Who is Billy Dee Williams?
Billy Dee Williams has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years. He is easily best known to international film audiences as the roguish Lando Calrissian in the last two episodes of the original Star Wars trilogy: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). Williams can also be seen on screen in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Nighthawks (1981), Batman (1989), Moving Target (1996) and Undercover Brother (2002). A regular performer also in many fine quality television movies and television series.
Trivia
- Was an accomplished art student even before his acting career began. Has had professional gallery showings where his oil canvases have sold for tens of thousands of dollars.
- Originally auditioned for the role of Han Solo in 1976.
- He still actively paints, and some of his work can be seen at his online gallery. He has had solo exhibitions in various galleries around the United States, and his work hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Schomburg Museum. The beautiful covers of the Thelonious Monk Competition programs since 1990 are by him.
- He accepted the role of D.A. Harvey Dent in Batman (1989) with the knowledge and expectation that Dent would eventually become Two-Face; he reportedly had a clause put into his contract reserving the role for him in any sequels, which Warner Bros. had to buy out so they could cast Tommy Lee Jones.
- He and actress/singer Diahann Carroll were classmates at the New York City High School of the Performing Arts, the school that was featured on the popular television series Fame (1982).