R.I.P. Dick Anthony Williams

[Reza]

LA Times 2/21/2012

Dick Anthony Williams

Tony-nominated actor

Dick Anthony Williams, 77, a prolific actor who was nominated for
Tony Awards for his work in the 1970s Broadway dramas "Black Picture
Show" and "What the Wine-Sellers Buy" and gained acclaim for his
portrayal of Malcolm X in theater and TV productions, died Thursday
at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys after a long illness,
said family friend Samantha Wheeler.

Williams was described in a 1979 Times profile as "an actor with the
capacity for turning tiny roles into small gems."

He played Malcolm X in the 1978 NBC miniseries "King" starring Paul
Winfield in the title role and again played the militant in several
theatrical productions of Jeff Stetson's play "The Meeting" as well
as a version of the drama that aired on public television.

Williams was a regular on the early '90s ABC-TV series "The
Homefront" and had guest roles on "The Jeffersons," "Lou Grant,"
"L.A. Law," "The X-Files," "Law & Order," "The Larry Sanders Show,"
"NYPD Blue" and many other TV series. His film appearances included
"The Mack," "Five on the Black Hand Side," "The Jerk," "Gardens of
Stone," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Mo' Better Blues."

On stage, he directed and starred in "Big Time Buck White" in Watts
before it moved to New York. In New York he was active in the early
days of Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre and its
minority-focused productions.

Born in Chicago on Aug. 9, 1934, Williams had polio as a child and
began acting in college.