[4] Raised by his paternal grandmother, he became interested in acting after accidentally walking onto a stage at a theater below a Harlem YMCA. Mr. Cosby saw him on the New York stage and recommended him to Mr. Spelling, who was casting The Mod Squad at the time. There was Ms. Lipton seemingly untouched by time, with the same long, silky blond hair, slim figure, radiant skin and air of vulnerability as Norma Jennings, the unhappily married but beatific owner of the Double R Diner. Addiction is a terrible thing, and no one knows it better than "The Mod Squad" star, Michael Cole, whose relationship with the bottle stopped him from becoming all that he could be. By the end of the evening he had been cast in the production. Born in New York City,[2] Williams was the son of a professional musician, Clarence "Clay" Williams Jr.,[3] and grandson of jazz and blues composer/pianist Clarence Williams and his singer-actress wife, Eva Taylor. His mother is omitted from his biographies. Lipton appeared in the1979 Mod Squad TV reunion andmade a cameo appearancein a 1999 movie version of "The Mod Squad" that starred Claire Danes (as Julie Barnes),Omar Epps and Giovanni Ribisi. Also in 2006, Cole played opposite Clarence Williams III in Mystery Woman: At First Sight, an episode of the Mystery Woman film series that aired on the Hallmark Channel. He was 81. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He was 81. Id done all I could with the part. The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies.The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies.The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. Clarence Williams III, best known for portraying Linc on TV's The Mod Squad, has died at the age of 81, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She also played the same character in the show's 2017 revival. Peggy Lipton, the actress who rose to fame in TV's groundbreaking 1960s series "The Mod Squad" and starred in the 1990s series "Twin Peaks," has died at age 72 of cancer. According to TV Guide, Cole originally balked at the part of Peter Cochran when he realized he would be playing an undercover cop, saying: "I'm not going to take the part of a guy who finks on his friends!" They wanted to go six or seven years, and I decided I didnt want to do that, Williams told the Chicago Tribune in 1997. It would eventually cost him what would have been a successful career. He is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw, and grandniece Azaria Verdin. June 6, 2021 Clarence Williams III, the reflectively intense actor who starred as Linc Hayes, a young, hip undercover police officer on ABC's "The Mod Squad," died on Friday in Los Angeles. We all rushed over. He was married once, to actress Gloria Foster, from 1967 to 1984. Williams management shared that the star died of colon cancer at the age of 81, NBC News reported. Complete information on her survivors was not immediately available. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. The RR diner is dark today. Peggy Lipton with Michael Cole, left, and Clarence Williams III. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Prince's drummer Sheila E also paid tribute, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, Street piano confiscated as public 'break rules', US rock band Aerosmith announce farewell tour. Showmanship was in Williams' blood as he was born into a musical family. [8] The two also acted in a 1964 film The Cool World. Born in New York in 1939, Williams was named, like his father, after his musician grandfather, a celebrated jazz pianist. [8] Funes helped stage an intervention for Cole's alcoholism; Cole has been living sober ever since. He was 81. He portrayed Linc Hayes, a hip undercover police officer who was teamed with Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole. He was 81. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He was 81. We feel so lucky for every moment we spent with her. Then you [the actor] put it on stage or on film and add a little something they didnt have and make it more enriching, READ NEXT: Hallmarks Schedule of New Movies for June 2021, Clarence Williams III Dies: Hallmark Mystery Woman Stars Cause of Death, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Michael Cole at The Hollywood Show held at The Westin Hotel LAX on January 24, 2015 | Photo: Getty Images. University of Michigan Medical School. Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. He was 81. The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete.The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete.The trio investigates after an innocent bystander is killed by a speeding car after it narrowly misses Pete. Williams died Friday in Los Angeles of colon cancer, his repAllan Mindel toldThe Hollywood Reporter. He was 81. Her film debut was in Mosbys Marauders (1967), a Civil War drama. He was 81. Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton as they appeared in The Mod Squad, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Later, Cole appeared as adult Henry Bowers in Stephen King's 1990 two-part TV miniseries It. She was nominated for Emmys and won a Golden Globe in 1971 for her performance. He owed his screen career to Bill Cosby, then a rising star. I like what they were sketching to me about Philby being an ex-international operative: CIA, MI5, MI6 and that it revolved around a book store, he said in the interview.Philby was a very good friend of Samanthas uncle. He is survived by his daughter, Jamey Phillips, and his sister, Sondra Pugh. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Actor Clarence . In the seventh (Mystery Woman: At First Sight) film, he reunited with his Mod Squad co-star Michael Cole. A representative for Williams. The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. The actor best known for his breakout role playing undercover police officer Linc Hayes on the 1960s TV series "The Mod Squad," alongside costars Peggy Lipton and Michael Cole passed away . In 1974, Ms. Lipton married Quincy Jones, the Grammy Award-winning musician and producer, and largely retired from acting with the exception of a television movie, The Return of Mod Squad, in 1979, which she did as a personal favor to old friends. He was 81. Ms. Lipton said she had just relaxed and allowed herself to be a neutral observer and to appreciate their conversation, without feeling a hint of competitiveness. Prince's estate paid tribute to him for. Actor Clarence Williams III has died. His character was asked by Samanthas late uncle, who originally owned her bookstore, to look out for her, The Buffalo News reported. Mr. Williams played an F.B.I. The couple separated in 1986 and divorced in 1990. Created by Bud Ruskin, who had led an LAPD undercover narcotics unit, The Mod Squad wound up airing for five seasons on ABC. His career in TV, theater, and film lasted for four decades, NBC News shared. His body of work also included movies The Cool World (1963), Deep Cover (1992), Hoodlum (1997), Life (1999), Impostor (2001), Constellation (2005), American Gangster (2007), A Day in the Life (2009) and Lee Daniels The Butler (2013) and appearances on TVsHill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Law & Order, Everybody Hates Chris, Burn Notice, Justified and Empire. Did Clarence Williams lll die? The Mod Squad tapped into the countercultural vibe of the era, incorporating timely issues like racism, anti-war protests and drug addiction into storylines as Linc, Julie and Pete infiltrated high schools, acting classes, prisons, hippie newspapers, gangs, movie sets, etc., to catch the bad guys. Ms. Lipton on The Mod Squad with, from left, Clarence Williams III, Tige Andrews, and Michael Cole. From left: Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton on 'The Mod Squad', Amazon Studios Nabs J.J. Abrams, Imaxs The Blue Angels Documentary, Robert Patrick, Kennedys Children Playwright, Dies at 85, Harry Belafonte, Singer, Actor, Producer and Activist, Dies at 96, Ron Faber, Busy New York Stage Actor, Dies at 90, Jock Zonfrillo, Chef and 'MasterChef Australia' Judge, Dies at 46, Jerry Springer, Host of a Scandalous Talk Show, Dies at 79, FXs Alien TV Series Taps Sydney Chandler to Star, Trevor Noah Producing U.S. After serving in the US Air Force he started out on stage, earning a Tony nomination in 1965 for Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. Inside Robin Williams' $30M Estate Which He Called 'Villa of Smiles' & Enjoyed for 11 Years before His Death. He did guest appearances on close to 40 series, from Hill Street Blues to Empire.. Aaron Spelling, the shows producer, never liked Lincs Afro, Mr. Williams recalled in an NPR interview in 1999, so the style was toned down. Unlike her co-star, she had a stable family life and left behind her daughters, Kidada and Rashida Jones, from her marriage to Quincy Jones. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At First Sight: Directed by Kellie Martin. Lipton was 72, and she received a Golden Globes Award in '71 for her performance on the Aaron Spelling produced show. Foster went on to play The Oracle in the first two Matrix films before dying in 2001. ammy Davis Jr., Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III, Peggy Lipton on "The Mod Squad" | Photo: Getty Images. His addiction also almost cost him his life on two occasions. Pictured are Peggy Lipton (Julie Barnes), Michael Cole (Pete Cochran) and Clarence Williams III (Lincoln Hayes) Williams' management team said the celebrated actor died of colon cancer. Williams owed a debt of gratitude to Bill Cosby, who had seen Slow Dance on the Killing Ground and recommended the actor to producer Aaron Spelling, who was casting The Mod Squad. Michael Cole attends the weSpark Cancer Support's 15th Anniversary Celebration Comedy Night at Skirball Cultural Center on September 15, 2016 | Photo: Getty Images. The actor went on to act in Twin Peaks, in which Lipton also appeared, as well as such films as The General's Daughter, Reindeer Games and Johnny Depp's