185:, the son of Samuel and Valdosia Williams. His mother was a high-school English and drama teacher. Williams attended segregated public schools through high school He grew up in Burgaw under the care of his mother. Williams credited her with his interest in and love of words. He said that his mother
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as an actor, worked as a salesman to pay his bills, and wrote in his free time. Eventually, he moved to New York City to focus on his writing, though he knew he would also have to continue acting for income.
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Great
Migrations, in Two Plays, Samm-Art Williams’s “Home,” on Broadway, and Shayan Lotfi’s “What Became of Us,” by Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, June 17, 2024
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211:, where he studied political science and psychology. At one point, he considered becoming a lawyer, but his dream of being a playwright won out.
131:(January 20, 1946 – May 13, 2024) was an American playwright and screenwriter, television producer, and an actor on stage, television and film.
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was my greatest influence—in seeing this bird, I saw what a great thing it was to be able to work on a person’s mind with words.”
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Williams participated in the NEC Playwrights
Workshop under the guidance of playwright-in-residence
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1156:"Samm-Art Williams, Tony-Nominated Playwright and 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Producer, Dies at 78"
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was mounted by the Negro
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641:'s Harry De Jur Playhouse at Henry Street Settlement from June 25 to July 30, 2000.
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1022:(First ed.). New York: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. pp. 249–256.
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from May 7, 1980, to
January 4, 1981. The play earned nominations for both the
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Nomination - Outstanding
Writing in a Variety or Music Program, for
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1129:"Tony-Nominated HOME Playwright Samm-Art Williams Dies At Age 78"
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402:(NEC) at St. Mark's Playhouse in 1975; and as Samm-Art Williams,
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nominations for his work for television series. The Black Rep of
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Williams, a 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) lefty, was once a
824:. Roundabout Theatre (roundabouttheatre.org). April 29, 2021.
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Box Office
Prophets: "It Came from the Basement" (column): "
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Williams died in Burgaw on May 13, 2024, at the age of 78.
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1988: Emmy Award
Nomination - Outstanding Comedy Series,
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965:"Internet Broadway Database: Samm-Art Williams - Awards"
777:, producers Max Tash and David Chambers and co-producer
1194:(Press release). East Carolina University. 2009-06-17.
1050:(Press release). Raleigh Little Theatre. Archived from
1044:"Auditions for 'The Waiting Room' by Samm-Art Williams"
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Williams made his screen debut playing "Roger" in the
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production in 1980. In the mid-1980s, he received two
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546:. His film work during this time included a role in
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theater as an actor in 1973, performing in the play
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Playwright, actor, screenwriter, television producer
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516:(as Jim; 1986). In the mid-1980s he appeared in
1293:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights
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326:(St. Mark's Playhouse, 1978). His early work in
276:Other early New York acting experience includes
16:American playwright and screenwriter (1946–2024)
880:"Internet Broadway Database: Samm-Art Williams"
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644:In 2006, Williams held auditions for his play
938:: Broadway Play Publishing, Inc. p. iv.
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667:was where the first black Marines trained.
659:, produced the world premiere of his play
181:Williams was born on January 20, 1946, in
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1048:Raleighlittletheatre.org | Press releases
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613:(1986), among other work. He wrote a CBS
371:(1980). An earlier film, the independent
1323:American male dramatists and playwrights
794:2010: NC Literary Hall of Fame Induction
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1079:, 27 May 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
1073:"Review: 'The Montford Point Marine{{'"
1020:The Impact of Race: Theatre and Culture
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629:Williams wrote and directed the comedy
430:, at New York City's Stage 73 in 1978.
