Fred Williamson Biography

Fast Facts

• Holds black belts in Kenpo, Shotokan Karate and Kae-Kwon-Do
• In 1959, graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois
• Played as a defensive back for the American football teams the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs
• Quote: "(On how he got into acting) "When I was playing pro ball, I'd work as an architect the rest of the year․ After I left football, I designed buildings for nine months and I was going crazy at a desk․ I was watching television and I said to myself, 'I can do that․' I called the gate at Twentieth Century-Fox, left my name, drove onto the lot, went to see the man who was producing the 'Julia' series․․․wound up getting a job․․․and I was an actor․""
• Best known for his roles in "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s
• Appeared as a spokesperson for King Cobra malt liquor in the 1980s and 90s
• Created the production company Po' Boy Productions in 1974