Gregory Alan Williams

Gregory Alan Williams (born June 12, 1956) sometimes credited as Gregalan Williams, is an American actor and author. He is best known for portraying LAPD Officer 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 then on Greenleaf, and later in 2017's Manhunt: Unabomber, and from 2019 to 2025 The Righteous Gemstones.

Life and acting career Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Williams graduated from East High School and attended Coe College and served in the United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in acting. 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, Drop Dead Diva, and Chicago Med. 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.

In 1992, Williams became the first recipient of the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice (through Voices Against Injustice) due to his heroic efforts during the 1992 Los Angeles race riots in which he rescued an individual who had been pulled out of his car and was being beaten.

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 he saved the life of a Japanese-American man who was being beaten by rioters.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1988 Above the Law FBI Agent Halloran 1989 Major League Bull Pen Guard The Package Colonel Woods 1993 In the Line of Fire Secret Service Agent Matt Wilder 1997 Stag Taylor Rundgren Acts of Betrayal Francis Morelli 2000 Remember the Titans Coach Paul "Doc" Hines 2003 The Beat Mr. Bernard Old School Therapist 2005 A Message from Pops Pops Short Be Cool Darryl 2006 The Last Adam Pastor Bailey Dirty Laundry Percy Haunting Villisca Dolan 2008 Mutant Vampire Zombies from the 'Hood! Dr. Reginald Monte 2009 4 Minutes Carl The Collector Sheriff 2010 Preacher's Kid Bishop King Blood Done Sign My Name Dr. Samuel Proctor Good Intentions Buck MacGruber Minister Stomp the Yard: Homecoming Dr. David Young The Confidant Gambler Unrequited Mr. Williams Superman/Batman: Apocalypse Terrified Longshoreman (voice) Video 2011 Slice Captain Kirk Slice 2 Captain Kirk 2013 Jimmy Coach Sellers Heart of the Country Yates 2014 The Painter - Short Unspoken Words Mr. Willy Million Dollar Arm Doug Like a Country Song Reggie Hear No Evil Harold The Town Inside Clyde Cat Run 2 Ray Boudreaux Roses Kevin Rodgers Short Hero Kent Redding 2015 The Sin Seer Clarence Ricard 13 Minutes The Patriot (voice) Short Terminator Genisys Detective Harding Adrenaline Elijah Benjamin Salisbury 90 Minutes in Heaven Therapy Doctor - St. Lukes Christmas in the Smokies Bud Walker 2016 Courting Des Moines General Stan Hutchinson Misconduct Richard Hill Miracles from Heaven Dr. Joe Hester The Accountant Treasury Secretary Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk Raise N' Praise Preacher Almost Christmas Pastor Browning Hidden Figures Marion Smithson Bad Girl Deacon Bacon Beat Street Capt. Tim Weathers Video 2017 Mountain Top Lamar Cochran Created Equal Judge Watford All Saints Bishop Thompson A Question of Faith Farnsworth Newman Geostorm General Montgaff Slaw Commissioner Kelly 2018 God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness Reverend Roland Dial Legal Action Ben Wingwright Falling in Love Again Mr. Owens 2019 I See You Spitzky The World We Make Thomas Bishop Freshman Year Professor Thompson Brightburn Sheriff Deever 2020 The Warrant Tucker Macready The Banker Britton Garrett My Brother's Keeper Pops 2021 Birdie Dr. James Cooper Karen Charles Wright A Father's Legacy Robby 2022 Sons 2 the Grave Coach Sam Reardon County Line: All In Clifford Mullins My Perfect Wedding James Sinclair County Line: No Fear Clifford Mullins 2023 Reunion Willy James Puncher's Chance Charlie Phillips Short Christmas Holidate Nick Harper 2024 The Disruptors Steve Russell TBA Evil Genius Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 Jack and Mike FBI #1 Episode: "Ready or Not" 1989 Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder Charlie Brasher TV movie 1989–1998 Baywatch Officer Garner Ellerbee Main cast (season 1 & 3–5), recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 8) 1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Det. Lt. Adams Episode: "The Murder Weekend Mystery" 1990–1991 Hunter Officer Peter Hawkins Recurring cast (season 7) 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Security Guard Episode: "Young and the Restless" Roc Albert Episode: "Requiem for a Garbage Man" 1991–1992 Civil Wars Ed Marsh Recurring cast (season 1) 1992–1994 Dream On Anchorman Guest cast (season 3–5) 1994 L.A. Law Ellis Cole Episode: "Silence Is Golden" 1995 University Hospital Lt. Foster Episode: "The Right Thing" Living Single Darren Episode: "The Ex-File" The Parent 'Hood Coach Vanderpool Episode: "Track Dreams" 1995–1997 Baywatch Nights Officer Garner Ellerbee Main cast (season 1), guest (season 2) 1996 Murder, She Wrote Lt. Paul Bragg Episode: "Mrs. Parker's Revenge" Spider-Man Additional Voices (voice) Episode: "Sins of the Fathers Chapter 7: The Man Without Fear" Project ALF Police Officer TV movie No One Would Tell Detective Anderson TV movie 1997 Dying to Belong Carl Ridgeley TV movie The Blues Brothers Animated Series Loure Lemon / Rasti (voice) Main cast 1998 Mama Flora's Family Charlie (1941) 2 episodes2000 City of Angels Dr. Nate Ambrose Recurring cast (season 2) Freedom Song Pullman Porter TV movie 2000–2001 The Sopranos Reverend James, Jr. Guest (season 2), recurring cast (season 3) 2000–2002 The West Wing Robbie Mosley Recurring cast (season 2–3) 2001 Boston Public Jason Anderson Recurring cast (season 1) 2001–2003 The District Clive Rogers Recurring cast (season 2–4) 2004 The Practice District Attorney Episode: "Comings and Goings" NYPD Blue Agent Marcus Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?" Crossing Jordan U.S. Army Chaplain Episode: "Deja Past" 2005 Boston Legal John Zenawi Episode: "Schmidt Happens" Monk Sorenson Episode: "Mr. Monk and Mrs. Monk" Locusts General Miller TV movie 2006 One Tree Hill Chuck Episode: "All Tomorrow's Parties" Everwood James Cleveland Episode: "Lost and Found" Squidbillies Plumber Bubba (voice) Recurring cast (season 2) 2006–2011 The Game Dr. James Barnett Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 3–4) 2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective Folkner Episode: "Philadelphia" 2009 Army Wives Lt. Col. Wallace Recurring cast (season 3) Meet the Browns Charles Walker Episode: "Meet the Matrimony" 2009–2014 Drop Dead Diva Judge Warren Libby Recurring cast 2010 NCIS: Los Angeles Vendor Phil Episode: "Burned" Past Life Eli Parson Recurring cast Christmas Cupid Larry TV movie 2011 Castle Jim Van-Eps Episode: "Lucky Stiff" Aqua Teen Hunger Force Freedom Cobra (voice) Recurring cast (season 8) 2011, 2020 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Joffrey Starr 2 episodes 2011–2013 Necessary Roughness Coach Pat Purnell Recurring cast 2012 Hornet's Nest Detective Ron Brewster TV movie Somebody's Child Petey TV movie 2013 Between Sisters Franklin TV movie Let the Church Say Amen - TV movie Teachers Robert TV movie Marry Me for Christmas Donald TV movie Nashville Detective Glynn Episode: "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" 2014 My Other Mother Abner TV movie Marry Us for Christmas Donald TV movie Identity Dr. Art Sloan TV movie Reckless Geoff Tate Episode: "Blind Sides" Finding Carter Captain Moss Recurring cast (season 1) 2015 Being Mary Jane Mark's Father Episode: "Freedom" Secrets and Lies Kevin Haynes Recurring cast (season 1) Satisfaction Mike Episode: "...Through Bondage" To Hell and Back Lance TV movie A Baby for Christmas Donald TV movie 2015–2016 Powers Waldo Pilgrim Guest (season 1), recurring cast (season 2) The Inspectors Lawrence Downing Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2) 2016 Game of Silence Aaron Epps Recurring cast Containment Police Chief Myles Besser Recurring cast Merry Christmas, Baby Donald TV movie 2016–2018 Greenleaf Robert 'Mac' McCready Recurring cast (season 1), main cast (season 2), guest (season 3) 2017 Manhunt: Unabomber Judge Garland Burrell Episode: "USA vs. Theodore J. Kaczynski" 2017–2025 Chicago Med Bert Goodwin Guest (season 2-3 & 6), recurring cast (season 5 & 9) 2018 MacGyver Julian Halsey Episode: "Benjamin Franklin + Grey Duffle" The Resident Dr. Peterson Recurring cast (season 1) Mr. Mercedes DA Harvey Dunford Episode: "Nobody Puts Brady in a Crestmore" Chandler Christmas Getaway Donald TV movie 2019 Swamp Thing Mayor Riley Episode: "Pilot" 2019–2025 The Righteous Gemstones Martin Imari Main cast 2020 Council of Dads Will Calhoun Episode: "Heart Medicine" 2021 Saints & Sinners Victor Thompson Recurring cast (season 5) Envy: A Seven Deadly Sins Story Elijah Wilson TV movie 2024 Blue Ridge Miles Mitchell Episode: "Appalachian Waltz"2025 Grosse Pointe Garden Society Catherine's FatherEpisode: "Seasons" Will TrentDrummond MoncriefEpisode: "Push, Jump, Fall" 9-1-1: NashvilleStation Chief Harold Foster2 episodes

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2009 Avatar: The Game Dr. Victor Monroe 2010 Fallout: New Vegas Additional voices