Grant Williams

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John Grant Williams (born August 18, 1931 in New York City , † July 25, 1985 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American film actor and opera tenor . His best-known film role was that of Scott Carey in the science fiction -Klassiker The Incredible Shrinking C. (The Incredible Shrinking Man) of the 1957th

Life

Williams, son of Scottish parents and great-nephew of the opera singer Mary Garden , began acting as a child. After graduating from high school , he first served as a recruit in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952 , including during the Korean War . Dismissed as a non-commissioned officer, he went to Queens College in Flushing , New York, transferred to the University of Illinois, and finally attended the City College of New York .

Williams was originally a singer and appeared for five seasons with the New York City Opera , for example in 1959 as tenor buffo in the world premiere of Hugo Weisgall's opera Six Characters in Search of an Author . He also sang with the Robert Shaw Chorale and performed as a professional piano player. In addition, he became increasingly interested in acting and took lessons with Lee Strasberg at the famous Actors Studio in New York. After a few small roles on Broadway and on television, a talent scout spotted him at the Kraft Television Theater in 1954, and Williams signed a contract with Universal Pictures two years later . He made his film debut in 1956 in the film On the Trail of Death (Red Sundown).

That same year he made six more films before him with his seventh film The Incredible Shrinking C. (The Incredible Shrinking Man) achieved the biggest film success. Despite good reviews and the film's popularity, lackluster roles followed and Universal Pictures withdrew from the contract in 1959. Williams moved to Warner Brothers and worked between 1960 and 1963 in the television series Hawaiian Eye . More film and television roles followed, but his fame gradually faded. After his acting career ended, he founded his own drama school in Hollywood ; he also wrote several books on the art of acting. Williams later took on other roles sporadically. His last film role was in 1972 in The Doomsday Machine .

Grant Williams was never married. He died of complications from peritonitis at the age of 53 . He was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery .

Filmography (selection)

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personal data
SURNAME Williams, Grant
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor and singer
DATE OF BIRTH August 18, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City , New York, USA
DATE OF DEATH July 25, 1985
Place of death Los Angeles , California, USA