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Grant Williams (actor)

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Grant Williams
Williams in an episode ofOne Step Beyond(1959)
Born
John Joseph Williams

(1931-08-18)August 18, 1931
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 1985(1985-07-25)(aged 53)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeLos Angeles National Cemetery
OccupationActor
Years active1953–1976
Military career
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1948–1952
RankStaff sergeant
Battles/warsKorean War

Grant Williams(bornJohn Joseph Williams;[1]August 18, 1931 – July 28, 1985) was an American film, theater, and television actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Scott Carey in the science fiction filmThe Incredible Shrinking Man(1957), and for his starring role as Greg MacKenzie onHawaiian Eyefrom 1960 through 1963.

Early life[edit]

Williams toldUnited Presscorrespondent Ron Burton: "I've actually been a professional actor since the age of 12".[2]

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in theUnited States Air Force,serving from September 1948 to September 1952, before and during theKorean War.[3]He was discharged as an Air Force staff sergeant[3]He went on to obtain a degree in journalism, from New York University according to aDallas Morning Newsprofile in March 1957.[4]He earned the degree from a correspondence school according to a 1959 article.[5]

Career[edit]

Stage[edit]

After his Air Force service, he studied underLee Strasberg.[6]

During auditions held at the Town Hall Club in New York City in May 1953, Williams was selected for a summer scholarship at theBarter TheatrebyRosalind Russell.[7]The "Barter Colony" atAbingdon, Virginia,is a unique training ground for actors, providing instruction in all forms of stagecraft. It was a popular choice for many recently discharged veterans, such asJohn VivyanandErnest Borgnine,who found the communal lifestyle a comfortable buffer before rejoining the civilian world. Williams spent the entire summer of 1953 there, performing in plays (seeStage performances) that on occasion starred an established professional. According to contemporaneous Barter publicity, he had at least five previous stage credits inGolden Boy,Angel Street,The Heiress,All My Sons,andThe Glass Menagerie,but for which the roles and venues are not known.[8]

Following his summer at Barter, Williams next performed in theOff-Broadway[fn 1]Blackfriars Guild Theatre.Late Arrivalwas staged in October 1953, wherein Williams played a suitor to the young female lead. Though he had used "Grant Williams" all throughout his Barter tenure, he was now billed as "John J. Williams".[9]He returned to using "Grant Williams" as the lead for asummer stockproduction ofRopeduring July 1954.[10]

Screen[edit]

Following small roles on television, Williams was spotted by a talent scout onKraft Television Theaterin 1954. He signed withUniversal Pictures(U-I) in March 1955.[11]They assigned him toAway All Boatsduring May 1955.[12]Pleased with his work on that picture, U-I gave him a role as a "heavy" inDecision at Durango,later renamedRed Sundown,during July 1955.[13]U-I then gave Williams a new contract in August,[14]and by September 1955 he was working onGun Shy,later released asShowdown at Abilene.[15]

“Grant Williams was one of the best actors around. I first used him inRed Sundown(1956) in which he played a different kind of villain, effete and clean cut. He was brilliant. I used him again as the psychotic killer inOutside the Law(1956). I was so impressed with him that when it came to castingThe Incredible Shrinking Man(1957) I asked for him…” —FilmmakerJack Arnold.[16]

His next film was thenoirthrillerOutside the Law(1956), followed by some small uncredited roles, and by the CinemaScope romantic comedyFour Girls in Town(1957).[17]

Williams starred as Scott Carey in his seventh film, theHugo Award-winningscience fiction filmThe Incredible Shrinking Man(1957), withRandy Stuartplaying his wife, Louise. Despite good reviews and the success of the film, his career continued with only lackluster roles.Universal Picturesdropped his contract in 1959,[18]and he signed in 1960 withWarner Brothers,where he had a continuing role as the private detective Greg McKenzie onHawaiian Eye,co-starringRobert Conrad,Anthony Eisley,andConnie Stevens.

