Kent Williams (actor)
Kent Williams | |
---|---|
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1971–2008 |
Spouse(s) | Robin Curtis (?-?) (divorced) |
Kent Williams is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the television programs Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, and The New Mike Hammer, and Mike Hammer, Private Eye.
Career
1970s
Williams first acting job was in The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) where the television film led to the series The Waltons.[1] Next he was in the film The Eagle has Landed (1976).[2] In 1979, Williams was in The In-Laws[3] and Time After Time.[4][5]
1980s
In 1980, Williams was in Heart Beat[6] and in the TV film Act of Love.[7] Williams lent his voice to the radio dramatization of Star Wars (1981).[8] Also in 1981, he starred in the film Honky Tonk Freeway[9][10][11] and the TV film A Small Killing on CBS.[12] Williams next starred in NBC's TV film The Day the Bubble Burst (1982).[13] In 1983, he starred in the film WarGames.[14][15] Next Williams would star in four TV films for CBS; 3 of which were based on Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer: Murder Me, Murder You (1983),[16][17] More Than Murder (1984),[18][19] Murder: By Reason of Insanity (1985),[20] and The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1986).[21]
In 1987, Williams was in the short film Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall.[22][23] In 1988, he starred in the TV films Stranger on My Land[24] and Leap of Faith.[25][26]
From 1984 to 1986 Williams starred on the CBS series The New Mike Hammer.[27] He would guest star on Cagney & Lacey, Vietnam War Story, and Simon & Simon.
1990s
Williams would guest star on Sydney, L.A. Law, MacGyver, Reasonable Doubts, Crime & Punishment, Touched by an Angel, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Murder, She Wrote, Nowhere Man, New York Undercover, and Law & Order. He starred in the TV films Barbarians at the Gate (1993),[28][29] Rubdown (1993) on USA Network,[30] Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery (1994), [31] and The Sister-in-Law (1995),[32] In 1993, Williams would star in the film Living Dangerously. In 1994, he would star in the film Dead on Sight.
Later career
Williams would star in 2008 film Mind Morgue and the 2021 miniseries A Little Dream.
Personal life
Williams married actress Robin Curtis while meeting on the set of The New Mike Hammer. They divorced soon afterwards.[33]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | The Eagle has Landed | Mallory | John Sturges | Epic War film Uncredited Based on the 1975 novel by Jack Higgins |
[2][34] |
1979 | The In-Laws | Ski Mask | Arthur Hiller | Action comedy film | [3] |
Time After Time | Assistant | Nicholas Meyer | Science fiction film also written by Meyer | [4][5] | |
1980 | Heart Beat | Ogden | John Byrum | Romantic drama film also written by Byrum Based on the autobiography of Carolyn Cassady |
[6][35] |
1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Kelly's guest | John Schlesinger | Comedy film | [9][10][11] |
1983 | WarGames | Cabot | John Badham | Techno-thriller film | [14][15] |
1987 | Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall | Steve Cook | Bryan Gordon | Short film also written by Gordon Won Academy award for Best Live Action Short Film |
[22][23][36] |
1993 | Living Dangerously | Interrogator | Short film | Michael R. Williams | |
1994 | Dead on Sight | Sheriff Holleran | Ruben Preuss | Mystery-thriller film | |
2008 | Mind Morgue | Detective Brown | Mark Daniel Foley Marc Dube |
Horror film |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | The Homecoming: A Christmas Story | Shepherd #1 | Made-for-TV movie directed by Fielder Cook Pilot for the seriesThe Waltons |
[1][37] |
1980 | Act of Love | Dr. Mitchell | Made-for-TV movie directed by Jud Taylor Based on the book Act of Love: The Killing of George Zygmanik by Judith Paige Mitchell |
[7][38] |
