Biography
Actor Van Williams fits seamlessly alongside other tall, dark, and striking heartthrobs of the late 1950s and early 1960s, such as Tom Tryon and John Gavin, all of whom projected a similar polished, heroic image. Often, these actors were cast in bland roles that highlighted their charm but rarely challenged their acting abilities.
Born Van Zandt Jarvis Williams on February 27, 1934, he was the son of a cattle rancher. He studied animal husbandry and business at Texas Christian University before relocating to Hawaii, which altered his life's trajectory. While running a salvage company and a skin-diving school in the mid-1950s, he was noticed by Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, producer Mike Todd, who were filming there. Encouraged by Todd to pursue acting, Van moved to Hollywood without prior experience. Although Todd died in a plane crash before he could assist Van, he persevered, took acting and voice lessons, and quickly landed dramatic television roles.
Warner Brothers recognized Van’s photogenic appeal and signed him. He fit perfectly into the studio’s mold, soon gaining attention as the clean-cut private eye Kenny Madison on "Bourbon Street Beat" (1959). Though the show lasted only one season, Warner Bros. transitioned his character to the more popular adventure series "Surfside 6" (1960), starring alongside fellow heartthrob Troy Donahue. Van then explored comedy with "The Tycoon" (1964), co-starring Walter Brennan. After his Warner Brothers contract ended, 20th Century-Fox cast him in his most memorable role as the emerald-clad superhero in "The Green Hornet" (1966), with the late Bruce Lee as his partner Kato. The series, inspired by the massive success of "Batman" (1966), launched strongly but was canceled prematurely like its predecessor.
Van Williams was not a major box-office draw in films but made a notable debut in "Tall Story" (1960), famously emerging from a shower scene. He played a subdued secondary lead in "The Caretakers" (1963). Throughout the 1970s, he appeared sporadically on television in popular shows such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961), "Love, American Style" (1969), "Mission: Impossible" (1966), "The Big Valley" (1965), "Nanny and the Professor" (1970), "Barnaby Jones" (1973), and "The Rockford Files" (1974). Another starring role in the series "Westwind" (1975) failed to take off, leading him to step away from acting. Van found success in business ventures including telecommunications, real estate, and law enforcement supplies. Having moved beyond his glossy, youthful image, he rarely looks back except to attend occasional autograph conventions.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net