The Brave. Chris Meloni's Mom Knew Sherman Williams Was "The One" First . Decades later, he returned to Broadway to star opposite Maggie Smith in the original 1979 production of Tom Stoppards Night and Day. Cole has also appeared on Gunsmoke, in 1966, as Kipp. The show had two ad taglines. Williams is survived by his daughter Jamey Phillips, his sister Sondra Pugh, his niece Suyin Shaw, and his grandnephews and grandniece, NBC News reported. Williams was born on Aug. 21, 1939, the son of professional musician Clay Williams. In the past, it could be ugly out there, she told the Next Tribe website last year. We let them in on it and they have to work to see where its leading.. Her covers of two Laura Nyro songs Stoney End and Lu made the Billboard charts. Then [Williams] drove off and smashed right into a telephone pole. Clarence Williams III, an actor known for portraying Linc Hayes on "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," died on June 4. The final movie in the series premiered on January 13, 2007. In the Next Tribe interview, she mentioned one of the pleasures of being older. Action Crime Drama The trio's investigation of a cover-up in a construction-site murder leads them to a pair of bad heavies. Spanning over forty years, his career included the role of Prince's tormented father, who was also a musician, in Purple Rain (1984), A guest appearance in Miami Vice (1985), a recurring role in the surreal TV series Twin Peaks (1990), a good cop in Deep Cover (1992), a rioter in the mini-series Against the Wall (1994), and Wesley Snipes' chemically dependent father in Sugar Hill (1993). Hallmarks Schedule of New Movies for June 2021. [2], Williams began pursuing an acting career after spending two years as a paratrooper in C Company, 506th Infantry, of the 101st Airborne Division. He first appeared on Broadway in The Long Dream (1960). Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. The actor had a troubled childhood, and at age 12, he already had his first taste of alcohol. Department of Emergency Medicine. He played the iconic role of Linc Hayes, a troubled teen who became an undercover cop. I never had confidence never, she told People magazine in 1988, as her comeback loomed. In 2006, Williams told The Buffalo News about how much he loved playing Linc Hayes. And so I said let me go back, refresh myself, learn some things, read, travel and just try to put some more arrows in my quiver., Williams did return for aMod Squad reunion telefilm in 1979. My heart is with you Rashida (@iamrashidajones) and Kidada ( @kiddejones ) pic.twitter.com/KfEtUZBaFZ, And actress Rosanna Arquette also called out Lipton's daughters while shemourned the loss of her friend: "We had known each Other for many years and her beautiful girls were the loves of her life. Williams announced Foster's death in 2001. Wherever Quincy and I went, there was an edge to peoples reactions.. Embed. Spelling then gave Williams a small part as a reluctant getaway driver on an anthology series that he and Danny Thomas were producing. In high school, his schoolmates made fun of him because he reeked of beer, and he once said about tasting alcohol early, "I think it had a lot to do with [my addiction], but if I had said anything, it would have sounded like an excuse.". What it took was his third and current wife threatening to leave. It starts with one taste until a person becomes hooked, and would do anything for that which they are addicted to. [11] They worked together on The Mod Squad; Foster made two guest appearances. His interest in acting began when he visited a Harlem Y.M.C.A., where his sister was working, and dropped in to watch a plays run-through. ", #PeggyLiptons generosity, wild sense of humor and style, and deeply sensitive wisdom inspired all who had the joy of meeting her. The book also covers his time on "The Mod Squad.". He got over a hundred stitches in his head, but it still wasn't a wakeup call. Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon cancer, his manager Allan Mindel said Sunday. Being a biracial couple Mr. Jones is black was not without its difficulties. Martin starred opposite Williams. However, five years on the show was enough for him. They were most definitely the hippest and coolest undercover cops on television at the time, notes the website Groovy History. Her final screen appearances were in the 2017 episodes of the relaunch of the Twin Peaks series, but she also appeared on two episodes (2016-17) of Angie Tribeca, playing the mother of her daughter Rashidas character. COLE IS HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND GRATEFUL He starred alongside Michael Cole and the late Peggy Lipton in the ABC detective show, appearing in more than 120 episodes over the next five years. "We are heartbroken that our beloved mother passed away from cancer today," the statement said. Career [ edit] Cole has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, beginning in 1961 with a role in the film drama Forbid Them Not. The unfortunate