1981 | A Small Killing | Michael | Made-for-TV movie directed by Steven Hilliard Stern | [12] |
1982 | The Day the Bubble Burst | Uncredited | Made-for-TV movie directed by Joseph Hardy Based on the 1979 novel of the same name |
[13][39] |
1983 | Cagney & Lacey | Peter Blair | Episode: "Chop Shop" (S 2:Ep 18) | |
Murder Me, Murder You | Barrington | Made-for-TV movie directed by Gary Nelson on CBS | [16][17][40] | |
1984 | More Than Murder | Assistant D.A. Lawrence D. Barrington | Made-for-TV movie directed by Gary Nelson on CBS | [40][18][19] |
1984 – 86 | The New Mike Hammer | Assistant D. A. / Special Prosecutor Lawrence D. Barrington | Series regular | [27] |
1985 | Murder: By Reason of Insanity | Dick Crowell | Made-for-TV movie directed by Anthony Page | [20] |
1986 | The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Barrington | Made-for-TV movie directed by Ray Danton | [21] |
1988 | Stranger on My Land | Uncredited | Made-for-TV movie directed by Larry Elikann | [24] |
Vietnam War Story | Sgt. Allard | Episode: "Separated" (S 1:Ep 7) | [41] | |
Leap of Faith | Dr. Simms | Made-for-TV movie directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal | [25] | |
Simon & Simon | Ben Vaughn | Episode: "Simon & Simon and Associates" (S 8:Ep 2) | ||
1990 | Sydney | Vic | Episode: "Cliffhanger" (S1 :Ep 3) | |
L.A. Law | David Shepard | Episode: "Vowel Play" (S 5:Ep 6) | ||
1991 | MacGyver | Clinton Ferris | Episode: "Off the Wall" (S 7:Ep 12) | |
1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Lewis Oliver | Episode: "A Rose is a Rose" (S 2:Ep 9) | |
1993 | Crime & Punishment | Joe Lipskey | Episode: "Best Laid Plans" (S 1:Ep 3) | |
Barbarians at the Gate | Tom Hill | Biographical comedy-drama made-for-TV movie directed by Glenn Jordan Based on the 1989 book of the same name by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar |
[28][29][42] | |
Rubdown | Armstorong | Made-for-TV movie directed by Stuart Cooper | [30] | |
1994 | Touched by an Angel | Oliver MacGregor | Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" (S 1:Ep 6) | |
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Vincent | Episodes: "The Washington Affair, part 1" (S 3:Ep 7) "The Washington Affair, part 2" (S 3:Ep 8) |
||
Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery | Jugs | Made-for-TV movie directed by Armand Mastroianni on CBS | [31] | |
1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Freddie Layton | Episode: "Another Killing in Cork" (S 11:Ep 20) | |
The Sister-in-Law | Jeff Powers | Made-for-TV movie directed by Noel Nosseck | [32] | |
Nowhere Man | Mr. Grey | Episode: "Something About Her" (S 1:Ep 4) | ||
1997 | New York Undercover | Reynolds | Episode: "The Promised Land" (S 3:Ep 17) | |
Law & Order | Hank Coburn | Episode: "Terminal" (S 7:Ep 23) | ||
1997 - 98 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Deputy Mayor Barry Lawerence | Series regular | |
2021 | A Little Dream | Cop | Miniseries |
Radio
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | Star Wars | Uncredited | Radio dramatization directed by John Madden Based on the original 1977 film |
[8] |
References
- ^ a b Malone, Michael (November 24, 2021). "REVIEW: 'The Waltons' Homecoming'". Broadcasting & Cable. Future US. ISSN 1068-6827. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Canby, Vincent (March 26, 1977). "The Eagle Has Landed (1976)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (June 15, 1979). "Arkin and Falk in Comic 'In-Laws': Comedy of Insanity". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Variety Staff (December 31, 1979). "Review: 'Time After Time'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (September 28, 1979). "Screen: H.G. Wells Trails Jack the Ripper into 1979: Down the Years". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (February 11, 1980). "Heart Beat Reviews". Rogerebert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b "Movie Review: Act of Love (1980)". SKJAM! Reviews. January 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Wordpress.