Several film and television roles followed. In 1959 Williams playedCol. Geo. Custeron the showYancy Derringer,later that year he played a killer cowboy named "Joe Plummer" on the TV WesternGunsmoke,and the role of the psychopathic killer inRobert Bloch'sThe Couch(1962), but fame still eluded him. He made two guest appearances onPerry Mason,in 1964 as columnist and murderer Quincy Davis in "The Case of the Ruinous Road,"[19]and as defendant Dr. Todd Meade in the 1965 episode "The Case of the Baffling Bug."[20]

He starred as troubled military psychologist Major Douglas McKinnon inThe Outer Limitsepisode "The Brain of Colonel Barham"along with formerHawaiian Eyeco-starAnthony Eisley.Also in 1965, Williams played the title character (Albert "Patch" Saunders) in theBonanzaepisode "Patchwork Man," as well as the 1960 episode "Escape to Ponderosa."

Williams attempted a comedic role on the radio airwaves in the anthology programFamily Theater(September 11, 1957, the show's last episode), and there was some light-heartedness to his delightful role as Mike Carter in the half-hour episode "Millionaire Gilbert Burton" (April 29, 1959) of the seriesThe Millionaire.As his acting career declined, he opened a drama school inWest Hollywood.[21]Williams continued to act occasionally in both movies and television, but without much conviction and in inferior products. His last released film appearance was inDoomsday Machine(1972); however, as it was actually shot in 1967,Brain of Blood(1972) was his last acting work for the screen. His last TV appearance was in 1983 on the game showFamily Feudalong with other former cast members fromHawaiian Eye,who played against, and lost to the former cast members from the television seriesLost In Space.[22]

FilmmakerJack Arnold,who directed Willams in three pictures, remarked on the trajectory of the actor's career:

The studios didn’t give him the right parts and his career never quite took off. Hollywood wanted aRobert Tayloror aRock Hudson,not a blond guy with blue eyes. And he was a bit too pretty for character roles.Universalshould have moved him up to “A” pictures, but they kept him in the “B” pictures. The same thing happened when he went toWarner Bros.He got typed—it’s happened to all of us in this business at one time or another.”[23]

At the time of his death in 1985 he was operating an acting school in Los Angeles.[6]

Death[edit]

Williams died on July 28, 1985, aged 53, at theLos Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital,where he had been receiving treatment forblood poisoning.[24]He was interred inLos Angeles National Cemetery.[3]He was survived by his brother, Robert.[6]

Stage performances[edit]

Listed by year of first performance

Year Play Role Venue Notes
1953 A Streetcar Named Desire A Young Collector Barter Theatre Williams' debut at the Barter, in a minor role that emphasised his youthful appearance, didn't even draw a mention from the reviewer[25]
Ten Little Indians Anthony Marston Barter Theatre The reviewer noticed Williams this time, wishing he hadn't to disappear so quickly.[26]
Street Scene Daniel Buchanen Barter Theatre Williams shared a group "very honorable mention"[27]
Born Yesterday Paul Verrall Barter Theatre A critic said Williams' first leading role at Barter was "effective" but lacked "vocal warmth" for romance.[28]
Family Portrait Joseph Barter Theatre Judith Andersonreprised her Broadway role asMary[29]
The 13 Clocks Tosspot Barter Theatre Eric Bloreas the Tale-Teller was the big draw; the first Williams' interpretation of an inebriate.[30]
The Two Gentlemen of Verona Proteus Barter Theatre Williams' final Barter appearance was the first US production of this play since 1899.[31]
Late Arrival Jimmy Blackfriars Theatre Williams was credited as one of the "more effective" performers[32]
1954 Rope Wyndham Brandon Hampton Theatre[fn 2] Williams starred in this thriller[10]

Selected filmography[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^The term refers to the seating capacity of the theatre, not its location.
  2. ^This was asummer stockvenue in Westhampton Beach, New York


References[edit]