news was shared by the actor's management to the publication Variety over the weekend, citing colon cancer as the cause behind his death. After dating hot doctor Ben, "Mystery Woman" Samantha becomes curious about her family medical history so she sets out upstate to fictitious small town; Whiptail, California in search of her birth mother. Promotional studio portrait of Clarence Williams III, Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton for the television series, "The Mod Squad" in 1968. First they got busted; then they got badges summarized the shows back story: three hippies in trouble with the law who then joined the police force as plainclothes cops with built-in disguises their youth and their counterculture personas. But it was his role as Pete Cochran, a troubled youth turned crime fighter in The Mod Squad (19681973), that made Cole an international celebrity. "You need patience, because you're going for the distance.". Peggy grew up in Lawrence, one of the so-called five towns clustered at the southwest corner of Nassau County on Long Island. Williams began pursuing an acting career after spending two years as a paratrooper in C Company . The two appeared together in the movie The Cool World (1963). He was a prolific actor with numerous credits to his name. After the show ended, Mr. Williams dropped out of sight for a while, expressing disappointment in the kinds of roles available to Black men. Clarence Williams III, who is remembered as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes on ABC's then trendy The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973, lost his battle with colon cancer on Friday, June 4. He was a leader of the Attica prison riots in HBOs Against the Wall (1994); a segregationist governors manservant in the mini-series George Wallace (1997); Muhammad Alis father in Ali: An American Hero (2000); and a retired C.I.A. operative in 10 Mystery Woman movies (2003-07). Cole Hauser's Wife Sacrificed an Egg to Help Twin Sister Have Her Niece Meet the 'Sweet Valley High' Stars, 'Yellowstone' Star Wes Bentley's Children Saved His Life Following His Addiction and Unemployment, 'Family Affair's' Johnny Whitaker's Family Threatened to 'Divorce' Him after He Became Penniless, Patrick Swayze's Last Words Before He Slipped into a Coma, Martin Sheen's Longtime Wife Helped Him 'Heal Psychically' When He Thought He Was Going to Die, Meet Charlotte Raes 2 Kids with Husband of 25 Years Who Fell in Love with Man of His Dreams', Colin Farrell Was Told Son James Padraig May Never Walk He Gave up Drugs to Fight for Him. Beginning in the 1980s, he had a busy film career. During the 1970s, he had many guest appearances on Wonder Woman, The Love Boat and CHiPs, and appeared in the made-for-TV thriller Evening in Byzantium in 1978. Clarence Williams III, the US actor who played Prince's father in Purple Rain and also starred in 1960s show The Mod Squad, has died at the age of 81. She will always be a part of us.". Clarence Williams III -- best known for roles in The Mod Squad, Purple Rain and Sugar Hill -- has died. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Michael Cole, Clarence Williams III and Peggy Lipton starred in the 1960s show 'The Mod Squad' which was considered groundbreaking for featuring an interracial cast. In 1967, Mr. Williams married Gloria Foster, a stage actress who appeared twice on The Mod Squad and later played the Oracle in The Matrix. They divorced in 1984. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. Hulton Archive/Getty. The drinking also separated Cole from his daughter, Jennifer, whom he didn't have a relationship with, during her childhood. Weve lost a beautiful soul. [7] Cole later made an appearance in the 2007 thriller Mr. Brooks as the attorney for Demi Moore's character of Detective Tracy Atwood. The older the actor got, the more he drank without a care in the world. [9], "The Mod Squad TV Show Unofficial Home Page w/ Pictures & Episode Guide", "The book on Madison's 'Mod Squad' star Michael Cole", "Mystery Woman: At First Sight (TV Movie 2006)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Cole_(actor)&oldid=1148866774, This page was last edited on 8 April 2023, at 19:51. In a 2006 interview, Williams told The Buffalo News that Philbys mysterious past with the government appealed to him and was part of the reason he wanted the role. Im broken hearted to hear of the passing of my friend Peggy Lipton. He also worked on shows such as The Eddie Capra Mysteries; Murder, She Wrote; Fantasy Island, and Diagnosis: Murder. Williams was married to actress Gloria Foster (Oracle in the first two Matrix movies) from 1967-84. Clarence also made guest appearances on TV programs, "Cold Case," "Memphis Beat," "Justified" and "Empire," to name a few. Williams died Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a battle with colon cancer, his manager Allan Mindel said Sunday. He was formerly a York city councillor and Metro Toronto councillor, where he . ABC wanted him to stay on the show longer, but by 1973 he had had enough. This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. "It's not a 100-yard dash, it's a long-distance run," he said of his career in 1997. She was battling cancer. [4] Produced by Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, The Mod Squad resonated with counterculture-era viewers and ran for five seasons, during which a total of 123 episodes were produced.