Kent Williams (actor)

Last updated

Kent Williams
OccupationActor
Years active1971–2008
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 .

Contents

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 .[ citation needed ]

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 .[ citation needed ] 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.[ citation needed ] In 1994, he would star in the film Dead on Sight.[ citation needed ]

Later career

Williams would star in 2008 film Mind Morgue and the 2021 miniseries A Little Dream.[ citation needed ]

Personal life

Williams married actress Robin Curtis while meeting on the set of The New Mike Hammer . They divorced soon afterwards. [33]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotesRef
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]
1993Living DangerouslyInterrogatorShort filmMichael R. Williams
1994Dead on SightSheriff HolleranRuben Preuss Mystery-thriller film
2008Mind MorgueDetective BrownMark Daniel Foley
Marc Dube		 Horror film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1971 The Homecoming: A Christmas Story Shepherd #1 Made-for-TV movie directed by Fielder Cook
Pilot for the series The Waltons 		[1] [37]
1980 Act of Love Dr. MitchellMade-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]
1981A Small KillingMichaelMade-for-TV movie directed by Steven Hilliard Stern [12]
1982The Day the Bubble BurstUncreditedMade-for-TV movie directed by Joseph Hardy
Based on the 1979 novel of the same name		 [13] [39]
1983 Cagney & Lacey Peter BlairEpisode: "Chop Shop" (S 2:Ep 18)
Murder Me, Murder You BarringtonMade-for-TV movie directed by Gary Nelson on CBS [16] [17] [40]
1984 More Than Murder Assistant D.A. Lawrence D. BarringtonMade-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. BarringtonSeries regular [27]
1985Murder: By Reason of InsanityDick CrowellMade-for-TV movie directed by Anthony Page [20]
1986The Return of Mickey Spillane's Mike HammerBarringtonMade-for-TV movie directed by Ray Danton [21]
1988 Stranger on My Land UncreditedMade-for-TV movie directed by Larry Elikann [24]
Vietnam War Story Sgt. AllardEpisode: "Separated" (S 1:Ep 7) [41]
Leap of FaithDr. SimmsMade-for-TV movie directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal [25]
Simon & Simon Ben VaughnEpisode: "Simon & Simon and Associates" (S 8:Ep 2)
1990 Sydney VicEpisode: "Cliffhanger" (S1 :Ep 3)
L.A. Law David ShepardEpisode: "Vowel Play" (S 5:Ep 6)
1991 MacGyver Clinton FerrisEpisode: "Off the Wall" (S 7:Ep 12)
1992 Reasonable Doubts Lewis OliverEpisode: "A Rose is a Rose" (S 2:Ep 9)
1993 Crime & Punishment Joe LipskeyEpisode: "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 ArmstorongMade-for-TV movie directed by Stuart Cooper [30]
1994 Touched by an Angel Oliver MacGregorEpisode: "The Heart of the Matter" (S 1:Ep 6)
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman VincentEpisodes:
"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 MysteryJugsMade-for-TV movie directed by Armand Mastroianni on CBS [31]
1995 Murder, She Wrote Freddie LaytonEpisode: "Another Killing in Cork" (S 11:Ep 20)
The Sister-in-LawJeff PowersMade-for-TV movie directed by Noel Nosseck [32]
Nowhere Man Mr. GreyEpisode: "Something About Her" (S 1:Ep 4)
1997 New York Undercover ReynoldsEpisode: "The Promised Land" (S 3:Ep 17)
Law & Order Hank CoburnEpisode: "Terminal" (S 7:Ep 23)
1997 - 98 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Deputy Mayor Barry LawerenceSeries regular
2021A Little DreamCop Miniseries

Radio

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1981 Star Wars Uncredited Radio dramatization directed by John Madden
Based on the original 1977 film 		[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Malone, Michael (November 24, 2021). "REVIEW: 'The Waltons' Homecoming'". Broadcasting & Cable . Future US. ISSN   1068-6827 . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 Maslin, Janet (June 15, 1979). "Arkin and Falk in Comic 'In-Laws': Comedy of Insanity". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Variety Staff (December 31, 1979). "Review: 'Time After Time'". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (February 11, 1980). "Heart Beat Reviews". Rogerebert.com. Ebert Digital LLC. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Movie Review: Act of Love (1980)". SKJAM! Reviews. January 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2025– via Wordpress.
  8. 1 2 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.
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. 1 2 Variety Staff (December 31, 1980). "Honky Tonk Freeway". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Maslin, Janet (August 21, 1981). "HARSH VIEW OF AMERICA IN 'HONKY TONK". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Maslin, Janet (November 24, 1981). "TV: 'SMALL KILLING,' ROMANCE ON SKID ROW". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  13. 1 2 Maslin, Janet (February 5, 1982). "TV WEEKEND; TOPICAL COMEDY AND WALL ST. CRASH". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Ebert, Roger (June 3, 1983). "WarGames review". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  15. 1 2 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.
  16. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (April 8, 1983). "2 FAMOUS TOUGH GUYS". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Katz, Debora Morgenstern (April 3, 1983). "Traditional Actor Plays Traditional Hero". Star-News . Gannett. p. 116. Retrieved May 30, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  18. 1 2 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.
  19. 1 2 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.
  20. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (October 1, 1985). "'MURDER: BY REASON OF INSANITY,' CBS DOCUDRAMA". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  21. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (April 18, 1986). "TV WEEKEND; KEACH RETURNS AS MIKE HAMMER". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Wilson, John M. (January 6, 1991). "Discovering Directors in a Training Program". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  23. 1 2 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.
  24. 1 2 Shirley, Don (January 16, 1988). "Television Reviews : 'Stranger on My Land'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  25. 1 2 O'Connor, John J. (October 6, 1988). "Review/Television; Will Power vs. Disease". The New York Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  26. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (October 6, 1988). "TV REVIEW : 'Leap of Faith' Stumbles Over Cliches". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  27. 1 2 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.
  28. 1 2 Scott, Tony (March 17, 1993). "Hbo Pictures Barbarians at the Gate". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  29. 1 2 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.
  30. 1 2 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.
  31. 1 2 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.
  32. 1 2 Scott, Tony (July 12, 1995). "The Sister-in-Law". Variety . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  33. ↑ 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.
  34. ↑ "'The Eagle Has Landed' author Jack Higgins dies at 92". NBCNews.com . NBCUniversal. Associated Press. April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  35. ↑ Cassady, Carolyn (July 1976). Heartbeat: My Life with Jack and Neal. Berkeley: Creative Arts Book Company. ISBN   978-0916870034.
  36. ↑ 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.
  37. ↑ The Homecoming A Christmas Story (DVD). Paramount Home Video . Paramount Pictures. September 23, 2003. ASIN   B0000AQS5E . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  38. ↑ Mitchell, Judith Paige (February 11, 1976). Act of Love: The Killing of George Zygmanik. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN   978-0394491974.
  39. ↑ Thomas, Gordon; Morgan-Witts, Max (January 1, 1979). Day the Bubble Burs (1st ed.). New York City: Doubleday Publishing. ISBN   978-0241102916.
  40. 1 2 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.
  41. ↑ Sharbutt, Jay (June 29, 1987). "HBO to Air 'Vietnam War Story'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  42. ↑ 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.
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