Billy Dee Williams has had a long career, spanning from his acting debut in the Academy Award-nominated 1959 movie The Last Angry Man, to the classic TV movie Brian’s Song (1971), for which he and James Caan received Emmy Award nominations.
But some of Billy Dee’s best loved movies were ones in which he starred opposite super-diva Diana Ross, including 1972’s Lady Sings the Blues, in which he played Billie Holiday’s husband, Louis McKay, and Mahogany — both of which were produced by Motown Productions. And then, of course, came the 1980s blockbusters: the Star Wars series, in which Williams played the role of Lando Calrissian in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He later voiced the character in the Star Wars video games.
TV audiences got to see more of the star in TV comedies like The Jeffersons, 227, The Hughleys, Scrubs and a short-lived series called Gideon’s Crossing. Perhaps fitting given his ties to Motown, Williams also portrayed Berry Gordy in the TV miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992).
One of Williams’ most memorable roles was also his most controversial — during the 1980s, he made a series of TV commercials, delivering the smooth lines as a pitch-man for Colt 45, which both cemented his status as a sex symbol (and cultural icon) – and outraged people who were offended by the use of his star power to peddle high-octane malt liquor to black audiences.
Despite the controversy, Williams has continued to be a sought after voice and acting talent, often trading on his sex symbol status. He even turned up in The Boondocks as an animated caricature of himself named Lando Freeman. And Lost fans caught a cameo of Billy Dee in an episode called “Exposé.”
And he’s even dabbled in music: recording a successful jazz album with Prestige Records called Let’s Misbehave. The album prompted an appearance ion 1983’s television special “Motown 25: yesterday, today, forever.”
So happy birthday, Billy Dee! It’s hard to believe you’re 76. But not to worry, you’ve still got it!
Billy Dee Williams complete filmography at IMDB.com.