- ^ a b Lucasfilm Ltd.; National Public Radio (March 24, 1993). Star Wars: The Original Radio Drama (CD). HighBridge Audio (Unabridged ed.). NPR / KUSC: Recorded Books. ISBN 978-1565110052. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Henninger, Mari (April 29, 2011). "Honky Tonk Freeway: When Mount Dora "Went Hollywood". PULSE The Magazine of Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares. Cogora. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Variety Staff (December 31, 1980). "Honky Tonk Freeway". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (August 21, 1981). "HARSH VIEW OF AMERICA IN 'HONKY TONK". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (November 24, 1981). "TV: 'SMALL KILLING,' ROMANCE ON SKID ROW". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (February 5, 1982). "TV WEEKEND; TOPICAL COMEDY AND WALL ST. CRASH". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (June 3, 1983). "WarGames review". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b The Union Democrat Staff (August 19, 1983). "War Games Opens Tonight At The Sonora Plaza Cinema". The Union Democrat. RISN Operations. p. 36. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (April 8, 1983). "2 FAMOUS TOUGH GUYS". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Katz, Debora Morgenstern (April 3, 1983). "Traditional Actor Plays Traditional Hero". Star-News. Gannett. p. 116. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Collins, Max Allan; Traylor, James L. (January 12, 2018). Mickey Spillane on Screen: A Complete Study of the Television and Film Adaptations. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. p. 129. ISBN 9780786492428.
- ^ a b Jory, Tom (January 25, 1984). "Radio And Tv. Early Victim Is The Producer". The Daily Reporter. Spencer Daily Record Publishing. p. 14. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Newspaper.com.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (October 1, 1985). "'MURDER: BY REASON OF INSANITY,' CBS DOCUDRAMA". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (April 18, 1986). "TV WEEKEND; KEACH RETURNS AS MIKE HAMMER". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Wilson, John M. (January 6, 1991). "Discovering Directors in a Training Program". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Gorne, Cynthia (April 12, 1988). "Douglas and Cher Win Acting Honors". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Shirley, Don (January 16, 1988). "Television Reviews : 'Stranger on My Land'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (October 6, 1988). "Review/Television; Will Power vs. Disease". The New York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Heffley, Lynne (October 6, 1988). "TV REVIEW : 'Leap of Faith' Stumbles Over Cliches". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (April 18, 1986). "TV Weekend; Keach Returns as Mike Hammer". The New York Timespublisher=The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Scott, Tony (March 17, 1993). "Hbo Pictures Barbarians at the Gate". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b O'Connor, John J. (March 18, 1993). "Review/Television; Those Good Old Takeover Days". The New York Times. p. C 17. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b McIver, Denise I. (September 15, 1993). "Review: 'USA World Premiere Movie Rubdown'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Scott, Tony (December 3, 1994). "Cbs Tuesday Night Movie Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ a b Scott, Tony (July 12, 1995). "The Sister-in-Law". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Spelling, Ian (October 8, 1993). "Robin Curtis Trades Vulcan Ears For Romulan Ones". The Herald Journal. Adams Publishing Group. p. 24. Retrieved May 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'The Eagle Has Landed' author Jack Higgins dies at 92". NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal. Associated Press. April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Cassady, Carolyn (July 1976). Heartbeat: My Life with Jack and Neal. Berkeley: Creative Arts Book Company. ISBN 978-0916870034.
- ^ Cieply, Michael (February 17, 1988). "No Oscars for U.S. Directors : Foreigners Win All Nominations; 9 for Last Emperor". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ The Homecoming A Christmas Story (DVD). Paramount Home Video. Paramount Pictures. September 23, 2003. ASIN B0000AQS5E. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Judith Paige (February 11, 1976). Act of Love: The Killing of George Zygmanik. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0394491974.
- ^ Thomas, Gordon; Morgan-Witts, Max (January 1, 1979). Day the Bubble Burs (1st ed.). New York City: Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 978-0241102916.
- ^ a b Mike Hammer: More Than Murder / Murder Me, Murder You (Double Feature) (DVD). Burbank: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. April 25, 2006. ASIN B000E6V0BI. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
- ^ Sharbutt, Jay (June 29, 1987). "HBO to Air 'Vietnam War Story'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ O'Toole, Patricia (January 21, 1990). "The Granddaddy of All Takeovers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.