[5]. He returned to Broadway, appearing as an African head of state, with Maggie Smith, in a Tom Stoppard drama, Night and Day (1979). Actress Kellie Martin was among others to remember him fondly, saying it had been "an honour" to work with him on the 2000s TV series Mystery Woman. The actor's management team confirmed that Williams . He had small roles in the blaxploitation parody Im Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and in Norman Mailers Tough Guys Dont Dance (1987). [8] In 1984 they filed for divorce, but remained friends. She was an exquisite human being On all levels. The Wisconsin native married Shelley Funes in '96, and when she saw that he would drink himself to his grave, she gave him an ultimatum. Williams added that he loved acting and wasnt interested in switching to directing the movies. Co-Director, Interdisciplinary Trauma Team Training. Williams married the actress Gloria Foster in 1967. "And so I said let me go back, refresh myself, learn some things, read, travel and just try to put some more arrows in my quiver.". So I kept an eye on her because she has a tendency to run out and do things.. On the big screen, the Harlem native portrayed Princes troubled father in Purple Rain (1984) and was Wesley Snipes and Michael Wrights drug-addled dad in Sugar Hill (1993). So sad to hear about #PeggyLiptonFrom the #ModSquad to #TwinPeaks and everything in between.Sweet, kind, beautiful & very cool.What a career what a life.Love, light, strength & prayers for Quincy, Kidada & Rashida.She always made me smile and ALWAYS made my heart flutter. The Mod Squad, which ran from 1968 to 1973, was one of the first of its kind a prime-time network series that focused on members of the hippie generation at the same time that it exploited them. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5303. mcolemd@med.umich.edu. Adam Greer (Tige Andrews). There is no denying that Cole had talent, and would have perhaps made it as an A-lister if he didn't love the bottle more. In her 2005 memoir, Breathing Out, she revealed that as a child she had been sexually molested by an uncle. His big break came in 1968 when he was cast in The Mod Squad as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes, one of three former juvenile delinquents recruited as an undercover cop. Peggy Lipton with Michael Cole, left, and Clarence Williams III. The New York Times review offered high praise. agent on Twin Peaks in 1990 and appeared in many films and television series after The Mod Squad ended. Williams made his breakthrough in the 1968 counterculture police crime series, . The couple divorced in 1989. Twice, the "Mr. Brooks" star had fatal accidents that had him thrown through his windshield. Early life and education. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Clarence Williams III (born August 21, 1939) is an American actor who is perhaps best known for his role as "Linc Hayes" on the iconic "hippie" cop show The Mod Squad (1968-1973). Clarence Williams III, who starred as the brooding undercover cop Lincoln Hayes on the countercultural 1968-73 ABC drama The Mod Squad, has died. To view this content choose accept and continue. He is a stage, film and television actor, who occasionally directs. Comedian Kathy Griffin said she was "heartbroken":"Ive honestly always thought of Peggy asperfect. After the series ended in 1973, he worked in a variety of genres on stage and screen, from comedy (I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Half-Baked) to sci-fi (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), and drama (Purple Rain). Margaret Ann Lipton was born on Aug. 30, 1946, in New York City, one of three children of Harold Lipton, a corporate lawyer, and Rita (Benson) Lipton, an artist. Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series "The Mod Squad" and Prince's father in "Purple Rain," has died. Williams glides like a dancer, Howard Taubman wrote, giving his long, fraudulently airy speeches the inner rhythms of fear and showing the nakedness of terror when he ceases to pretend.. #PeggyLipton pic.twitter.com/wrrtNQCUP2, Holly Robinson Peete said, "So glad I got a chance to tell her that her character on #ModSquad was an inspiration for Judy Hoffs on 21 Jump Street. [11] Cole continues to act in various film and television projects, and played the character Charles Hadley in a 2006 episode of the television series ER. Her death was confirmed by her daughters, the actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones. Wed to wife Kelly until his death, Clarence was first married to actress Gloria Foster (1967-1984).