Van Williams

Van Zandt Jarvis Williams (February 27, 1934 – November 28, 2016) was an American actor best known for his leading role as Kenny Madison in both Warner Bros. television detective series Bourbon Street Beat (1959–1960) and its sequel, Surfside 6 (1960–1962). For one season, he starred as the title character in the television series The Green Hornet, with Bruce Lee as his partner Kato. It was broadcast during the 1966–1967 season.

Early life Williams grew up on a ranch outside Fort Worth and later studied animal husbandry and business at Texas Christian University. He and the famous singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt were cousins. He moved to Hawaii in 1956 after differences with his father on how the ranch should be run.

Career A diving instructor in Hawaii in 1956, Williams was discovered there in 1957 by producer Mike Todd, who urged him to come to Hollywood. Williams recalled, "Todd liked the look of me and said I should try the acting business, but added, 'First, boy, go back to college and get your degree.' I followed his advice, took my degree in business administration and then wandered into Hollywood."

Todd died in a plane crash in 1958, but Williams took voice and acting lessons. He managed to get cast in an episode of General Electric Theatre and was seen by executives from Warner Bros., who signed him to a contract in 1959. "I stumbled into the business, unknown and untrained," he says. "I was really lucky." his co-stars were Andrew Duggan, Richard Long,

Surfside Six

Bourbon Street Beat was axed after one season, but Williams' character, Kenny Madison, was recycled into the new Surfside 6 television series in the same time slot, with Miami Beach colleagues played by Troy Donahue, Lee Patterson, Diane McBain, and Margarita Sierra.

The Green Hornet

In 1966, ABC-TV had William Dozier revive George W. Trendle's famous radio character in a new series, The Green Hornet. Van Williams signed with 20th Century-Fox to portray the mysterious masked hero and his alter ego, newspaper editor Britt Reid (son of Dan Reid Jr. who was the nephew of John Reid, a.k.a. The Lone Ranger although The Lone Ranger was not given that as his official true identity name).

Williams played the role straight, unlike the comedy approach of the same producer's Batman show. He and co-star Bruce Lee also made three guest appearances, in character, on Batman, first in a "batclimb" cameo ("The Spell of Tut", 9/28/1966), and later in a two-part episode ("A Piece of the Action", 3/1/1967 and "Batman's Satisfaction", 3/2/1967).

By the time he starred in The Green Hornet, Williams had become successful investing in various commercial ventures; a TV Guide profile of 1966, titled "Banker with a Sting", characterized him as "your friendly neighborhood tycoon."

Williams later said "By the time The Green Hornet came along, I had pretty well decided to get out of the television business. About the only thing I enjoyed about those years was the location work. Basically I'm a shy person. I know that public appearances and autographs and all that are a necessary part of the business, but it wasn't for me."

He was in a TV movie, The Runaways (1975), and guest-starred on Bert D'Angelo/Superstar, The Red Hand Gang , Barnaby Jones, A Twist in the Tale, The Streets of San Francisco, How the West Was Won, Colorado C.I., Centennial, The Night Rider, Mrs. Columbo and The Rockford Files. He had nine grandchildren. Producer Kevin Burns revealed on December 5, 2016, that Williams died on November 28, 2016, from kidney failure at the age of 82 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1960 Tall Story Young Man in Shower Uncredited 1962 Red Nightmare Air Force Sergeant Short film / Uncredited 1963 The Caretakers Dr. Larry Denning 1966 Our Man Flint President Lyndon B. Johnson (voice) Uncredited Batman 1993 Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Green Hornet Director

Television Year Title Role Notes 1954 King Richard II Exton's Servant Television film 1958–1959 General Electric Theater Charlie / Ben 2 episodes 1959 Lawman Zachary Morgan Episode: "The Young Toughs" 1959 Colt .45 Tom Rucker Episode: "The Sanctuary" 1959–1960 Bourbon Street Beat Kenny Madison 36 episodes 1960–1962 Surfside 6 Ken Madison 69 episodes 1961–1963 77 Sunset Strip Wade Saunders / Ken Madison 2 episodes 1962 Cheyenne Ray Masters Episode: "Vengeance Is Mine" 1963 The Gallant Men Lt. Dave Cameron Episode: "The Leathernecks" 1963 Hawaiian Eye Don Munroe Episode: "Two Million Too Much" 1964 Temple Houston Joey Baker Episode: "Ten Rounds for Baby" 1964–1965 The Tycoon Pat Burns 32 episodes 1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show Clark Rice Episode: "No Rice at My Wedding" 1965 The Beverly Hillbillies Dean Peters Episode: "The Courtship of Elly" 1966 Preview Tonight Commander Russ Enright Episode: "Pursue and Destroy" 1966 The Milton Berle Show The Green Hornet / Britt Reid Episode: #1.2 1966–1967 The Green Hornet 26 episodes 1966–1967 Batman 3 episodes 1968 The Big Valley Sheriff Dave Barrett Episode: "Rimfire" 1970 Mannix Executive #1 Episode: "The Search for Darrell Andrews" 1970 Love, American Style Bill Segment: "Love and the Minister" 1970 Nanny and the Professor Mr. Parsons Episode: "The Visitor" 1971 Ironside Sgt. Artie Hawkins Episode: "The Gambling Game" 1972 Mission: Impossible Arnold Sanders Episode: "The Deal" 1974 Apple's Way Ritchie Case Episode: "The Lamb" 1974 Gunsmoke Quincy Episode: "Thirty a Month and Found" 1975 The Manhunter Episode: "To Kill a Tiger" 1975 The Runaways Joe Ringer Television film 1975 Westwind Steve Andrews 13 episodes 1976 Bert D'Angelo/Superstar Junior Danvers Episode: "Scag" 1976 The Streets of San Francisco Officer Morton 2 episodes 1977 Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Sheriff Episode: "Devil Pack" 1977 Barnaby Jones Munson Episode: "Circle of Treachery" 1977 The Red Hand Gang OK Okins 4 episodes 1977 You Gotta Start Somewhere Television film 1978 How the West Was Won Captain MacAllister 3 episodes 1978 Colorado C.I. Captain Cochran Television film 1979 Centennial George Episode: "The Scream of Eagles" 1979 The Night Rider Jim Hollister Television film 1979 Mrs. Columbo Fielding Episode: "The Valley Strangler" 1979 The Rockford Files Lt. Dwayne Kefir Episode: "Love Is the Word"