- Moved to Hollywood in 1968 and worked a regular job with the California Youth Authority to support his family while going out for auditions.
- Best known for his roles as Lester Jenkins on the series "227, Sgt. L.C. ROSS in the feature film and tv series "Private Benjamin" , and the role of "Smitty The Cop" on the tv series "Sanford and Son".
- Originally from Columbus Ohio, he started out in community theater in Ohio in the 1960s while working for the Ohio Youth Commission.
- Met Marla Gibbs on the set of The Jeffersons (1975). Some eight years later, she would later co-star on 227 (1985), as his wife.
- Best friend of Ralph Waite and Marla Gibbs.
- His acting mentors were the late Director, Ed Cambridge, of the famed Negro Ensemble Company and the late actor Robert "Bob" Nichols.
- Works on behalf of the Sickle Cell Anemia foundation, appering as host of the annual Baton Rouge, LA telethon.
- Friends with Redd Foxx, and Esther Rolle.
- Another mentor is Director John Rich.
- In 1971, Willams was controversially fired from ''The Jimmy Stewart Show'' on racial grounds at the insistence of its star, James Stewart.
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