2015 | Photo: Getty Images. He appeared in all but the first of the eleven films alongside Kellie Martin (J.E. Wed to wife Kelly until his death, Clarence was first married to actress Gloria Foster (1967-1984). His other roles on television include Hill Street Blues, the Canadian cult classic The Littlest Hobo, Miami Vice, The Highwayman, Burn Notice, Everybody Hates Chris, Justified, Cold Case, and Law & Order. Clarence Williams III in 2013, the year he appeared in The Butler. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. In the series, Williams played the role of Philby, a man with a mysterious past who helps Samantha solve mysteries. Michael Cole, from left, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton from the television series "The Mod Squad," circa 1968. The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies.The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies.The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. died on Saturday in Los Angeles. She also played the same character in the show's 2017 revival. He was 81. According to TV Guide, Cole originally balked at the part of Peter Cochran when he realized he would be playing an undercover cop, saying: "I'm not going to take the part of a guy who finks on his friends!" His other film roles included a much-too-loyal aide-de-camp in The Generals Daughter (1999), a glowering criminal who is set on fire in Reindeer Games (2000), an old-school crime lord in American Gangster (2007) and a White House servants older mentor in Lee Danielss The Butler (2013). His last film was American Nightmares (2018), a horror comedy. Williams' management confirmed his. Williams died in Los Angeles on June 4, 2021, from colon cancer at the age of 81. Clarence Williams III was born in Manhattan on Aug. 21, 1939. Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon . Career [ edit] Cole has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, beginning in 1961 with a role in the film drama Forbid Them Not. Lipton played Julie Barnes, one of a trio of Los Angeles undercover "hippie cops"on the counter-culture "The Mod Squad" with Michael Cole and Clarence Williams III. Ms. Lipton contended that the vulnerability of her character required little acting on her part. He is a stage, film and television actor, who occasionally directs. Before he passed away, he said to look out for her. She works primarily with the mediums of photography, video, tapestry, sculpture, watercolour and uses money in her works. He was 81. He played Princes abusive father in Purple Rain (1984) and Wesley Snipess heroin-addicted father in Sugar Hill (1993). Did Clarence Williams lll die? COLE IS HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND GRATEFUL ", #PeggyLiptons generosity, wild sense of humor and style, and deeply sensitive wisdom inspired all who had the joy of meeting her.