Sergeant Foley
Well-known member
Clarence Williams the III died Friday of Colon Cancer at the age of 81. He was known for bringing some amazing intensity and dramatic presence to his roles and despite having a somewhat smaller filmography, starred in a wide variety of roles.
His first iconic role was as Lincoln Hayes on the crime drama show The Mod Squad about three young social outcasts and petty criminals becoming undercover police and ran from 1968 to 1973. He also starred in Purple Rain, Sugar Hill, and quite famously as the eccentric druglord in the Dave Chapelle comedy Half Baked.
He was famous to horror fans for his intense role in Tales of the Hood as Mr. Simms, an eccentric Mortuary Owner and films main storyteller. He was an intimidatingly violent gunrunner and armed robber in Reindeer Games, a fanatically loyal army officer in The Generals Daughter and personally I remember him most for portraying Mob Enforcer Bub Hewlett in the 1997 crime mob drama Hoodlum about the Gang War in 1930's Harlem and the rise of famous Black mobster Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. Ironically... Clarence Williams III would portray Bumpy Johnson himself in 2007's American Gangster.
Clarence Williams III, Linc on ‘The Mod Squad,’ Dies at 81
The Harlem-born actor also received a Tony nom and appeared on the big screen in 'Purple Rain,' 'Sugar Hill,' 'Half-Baked' and 'Tales From the Hood.'www.hollywoodreporter.com
Clarence Williams III was also a comedic actor, veteran of stage and theater and a skilled musician.
And because you all want it...
He also served in the United States Army and was in the 1999 movie 'The General's Daughter'.