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1188:"ECU hosts fourth Literary Homecoming"
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1108:from the original on December 7, 2019
242:, Williams appeared in such plays as
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670:Williams was Artist-in-Residence at
489:Cook and Peary: The Race to the Pole
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394:As Samm Williams, he wrote the play
164:, produced the premiere of his play
35:Publicity photo of Samm-Art Williams
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739:Nomination - Outstanding New Play:
555:Williams wrote the PBS productions
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1328:People from Burgaw, North Carolina
1298:21st-century American male writers
1283:20th-century American male writers
990:"Review, 'The Dance on Widows' Row
589:; the "John Henry" episode of the
513:The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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1168:from the original on May 14, 2024
908:", by John Seal (January 6, 2003)
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672:North Carolina Central University
567:, 1985); episodes for the series
218:, where he collaborated with the
214:After college, Williams moved to
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822:"Samm-Art Williams: A Biography"
387:, made circa 1977, was released
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1198:from the original on 2008-02-29
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790:National Endowment for the Arts
244:Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
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743:, written by Samm-Art Williams
732:, written by Samm-Art Williams
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542:for which he also served as a
306:(St. Mark's Playhouse, 1976),
262:(St. Mark's Playhouse, 1975).
187:“made me read everything from
1:
1308:African-American male writers
1127:Cristi, A. A. (13 May 2024).
798:
148:(1979), which moved from the
134:Williams was nominated for a
849:"Home is where the heart is"
754:(shared with fellow writers
752:Motown Returns to the Apollo
663:, starring J. Samuel Davis.
611:Motown Returns to the Apollo
357:(1979), and played a subway
240:Negro Ensemble Company (NEC)
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72:Burgaw, North Carolina, U.S.
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1333:Writers from North Carolina
847:Reid, Kerry (8 June 2022).
689:The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
586:The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
495:, 1983). He starred in the
300:, June 7 – July 19, 1975);
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967:. Ibdb.com. Archived from
655:In 2011, The Black Rep of
391:by Paragon Video in 1996.
294:The First Breeze of Summer
1098:"Samm-Art Williams 1946–"
661:The Montford Point Marine
601:'s Tall Tales and Legends
477:Williams went on to play
381:Baron Wolfgang von Tripps
166:The Montford Point Marine
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913:October 4, 2007, at the
728:Nomination - Best Play:
631:The Dance on Widows' Row
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203:Williams graduated from
1077:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
683:Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
650:Raleigh, North Carolina
510:(1985; title role) and
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205:Morgan State University
1161:The Hollywood Reporter
926:Carter, Steve (1986).
428:Brass Birds Don't Sing
400:Negro Ensemble Company
396:Welcome to Black River
183:Burgaw, North Carolina
150:Negro Ensemble Company
129:Samuel Arthur Williams
56:Burgaw, North Carolina
44:Samuel Arthur Williams
1018:King, Woodie (2003).
930:Plays by Steve Carter
878:The Broadway League.
786:Guggenheim Foundation
784:Fellowships from the
680:in 1987–88, ABC-TV's
561:Experiment in Freedom
177:Early life and career
619:Lenny's Neighborhood
308:The Brownsville Raid
248:St. Mark's Playhouse
1071:Johnson, Kevin C.,
657:St. Louis, Missouri
635:New Federal Theatre
575:The New Mike Hammer
523:The New Mike Hammer
220:New Freedom Theatre
209:Baltimore, Maryland
162:St. Louis, Missouri
1131:. Broadway World.
1083:2012-10-12 at the
1004:2008-02-22 at the
936:New York, New York
934:(First ed.).
692:, the short-lived
633:, produced by the
565:American Playhouse
501:American Playhouse
398:, produced by the
333:Nevis Mountain Dew
256:Argus and Klansman
238:. With New York's
1239:Samm-Art Williams
1230:Samm-Art Williams
1154:Phillips, Zoe G.
719:Awards and honors
706:TV sitcom series
518:television series
447:Williams' comedy
351:novel adaptation
320:Playhouse Theatre
260:Waiting for Mongo
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737:Drama Desk Award
646:The Waiting Room
570:Cagney and Lacey
483:historical drama
467:Drama Desk Award
424:The Last Caravan
342:Washington, D.C.
