His role as rebel hippie George Berger in the 1979 musical comedy “Hair,” set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His turn in the WB series “Everwood” (2002-2006) — as a Manhattan doctor who moves to a fictional Colorado town after the death of his wife — also earned him two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Williams, whose first name was Richard, played NYPD detective Lenny Ross on the police drama “Blue Bloods” as recently as May. He was also part of the popular “Chicago Fire” series until his character’s Season 7 death in 2018. His recent work included a role in the upcoming crime thriller “American Outlaws.”
Celebrities responded to news of his death with tributes on social media.
Actress Kim Cattrall, who starred alongside Williams in the 1999 TV movie “36 Hours to Die,” said on Twitter that she was in shock and remembered him as a “wonderful actor and friend.”
Williams was a passionate and creative man, tweeted Wendell Pierce, his co-star in the 2016 TV movie “Confirmation.”
“In a short period of time, he quickly befriended me & his adventurous spirit was infectious,” Pierce wrote.
Treat Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man. In a short period of time, he quickly befriended me & his adventurous spirit was infectious. We worked on just 1 film together but occasionally connected over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. RIP pic.twitter.com/jjZN8VcLR8
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) June 13, 2023
Williams frequently posted about his life in Vermont on his Twitter account, and hours before the collision, he had posted about the pleasure of mowing the grass. He is survived by his wife, actress Pam Van Sant, and their two children.
“Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft,” his family said in a statement to Deadline, “and was truly at the top of his game in all of it.”
