Billy Dee Williams

Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Film & Television.

Was arrested in Los Angeles after police received a call from his live-in girlfriend accusing him of battery. Williams was charged with cohabitational abuse and released on $50,000 bail. [January 1996]

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.

The character Walter "Doc" Hartford from the animated space opera The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (1986) was based on him.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1521 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on March 27, 1985.

Inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1984.

In addition to playing Lando Calrissian in the original Star Wars trilogy, he played the part in the NPR radio dramatization of "The Empire Strikes Back" (1983). However, he was not available to reprise the role for "Return of the Jedi" (1996).

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).

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).

Has a son named Corey Dee Williams, who graduated from North Hollywood in 1978. Stepdaughter Miyako also attended same high school and was in the 10th grade when Corey graduated.

The movie Com-TAC 303 starring Billy Dee Williams, Greg Morris, Chad Everett, and Henry Fonda, began filming Jul 25, 1977, in the Mojave Desert, but shut down several weeks later when financing was withdrawn by the studio.

Originally auditioned for the role of Han Solo in 1976.

Was cited as one of the most promising movie personalities of 1973 in John Willis' 1974 Film Annual "Screen World" book.

Has two children: Corey Dee Williams (b. 1960) and Hanako Williams. (b. 1973).

Billy Dee Williams was born William December Williams on April 6, 1937 in New York City. Billy Dee has notched up an impressive array of film and television appearances over the past 50+ years.