starring in a string of critically acclaimed and popular movies, many of them in the “blaxploitation” genre.
In 1972, Williams starred as Billie Holiday’s husband Louis McKay in Motown Productions’ Holiday biopic Lady Sings the Blues.
It became one of the highest grossing films of the year and received five Academy Award nominations.
Diana Ross starred opposite Williams.
Motown paired the two of them again three years later in the successful follow-up project Mahogany.
The early 1980’s brought Williams the role of Lando Calrissian, which he played in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, solidifying him as a bonafide star of sci-fi movies.
“I want to be remembered as being a hard working performer. I always tried to give my very best.
I always tried to bring something extra to any role that I did, on stage or on screen. I took my roles seriously and put every ounce of effort and more that I had into them.”