Gregory Alan Williams
| Gregory Alan Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 12, 1956 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Other names |
Gregory Alan-Williams Gregalan Williams GregAlan Williams |
| Occupation | Actor, author |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Gregory Alan Williams (born June 12, 1956)[1] is an American actor and author. Williams is best known for portraying 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 is currently on Greenleaf.
Early life and acting career
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Williams graduated from East High School, Des Moines and attended Coe College and served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in acting.[1] 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, and Drop Dead Diva. 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]
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 Williams saved the life of a Japanese American man who was being beaten by rioters.[3]
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Above the Law | FBI Agent Halloran | Credited as Gregory Alan-Williams |
| 1989 | Major League | Bull Pen Guard | |
| 1989 | The Package | Colonel Woods | |
| 1993 | In the Line of Fire | Secret Service Agent Matt Wilder | Credited as Greg Alan-Williams |
| 1997 | Stag | Taylor Rundgren | Credited as GregAlan Williams |
| 2000 | Remember the Titans | Coach Paul "Doc" Hines | |
| 2003 | The Beat | Mr. Bernard | |
| 2003 | Old School | Therapist | Credited as Greg Alan Williams |
| 2006 | Dirty Laundry | Percy | |
| 2008 | Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! | Dr. Reginald Monte | |
| 2009 | The Collector | Sheriff | |
| 2010 | Blood Done Sign My Name | Dr. Samuel Proctor | |
| 2013 | Jimmy | Coach Sellers | |
| 2013 | Beat Street Resurrection | Capt. Tim Weathers | Alternative title: Beat Street 2012 |
| 2013 | Teachers | Robert | |
| 2014 | Hero | Kent Redding | |
| 2014 | Cat Run 2 | Ray Boudreaux | |
| 2014 | Unspoken Words | Mr. Willy | |
| 2015 | Terminator Genisys | Detective Harding | |
| 2015 | Beyond Deceit | Richard Hill | Miracles from Heaven |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1998 | Baywatch | Garner Ellerbee | 110 episodes |
| 1990–1991 | Hunter | Officer Peter Hawkins | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Security Guard | Episode: "Young and the Restless" |
| 1991 | Roc | Albert | Episode: "Requiem for a Garbage Man" |
| 1992–1994 | Dream On | Anchorman | 4 episodes |
| 1994 | L.A. Law | Ellis Cole | Episode: "Silence Is Golden" |
| 1995 | Living Single | Darren | Episode: "The Ex-File" |
| 1995 | The Parent 'Hood | Coach Vanderpool | Episode: "Track Dreams" |
| 1995–1997 | Baywatch Nights | Garner Ellerbee | 19 episodes |
| 1996 | No One Would Tell | Detective Anderson | TV movie |
| 1996 | Murder, She Wrote | Lt. Paul Bragg | Episode: "Mrs. Parker's Revenge" |
| 1997 | Dying to Belong | Carl Ridgeley | TV movie |
| 1998 | Mama Flora's Family | Charlie (1941) | TV movie |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Dr. Nate Ambrose | 5 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | The Sopranos | Reverend James, Jr. | 3 episodes |
| 2001–2003 | The District | Clive Rogers | 13 episodes |
| 2004 | The Practice | District Attorney | Episode: "Comings and Goings" |
| 2005 | Monk | Sorenson | Episode: "Mr. Monk and Mrs. Monk" |
| 2006–2009 | The Game | Dr. James Barnett | 4 episodes |
| 2007 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Detective Folkner | Episode: "Philadelphia" |
| 2009–2013 | Drop Dead Diva | Judge Warren Libby | 15 episodes |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Bishop King | |
| 2010 | Past Life | Eli Parson | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Castle | Jim Van-Eps | Episode: "Lucky Stiff" |
| 2011–2013 | Necessary Roughness | Coach Purnell | Recurring role |
| 2013 | Marry Me for Christmas | Donald | TV movie |
| 2015 | Secrets and Lies | Kevin Williams | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2015-16 | The Inspectors | Lawrence Downing | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2015-16 | Powers | Waldo Pilgrim | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Game of Silence | Aaron Epps | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Containment | Chief Besser | Recurring role; 8 episodes |
| 2016 | Greenleaf | Robert 'Mac' McCready | Recurring role |
Bibliography
- A Gathering of Heroes: Reflections on Rage and Responsibility : A Memoir of the Los Angeles Riots. Academy Chicago Publishers. March 1994. ISBN 0-89733-404-3.
- For Black, Brown, & Beige Baby Girls Born Too Beautiful To Watch The Bay. The Journey Press. 1997. ISBN 1-930629-00-1.
- Boys To Men: Maps For the Journey. Doubleday. 1997. ISBN 0-385-48687-1.
- Heart of a Woman. Enaz Publications. November 25, 2009. ISBN 1-59232-229-8.
References
- 1 2 "Williams, GregAlan". desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ↑ "GregAlan Williams". knowyourheritagegameshow.com. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ↑ Totten, Samuel; Pedersen, Jon E. (2009). Samuel Totten, Jon E. Pedersen. IAP. p. 86. ISBN 1-60752-098-2.