Clarence Williams III (August 21, 1939 – June 4, 2021) was an American actor. Williams is best known for his starring role as Linc Hayes in the police procedural The Mod Squad.
After spending time in the military as a paratrooper, Williams pursued acting as a career. He acted on stage and on Broadway and earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the play Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. Williams also acted in television and film, eventually landing the role of Linc Hayes in The Mod Sqaud, a groundbreaking role as the character was not a Black American stereotype. Williams also played Prince's father in the film Purple Rain and continued to work in the industry throughout the decades.
Williams died on June 4, 2021, after a fight with colon cancer. He is survived by his sister, his daughter, niece, and his grandchildren and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Williams was married to actor Gloria Foster for 5 years, they remained friends after they split and until her death in 2001.
Selected Filmography
Film
- The Cool World (1963) - Blood
- Purple Rain (1984) - Father
- Fifty Two Pick Up (1986) - Bobby Shy
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) - Kalinga
- My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (1991) - Virgil
- Deep Cover (1992) - Detective Taft
- Sugar Hill 1993 - Arthur Romello "A.R." Skuggs
- Against the Wall (1994) - Chaka
- The Immortals (1995) - Benny Hayes
- Tales from the Hood (1995) - Mr. Simms
- Hoodlum (1997) - "Bub" Hewlett
- The Legend of 1900 (1998) - "Jelly Roll" Morton
- Half Baked (1998) - Samson Simpson
- Starstruck (1998) - Jarry Wallace
- Life (1999) - Winston Hancock
- The General's Daughter (1999) Colonel George Fowler
- Reindeer Games (2000) "Merlin"
- The Extreme Team (2003) - Zachary
- Constellation (2005) - Forest Boxer
- The Blue Hour (2007) - Ridley
- American Gangster (2007) - Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson
- The Way Of War (2009) - Mac
- A Day In The Life (2009) - Sam
- The Butler (2013) - Maynard
- American Nightmares (2018) - Roscoe
Television
- The Mod Squad (1968–1973) - Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, main role
- American Dragon: Jake Long (2005-2007) - Councilor Andam
- Mystery Woman Hallmark telefilm series (2005-2006) - Philby
Selected Theatre credits
- The Long Dream (1960) - Chris
- Slow Dance On The Killing Ground (1964-1965) - Randall
- The Great Indoors (1966) - Hector Case
- King John (1967) - Hubert De Burgh
- Night And Day (1979-1980) - President Mageeba
- I Just Stopped By To See The Man (2003)