  1. ^"Grave Marker C-218 83, Grant Williams, Los Angeles National Cemetery".Grave Locator – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration.RetrievedApril 18,2023.
  2. ^Burton, Ron (November 3, 1955). "Film Shop".Sand Mountain Reporter.Albertville, Alabama. p. 5 – viaNewspapers.com.
  3. ^abcJohn Joseph Williams in the U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca. 1775–2019,Los Angeles National Cemetery,Section C-218, Site 83, retrieved fromAncestry.com
  4. ^Rual Askew (R.A.), "Top Star Contender Ready for Whatever is Demanded,"Dallas Morning News,March 5, 1957.
  5. ^"TV Star Rises from Stinker To Thinker Actor,"Provo (UT) Daily Herald,February 2, 1959 (probably United Press International).
  6. ^abc"Grant Williams, Star of '57 'Shrinking Man' Film".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedApril 17,2023– viaNewspapers.com.
  7. ^"Ros Russell Wins Barter's 'Ham And One Acre of Land'".Bristol Virginia-Tennessean.Bristol, Tennessee. May 27, 1953. p. 8 – viaNewspapers.com.
  8. ^"Barter Theatre Opens 1953 Season At Abingdon Tomorrow".Bristol Herald Courier.Bristol, Virginia. June 14, 1953. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.
  9. ^"First Nights".Brooklyn Daily Eagle.Brooklyn, New York. October 18, 1953. p. 23 – viaNewspapers.com.
  10. ^abFerber, Joan (July 26, 1954). "'My 3 Angels' Arrives, Walter Abel in Top Role ".Newsday (Nassau Edition).New York, New York. p. 25 – viaNewspapers.com.
  11. ^"In the News".Los Angeles Evening Citizen News.Hollywood, California. March 30, 1955. p. 16 – viaNewspapers.com.
  12. ^"Production Schedule".Los Angeles Evening Citizen News.Hollywood, California. May 21, 1955. p. 25 – viaNewspapers.com.
  13. ^"Katzman Seeking Deal With Arnold".Los Angeles Times.Los Angeles, California. July 15, 1955. p. 18 – viaNewspapers.com.
  14. ^"Actor Grant Williams Gets New Contract".Valley Times.North Hollywood, California. August 13, 1955. p. 8 – viaNewspapers.com.
  15. ^"Production Schedule".Los Angeles Evening Citizen News.Hollywood, California. September 17, 1955. p. 9 – viaNewspapers.com.
  16. ^Reemes, 1988 p. 85: Williams was on contract with Universal-International, and Arnold was restricted to casting contract players.
  17. ^"'Four Girls in Town'".The New York Times.New York, New York. January 17, 1957. p. 32 – viaNYTimes.com.
  18. ^Williams' contract actually expired sometime in 1957, for in 1959 he was making two films for Associated Producers Incorporated/20th Century Fox:Lone Texan(1959) and13 Fighting Men(1960).
  19. ^Kelleher, Brian; Merrill, Diana (October 16, 2006)."December 31, 1964 [225]" The Case of the Ruinous Road "".The Perry Mason TV Show Book.RetrievedSeptember 6,2013.
  20. ^Kelleher, Brian; Merrill, Diana (October 16, 2006)."December 12, 1965 [254]" The Case of the Baffling Bug "".The Perry Mason TV Show Book.RetrievedSeptember 6,2013.
  21. ^"Grant Williams (1931–1985)".Brian's Drive-In Theater. January 25, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 6,2013.
  22. ^"Reruns Come To Life On 'Family Feud'".Los Angeles Times.Los Angeles, California. April 18, 1983. pp. 69, 75 – viaNewspapers.com.
  23. ^Reemes, 1988 p. 85
  24. ^"The Montreal Gazette".news.google.com.
  25. ^Miller, Malcolm (June 17, 1953). "Music and Drama".The Knoxville Journal.Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 16 – viaNewspapers.com.
  26. ^King, Albert B. (July 1, 1953). ""Ten Little Indians" Wins Approval of First Nighter ".Bristol Herald Courier.Bristol, Virginia. p. 6 – viaNewspapers.com.
  27. ^"'Street Scene' Page In Lives Cross Section Of Humanity ".Bristol Herald Courier.Bristol, Virginia. July 8, 1953. p. 5 – viaNewspapers.com.
  28. ^Miller, Malcolm (July 17, 1953). "Music and Drama".The Knoxville Journal.Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 9 – viaNewspapers.com.
  29. ^Miller, Malcolm (August 14, 1953). "Music and Drama".The Knoxville Journal.Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 17 – viaNewspapers.com.
  30. ^Miller, Malcolm (August 23, 1953). "Music and Drama".The Knoxville Journal.Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 43 – viaNewspapers.com.
  31. ^Miller, Malcolm (September 4, 1953). "Music and Drama".The Knoxville Journal.Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 16 – viaNewspapers.com.
  32. ^Sheaffer, Louis (October 20, 1953). "'Late Arrival' Opens New Season At the Blackfriars ". Brooklyn, New York. p. 6 – viaNewspapers.com.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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