Billy Dee Williams Biography

Fast Facts

• Won an Image award in 1977 for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings․"
• Won an Indie Series Award in 2010 for Best Performance by a Guest Actor for "Diary of a Single Mom․"
• Appeared on Broadway as a child in 1945 in "The Firebrand of Florence․"
• Quote: "I tell my son Corey that the greatest teacher is the teacher who says, 'Don't follow me, follow yourself․ Because within you there is that kingdom, that life, that force․'"
• Quote: "There's always been a lot of misunderstanding about Lando's character․ I used to pick up my daughter from elementary school and get into arguments with little children who would accuse me of betraying Han Solo․"
• Gained international recognition for playing Lando Carlissian in "Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi․"
• Known for playing leading men in African American cinema in the 1970s
• An accomplished artist, his paintings have sold for five figure prices and hang in the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Institution and the Schomburg Museum
• Recorded a jazz LP of swing standards called "Let's Misbehave" In 1961
• Though he was Colt 45's spokesperson for a little while during the 1980s, he will not autograph Colt 45 merchandise at science fiction conventions