Legendary actor and artist Billy Dee Williams shared his talents, wisdom, funny wit, and hypnotizing smooth voice to a jam-packed audience at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. Williams in conversation with KSDK TV News anchor Rene Knott discussed Williams’ latest book, ‘What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life’
“We are here tonight because we are so honored to have an illustrious guest, a Hollywood legend,” said Gwen G. Mizell, Ameren senior vice president and chief sustainability, diversity & philanthropy officer. Mizell informs the audience that Williams’ career spans seven decades and a part of his legacy includes breaking Hollywood barriers.
The Hollywood legend has starred in over 50 acting productions, he is most known for his role in the Star Wars franchise as ‘Lando Calrissian’ also movies including “Brian’s Song”, “Mahogany,” and “Lady Sings The Blues.” Diana Ross plays his love interest in the latter two films.
Billy Dee Williams struts on stage in his long tan coat, his signature style scarf around his coat collar, with his walking cane that only adds more to his swag. It was like a concert, both men and women were cheering and clapping for the Hollywood icon.
Williams explains that his book goes into detail about how he experienced the trials and tribulations of everyday life and not just in his career.
“It took two and half years to write this book,” said the actor. And he hopes to one day soon release his 20-year project, a coffee table that describes his life through his paintings.
“That’s going to be a really fascinating book, just like this one,” he added.
The actor says in his book his role in the 1971 TV release “Brian’s Song” was art imitating life because during filming his father was dying from cancer. From his perspective, he knew that character was meant to be for him, originally Lou Gossett Jr. was supposed to play that character but he got hurt playing basketball.
While filming the Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars And Motor Kings in Georgia Williams says he crossed paths with this guy whom he describes as a bigot. During their conversation, this stranger applauded Williams for his level of acting in ‘Brian’s Song’ and told him the film impacted him in a very positive way.
“And I thought to myself, wow that changed a bigot’s mind, even if it’s for a moment,” said Williams.
He approaches acting the same way he goes about his life, to bring something new to each ‘scene’, to make things better and interesting.
Williams started acting to buy art supplies, his first gig was at 6 years old he played a newsboy in a musical. His mother worked for Broadway managers and producers, when they found out she had a young son they asked if he could audition and the rest is acting history. “I was smitten with the attention, the whole idea of being on stage. Imagine all kinds of people applauding for me,” said the actor.
His love for jokes and making people laugh kept the audience cracking up, his one-liners about himself and others were like a comedy show. At 86 one could say with confidence that Billy Dee Williams still got it. He described his life as an adventure that continues to go along taking him wherever it leads him. He talks about his Colt 45 commercials reciting the lines “Don’t let the smooth taste fool you.”
Reflecting on all that he has accomplished in his conversation with Knott the then and now heartthrob in his captivating voice said, “I’m not through yet.”
“It ain’t over until it’s over.”
St. Louis County Library organized the event as part of their Black History Celebration.
Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.
