Gregory Alan Williams

Last updated
Gregory Alan Williams
Born (1956-06-12) June 12, 1956 (age 68)
Other namesGregory Alan-Williams
Gregalan Williams
GregAlan Williams
Occupation(s)Actor, author
Years active1986present
Website
Military career
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
Service / branchFlag of the United States Marine Corps.svg  United States Marine Corps

Gregory Alan Williams (born June 12, 1956) [1] sometimes credited as Gregalan Williams, is an American actor and author. He is best known for portraying LAPD Officer Garner Ellerbee in Baywatch . From 2011 until 2013, Williams portrayed the role of Coach Pat Purnell in the USA Network series Necessary Roughness. Williams also appeared on the 2015 ABC series Secrets and Lies and then on Greenleaf , and later on 2017's Manhunt: Unabomber, and beginning in 2019 The Righteous Gemstones.

Contents

Life and acting career

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Williams graduated from East High School, and attended Coe College and served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in acting. He made his acting debut opposite Steven Seagal in the 1988 film Above the Law . The following year, Williams won the role of Garner Ellerbee in Baywatch. He reprised the role in the 1995 spin-off series Baywatch Nights before returning to Baywatch in 1996.

After leaving the series in 1998, Williams has had recurring guest roles on The Sopranos , The West Wing , The District , The Game , Army Wives , Drop Dead Diva , and Chicago Med . Additionally, he has guest starred in episodes of NYPD Blue , Boston Legal , One Tree Hill , and Meet the Browns and has also lent his voice to the animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force . From 2009 to 2013, Williams appeared as Judge Warren Libby in the comedy series Drop Dead Diva . Since 2011, Williams has portrayed the role of Coach Pat Purnell in the USA Network drama series Necessary Roughness.

Williams has also had roles in several films, including Remember the Titans (2000), Old School (2003), Be Cool (2005), Dog Days of Summer (2007), Oliver Stone's biopic W. (2008), The Collector (2009), and MacGruber (2010). Williams also serves as the host of the syndicated series Know Your Heritage and Know Your Heritage: Black College Quiz. [2]

In 1992, Williams became the first recipient of the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice (through Voices Against Injustice) due to his heroic efforts during the 1992 Los Angeles race riots in which he rescued an individual who had been pulled out of his car and was being beaten. [3]