328:regional theater
324:Black Body Blues
267:sparring partner
140:Drama Desk Award
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113:Drama Desk Award
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53:January 20, 1946
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389:direct-to-video
368:Dressed to Kill
252:Liberty Calland
193:Edgar Allan Poe
189:Langston Hughes
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696:sitcom series
665:Montford Point
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599:Shelley Duvall
479:Matthew Henson
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412:Billie Holiday
410:, both at the
408:Do Unto Others
373:blaxploitation
363:Brian De Palma
359:police officer
312:Theatre de Lys
298:Palace Theatre
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101:Notable awards
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988:Gutman, Les.
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232:New York City
230:, he entered
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228:Samm Williams
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195:.... I think
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1200:. Retrieved
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1170:. Retrieved
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1137:. Retrieved
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1110:. Retrieved
1101:
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1067:
1056:. Retrieved
1052:the original
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1038:
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1013:
997:
984:
973:. Retrieved
969:the original
929:
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899:
888:. Retrieved
882:. Ibdb.com.
858:. Retrieved
852:
842:
832:November 27,
830:. Retrieved
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615:series pilot
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557:Kneeslappers
556:
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549:Blood Simple
547:
544:story editor
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511:
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499:
488:
476:
459:Cort Theatre
448:
446:
441:
435:Steve Carter
432:
427:
426:(1977); and
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361:in director
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314:, 1976–77),
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271:Muhammad Ali
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250:, 1974) and
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216:Philadelphia
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119:
68:(2024-05-13)
66:May 13, 2024
1268:2024 deaths
1263:1946 births
1112:December 6,
771:Hugh Wilson
686:, NBC-TV's
625:1990s–2020s
559:(1980) and
420:A Love Play
414:Theatre in
338:Arena Stage
316:Night Shift
288:-nominated
236:Black Jesus
85:Nationality
1257:Categories
1202:2011-08-07
1058:2011-08-07
998:Curtain Up
975:2011-08-07
890:2011-08-07
799:References
748:Emmy Award
726:Tony Award
603:; and the
580:Miami Vice
520:including
463:Tony Award
404:The Coming
286:Tony Award
282:Leslie Lee
278:understudy
136:Tony Award
115:nomination
108:nomination
106:Tony Award
77:Occupation
49:1946-01-20
906:The Baron
756:Buz Kohan
699:Good News
639:Manhattan
418:in 1976;
385:Black Cue
379:, a.k.a.
377:The Baron
330:includes
269:of boxer
198:The Raven
172:Biography
96:1973–2024
1196:Archived
1166:Archived
1133:Archived
1106:Archived
1081:Archived
1002:Archived
911:Archived
884:Archived
826:Archived
788:and the
775:Tim Reid
702:and the
591:Showtime
552:(1984).
538:, a CBS
486:TV movie
465:and the
455:Broadway
416:Brooklyn
375:feature
344:(1979).
290:Broadway
280:work in
168:(2011).
154:Broadway
88:American
1243:Discogs
1172:May 13,
617:titled
608:special
596:series
583:, and
540:dramedy
504:dramas
481:in the
336:at the
1139:14 May
1026:
942:
860:14 May
746:1985:
735:1980:
724:1980:
709:Martin
532:, and
138:and a
93:Period
58:, U.S.
473:1980s
292:play
152:to a
1234:IMDb
1174:2024
1141:2024
1114:2019
1024:ISBN
940:ISBN
862:2024
834:2023
773:and
758:and
741:Home
730:Home
450:Home
442:Home
406:and
383:and
303:Eden
258:and
158:Emmy
145:Home
120:Home
118:for
110:and
63:Died
41:Born
1232:at
704:Fox
694:UPN
637:at
605:NBC
529:227
497:PBS
493:CBS
457:'s
365:'s
340:in
284:'s
226:As
207:in
191:to
1259::
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1164:.
1158:.
1104:.
1100:.
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996:,
954:^
870:^
851:.
807:^
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