(ReliableNews.org) – Born in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1951, Treat Williams first realized he wanted to become an actor in seventh grade. Once he received his first laugh from the audience during a comedy show at his school, Williams said he knew in the back of his mind that his future was on stage. Although he participated in several productions in his youth, including “West Side Story” and “A Chorus Line,” it wasn’t until he entered college that he got serious about learning his craft. Williams became a prolific actor, aviator, and singer, settling his home in Manchester, Vermont. On June 12, tragedy struck. Sadly, the 71-year-old “Blue Bloods” star was involved in a vehicular accident just before dinnertime in Dorset, Vermont, and died from his injuries.
What Happened?
The Vermont State Police (VSP) released a statement revealing the details of the crash. The announcement explained that the driver of a 2008 Honda Element, Ryan Koss, stopped and signaled he was going to make a left turn into a parking lot. However, the driver reportedly turned right in front of Williams, who was riding his 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle. The actor was unable to stop in time and collided with the SUV. He was thrown from his bike and sustained critical injuries. Williams was flown to Albany Medical Center, but hospital personnel could not save him and pronounced him dead. Koss was treated and released at the scene.
The police department’s crash reconstruction team was at the site of the accident trying to determine exactly what happened and planned to return the next day for more processing and assessment. The VSP asked witnesses to come forward with any information about the incident to assist in its investigation.
Treat Williams’ Career
Williams landed his first Broadway role as Danny Zuko in “Grease” in 1972, which ran for three years. During a 2021 interview with Vermont Magazine, the actor said he loved performing on the Broadway stage because every performance was in front of a “completely new audience,” and he “soak[ed] up the energy” of the crowd. Including “Grease,” Williams had seven stage credits, including “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Love Letters.”
The actor did his first film while still performing as Danny Zuko on stage. He played Billings in “Deadly Hero,” a film that also starred James Earl Jones. From there, Williams went on to earn 128 more acting credits on TV and the big screen. Most recently, he played Lenny Ross in the hit TV show “Blue Bloods” alongside actor Tom Selleck. His other well-known credits include “Deep Rising,” “Hair,” and “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.” He was nominated for four Golden Globes and one Emmy over the span of his career. His presence on stage, in film, and on TV will be missed.
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