Writing

In addition to acting, Williams has authored four books including A Gathering of Heroes: Reflections on Rage and Responsibility: A Memoir of the Los Angeles Riots. The book chronicles Williams' life and experiences with racism, along with an incident during the 1992 Los Angeles riots in which he saved the life of a Japanese American man who was being beaten by rioters. [4]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Above the Law FBI Agent Halloran
1989 Major League Bull Pen Guard
The Package Colonel Woods
Howard Beach: Making a Case for MurderCharlie BrasherTV movie
1993 In the Line of Fire Secret Service Agent Matt Wilder
1996 Project ALF Police OfficerTV movie
No One Would Tell Detective AndersonTV movie
1997 Dying to Belong Carl RidgeleyTV movie
Stag Taylor Rundgren
Acts of BetrayalFrancis Morelli
2000 Freedom Song Pullman PorterTV movie
Remember the Titans Coach Paul "Doc" Hines
2003 The Beat Mr. Bernard
Old School Therapist
2005A Message from PopsPopsShort
Be Cool Darryl
Locusts General MillerTV movie
2006The Last AdamPastor Bailey
Dirty Laundry Percy
Haunting VilliscaDolan
2008Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood!Dr. Reginald Monte
20094 MinutesCarl
The Collector Sheriff
2010 Preacher's Kid Bishop King
Blood Done Sign My Name Dr. Samuel Proctor
Good Intentions Buck
MacGruber Minister
Stomp the Yard: Homecoming Dr. David Young
The ConfidantGambler
UnrequitedMr. Williams
Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Terrified Longshoreman (voice)Video
Christmas Cupid LarryTV movie
2011SliceCaptain Kirk
Slice 2Captain Kirk
2012Hornet's NestDetective Ron BrewsterTV movie
Somebody's ChildPeteyTV movie
2013Between SistersFranklinTV movie
Jimmy Coach Sellers
Heart of the Country Yates
Let the Church Say Amen-TV movie
TeachersRobertTV movie
Marry Me for ChristmasDonaldTV movie
2014The Painter-Short
Unspoken WordsMr. Willy
Million Dollar Arm Doug
Like a Country Song Reggie
Hear No Evil Harold
The Town InsideClyde
Cat Run 2 Ray Boudreaux
RosesKevin RodgersShort
My Other MotherAbnerTV movie
Marry Us for ChristmasDonaldTV movie
IdentityDr. Art SloanTV movie
HeroKent Redding
2015To Hell and BackLanceTV movie
The Sin SeerClarence Ricard
13 MinutesThe Patriot (voice)Short
Terminator Genisys Detective Harding
Adrenaline Elijah Benjamin Salisbury
90 Minutes in Heaven Therapy Doctor - St. Lukes
Christmas in the Smokies Bud Walker
A Baby for ChristmasDonaldTV movie
2016Courting Des MoinesGeneral Stan Hutchinson
Misconduct Richard Hill
Miracles from Heaven Dr. Joe Hester
The Accountant Treasury Secretary
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Raise N' Praise Preacher
Almost Christmas Pastor Browning
Merry Christmas, BabyDonaldTV movie
Hidden Figures Marion Smithson
Bad GirlDeacon Bacon
Beat StreetCapt. Tim WeathersVideo
2017Mountain TopLamar Cochran
Created Equal Judge Watford
All Saints Bishop Thompson
A Question of Faith Farnsworth Newman
Geostorm General Montgaff
SlawCommissioner Kelly
2018 God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness Reverend Roland Dial
Legal ActionBen Wingwright
Falling in Love AgainMr. Owens
Chandler Christmas GetawayDonaldTV movie
2019 I See You Spitzky
The World We Make Thomas Bishop
Freshman YearProfessor Thompson
Brightburn Sheriff Deever
2020 The Warrant Tucker Macready
The Banker Britton Garrett
My Brother's KeeperPops
2021BirdieDr. James Cooper
Karen Charles Wright
Envy: A Seven Deadly Sins Story Elijah WilsonTV movie
A Father's Legacy Robby
2022Sons 2 the GraveCoach Sam Reardon
County Line: All In Clifford Mullins
My Perfect WeddingJames Sinclair
County Line: No Fear Clifford Mullins
2023ReunionWilly James
Puncher's ChanceCharlie PhillipsShort
Christmas HolidateNick Harper
2024The DisruptorsSteve Russell

