Clarence Williams III Biography

Fast Facts

• Was an artist-in-residence in the mid-1960s for Brandeis University in St․ Waltham, Mass
• Formerly married to late actress Gloria Foster, who was best known for playing the Oracle in "The Matrix" and "The Matrix Reloaded․"
• Born to a musician, and is the grandson of jazz composer and pianist Clarence Williams
• Has an uncredited appearance as a message runner in the 1959 film "Pork Chop Hill․"
• Reportedly first became interested in acting after accidentally walking onstage at a Harlem theater
• Served with the U․S․ Air Force for two years before making his 1960 Broadway debut in "The Long Dream․"
• Played drug dealer and crime boss Samson Simpson in the 1998 drug comedy "Half Baked․"
• Portrayed the recurring character Philby in the "Mystery Woman" series of made-for-TV films
• Is well known for playing Linc Hayes on the TV series "The Mod Squad․"
• After "Mod Squad's" last season, he made a point to avoid films within the blaxploitation subgenre, instead choosing to star in theater productions and work as a prolific character actor in TV and film