biography
Born on February 27, 1934, in Fort Worth, Texas, handsome Van Williams didn't set out to be an actor. After completing his college studies, Williams headed for Hawaii, where he worked as a diver. He was discovered for films in Hawaii by producer Mike Todd in 1957. Todd was killed in a plane crash shortly thereafter, yet Williams eventually made his way to Hollywood. After some acting lessons and vocal coaching, Williams found work in television, and after a few guest spots, he signed a contract with Warner Bros. in early 1959.
Early 1960s beefcake photos, mostly from Warner Bros.
the films and tv series of van williams
Bourbon Street Beat (1959-1960 ABC TV Series)
From the ABC series Bourbon Street Beat, produced by Warner Bros.. Pictured are Richard Long, Van Williams, Arlene Howell, and Andrew Duggan. Williams' character was incorporated into the series Surfside 6, following the cancellation of Bourbon Street Beat
Tall Story (1960)
From the Warner Bros. farce Tall Story with Jane Fonda and Anthony Perkins
Surfside 6 (1960-1962 ABC TV Series)
From the ABC series Surfside 6, produced by Warner Bros. LEFT: Williams as Ken Madison. CENTER: With costars Troy Donahue and Lee Patterson. RIGHT: With Grace Lee Whitney in episode Count Seven, which originally aired on September 18, 1961
The Caretakers (1963)
From the gritty hospital drama The Caretakers. LEFT: With Susan Oliver and Janis Paige. RIGHT: With Polly Bergen and Robert Stack
The Green Hornet (1966-1967 ABC TV Series)
Images from Williams' 1966 TV series The Green Hornet. LEFT: Williams as Britt Reid alongside Bruce Lee as Kato. CENTER: Williams as The Green Hornet, with Lee as Kato. RIGHT: Lee and Williams camp it up in this promotional photo
Batman (1966-1968 ABC TV Series)
LEFT: Williams as the Green Hornet with Batman star Adam West from the episode titled A Piece of the Action, which originally aired March, 1, 1967. RIGHT: With Adam West in a 1966 ABC photo
today
Following the 1967 cancellation of The Green Hornet, Williams' career slowed. He stayed active doing guest appearances on such television shows as Love, American Style, Gunsmoke, and Mission: Impossible, and landed another TV series in the 1970s, the short-lived Westwind. In the late 1970s, Williams left his acting career behind to focus on his business interests. Today, he can be found at autograph conventions, at which he's proven very popular.van williams films available from movies unlimited
Batman [DVD](1966) DVD
Holy Video! The dynamic duo, in their feature film debut, must defend Gotham City and the free world from a cabal of their most sinister enemies: Catwoman, Joker, Penguin and Riddler. All the BAM! BIFF! POW! excitement and fun of the TV series. Stars Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin. 105 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital stereo, Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; audio commentary by West, Ward; featurette; photo gallery; scene access; theatrical trailers.
Batman [Blu-ray](1966)
Holy Video! The Dynamic Duo must battle a cabal of their most sinister foes in their feature film debut that features all the BIFF! BAM! POW! fun of the TV series. The Catwoman, the Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler have joined forces and concocted a plan to use a high-tech gadget to reduce the world's leaders to dust, and only Batman and Robin stand in their way. Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin star. 105 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD Master Lossless 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, , Spanish, Cantonese, mandarin; audio commentary by West, Ward, others; featurettes; photo gallery; poster gallery; trivia; isolated music score; theatrical trailer; more.
Love American Style: Season One, Vol. 2 [DVD](1970) DVD
The remaining 12 episodes from the debut season--including "Love and the Medium/Love and the Bed/Love and the High School Flop-Out," "Love and the Fighting Couple/Love and the Pick-Up/Love and the Proposal," "Love and the Nervous Executive/Love and the Great Catch/Love and the Hitchhiker," "Love and Las Vegas/Love and the Good Samaritan/Love and the Marriage Counselor," and "Love and the Singles Apartment/Love and the Minister" with Van Williams--are available in a three-disc set. 10 1/3 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season Five [DVD](1965) DVD
All 31 episodes from season four--including "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth," "Uhny Uftz," "Odd But True," "Buddy Sorrell: Man and Boy," and "The Last Chapter"--are collected in a five-disc set. 12 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; audio commentary by Van Dyke, Reiner others; featurettes; interview; more.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story [DVD](1993) DVD
Enthralling biography of late martial arts master Bruce Lee, covering his courtship and marriage to his American wife; his rise to karate prominence, competing in tournaments and teaching; and his meteoric but short-lived film career. Jason Scott Lee is dynamic in the title role; Lauren Holly and Robert Wagner also star. 120 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: Spanish; audio commentary; "making of" featurette; theatrical trailer.
van williams films available from amazon.com
filmography
FILM
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) with Jason Scott Lee, Lauren Holly, Robert Wagner, Michael Learned, and Nancy Kwan
The Night Rider (1979) with David Selby, Kim Cattrall, George Grizzard, Anna Lee, and Pernell Roberts
Fury of the Dragon (1976) with Bruce Lee
The Runaways (1975) with Dorothy McGuire
Batman (1966) with Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton, and Stafford Repp
The Caretakers (1963) with Robert Stack, Polly Bergen, Diane McBain, Joan Crawford, Janis Paige, and Constance Ford
Tall Story (1960) with Anthony Perkins, Jane Fonda, Ray Walston, and Tom Laughlin
TELEVISION SERIES
Centennial, 1978 NBC miniseries. Williams portrayed George. Also in the cast were Raymond Burr, Robert Conrad, Jorge Rivero, Marshall Thompson, Clint Walker, and Reb Brown
How the West Was Won, 1978 miniseries
Westwind, 1975-1976 TV series. Williams portrayed Steve Andrews
The Green Hornet, 1966-1967 ABC TV series. Williams portrayed Britt Reid, the Green Hornet
The Tycoon, 1964-1965 TV series. Williams portrayed Pat Burns
Surfside 6, 1960-1962 ABC TV series. Williams portrayed Ken Madison. Also in the cast were Troy Donahue and Lee Patterson
Bourbon Street Beat, 1959-1960 ABC TV series. Williams portrayed Ken Madison. Also in the cast were Richard Long and Nita Talbot
Additionally, Van Williams guest-starred on many popular television series, including Love, American Style, The Beverly Hillbillies, Batman, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and Cheyenne from the 1950s through the late 1970s.
Click on the logo to go back to Brian's Drive-In Theater
This page premiered December 12, 2003.