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Jack and Mike FBI #1Episode: "Ready or Not"
1989-98 Baywatch Officer Garner EllerbeeMain Cast: Season 1 & 3-5, Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 8
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Det. Lt. AdamsEpisode: "The Murder Weekend Mystery"
1990-91 Hunter Officer Peter HawkinsRecurring Cast: Season 7
1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Security GuardEpisode: "Young and the Restless"
Roc AlbertEpisode: "Requiem for a Garbage Man"
1991-92 Civil Wars Ed MarshRecurring Cast: Season 1
1992-94 Dream On AnchormanGuest Cast: Season 3-5
1994 L.A. Law Ellis ColeEpisode: "Silence Is Golden"
1995 University Hospital Lt. FosterEpisode: "The Right Thing"
Living Single DarrenEpisode: "The Ex-File"
The Parent 'Hood Coach VanderpoolEpisode: "Track Dreams"
1995-97 Baywatch Nights Officer Garner EllerbeeMain Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
1996 Murder, She Wrote Lt. Paul BraggEpisode: "Mrs. Parker's Revenge"
Spider-Man Additional Voices (voice)Episode: "Sins of the Fathers Chapter 7: The Man Without Fear"
1997The Blues Brothers Animated SeriesLoure Lemon / Rasti (voice)Main Cast
1998 Mama Flora's Family Charlie (1941)Episode: "Episode #1.1 & #1.2"
2000 City of Angels Dr. Nate AmbroseRecurring Cast: Season 2
2000-01 The Sopranos Reverend James, Jr.Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3
2000-02 The West Wing Robbie MosleyRecurring Cast: Season 2-3
2001 Boston Public Jason AndersonRecurring Cast: Season 1
2001-03 The District Clive RogersRecurring Cast: Season 2-4
2004 The Practice District AttorneyEpisode: "Comings and Goings"
NYPD Blue Agent MarcusEpisode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
Crossing Jordan U.S. Army ChaplainEpisode: "Deja Past"
2005 Boston Legal John ZenawiEpisode: "Schmidt Happens"
Monk SorensonEpisode: "Mr. Monk and Mrs. Monk"
2006 One Tree Hill ChuckEpisode: "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Everwood James ClevelandEpisode: "Lost and Found"
Squidbillies Plumber Bubba (voice)Recurring Cast: Season 2
2006-11 The Game Dr. James BarnettGuest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 3-4
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective FolknerEpisode: "Philadelphia"
2009 Army Wives Lt. Col. WallaceRecurring Cast: Season 3
Meet the Browns Charles WalkerEpisode: "Meet the Matrimony"
2009-14 Drop Dead Diva Judge Warren LibbyRecurring Cast
2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Vendor PhilEpisode: "Burned"
Past Life Eli ParsonRecurring Cast
2011 Castle Jim Van-EpsEpisode: "Lucky Stiff"
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Freedom Cobra (voice)Recurring Cast: Season 8
Tyler Perry's House of Payne Joffrey StarrEpisode: "The Rich and Payneless"
2011-13 Necessary Roughness Coach Pat PurnellRecurring Cast
2013 Nashville Detective GlynnEpisode: "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive"
2014 Reckless Geoff TateEpisode: "Blind Sides"
Finding Carter Captain MossRecurring Cast: Season 1
2015 Being Mary Jane Mark's FatherEpisode: "Freedom"
Secrets and Lies Kevin HaynesRecurring Cast: Season 1
Satisfaction MikeEpisode: "...Through Bondage"
2015-16 Powers Waldo PilgrimGuest: Season 1, Recurring Cast: Season 2
The Inspectors Lawrence DowningRecurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 2
2016 Game of Silence Aaron EppsRecurring Cast
Containment Police Chief Myles BesserRecurring Cast
2016-18 Greenleaf Robert 'Mac' McCreadyRecurring Cast: Season 1, Main Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
2017 Manhunt: Unabomber Judge Garland BurrellEpisode: "USA vs. Theodore J. Kaczynski"
2017-24 Chicago Med Bert GoodwinGuest: Season 2-3 & 6, Recurring Cast: Season 5 & 9
2018 MacGyver Julian HalseyEpisode: "Benjamin Franklin + Grey Duffle"
The Resident Dr. PetersonRecurring Cast: Season 1
Mr. Mercedes DA Harvey DunfordEpisode: "Nobody Puts Brady in a Crestmore"
2019 Swamp Thing Mayor RileyEpisode: "Pilot"
2019-23 The Righteous Gemstones Martin ImariMain Cast
2020 Council of Dads Will CalhounEpisode: "Heart Medicine"
Tyler Perry's House of Payne Joffrey StarrEpisode: "From Heart to Heart"
2021 Saints & Sinners Victor ThompsonRecurring Cast: Season 5
2024 Blue Ridge Miles MitchellEpisode: "Appalachian Waltz"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009 Avatar: The Game Dr. Victor Monroe
2010 Fallout: New Vegas Additional voices

Bibliography

References

  1. "Williams, GregAlan". desmoinesregister.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  2. "GregAlan Williams". knowyourheritagegameshow.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  3. "Salem Award | Voices Against Injustice".
  4. Totten, Samuel; Pedersen, Jon E. (2009). Samuel Totten, Jon E. Pedersen. IAP. p. 86. ISBN   978-1-60752-098-6.