I got million dollar charm, cousin
June 13, 2023 6:04 AM Subscribe
Treat Williams, star of stage and screen, was killed in a motorcycle accident yesterday. He was 71 years old.
Treat’s Berger and Twyla Tharpe’s choreography in the 1979 film version of “Hair” was my doorway into musical theater. So, this is like learning the first boy I ever kissed has passed. Thank you for joy.
.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:20 AM on June 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
.
posted by Silvery Fish at 6:20 AM on June 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
I'll always remember him for giving us one of the most amazing shoot out sequences in all of action film history. [CW: violence, blood, shooting]
.
posted by Fizz at 6:20 AM on June 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
.
posted by Fizz at 6:20 AM on June 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
.
posted by pangolin party at 6:25 AM on June 13, 2023
posted by pangolin party at 6:25 AM on June 13, 2023
.
I was surprised by how sad I was by hearing this. He seems like he was a mensch. I certainly always enjoyed him whenever he showed up in things.
posted by Kitteh at 6:35 AM on June 13, 2023 [7 favorites]
I was surprised by how sad I was by hearing this. He seems like he was a mensch. I certainly always enjoyed him whenever he showed up in things.
posted by Kitteh at 6:35 AM on June 13, 2023 [7 favorites]
Treat Williams plays David Letterman's Agent in "The Late Shift"
OK, but seriously.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:37 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
OK, but seriously.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:37 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Because "in a motorcycle accident" can mean lots of different things, by all accounts so far he was run over by an SUV driver turning into a parking lot.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [18 favorites]
This is one his final tweets and its such a pure and wholesome thing.
Also, I know its a kind of treacly show but I really loved his role as a grieving father in Everwood.
posted by Fizz at 6:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [15 favorites]
Also, I know its a kind of treacly show but I really loved his role as a grieving father in Everwood.
posted by Fizz at 6:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [15 favorites]
.
The story of Williams' fatal accident closely parallels the death of a guy in my college D&D group. My friend had flunked out and gone to a small state school to clean up his life. He'd about managed it when someone in an SUV turned and ran over his bike. His funeral was the first time I'd mourned the death of an age peer.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:51 AM on June 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
The story of Williams' fatal accident closely parallels the death of a guy in my college D&D group. My friend had flunked out and gone to a small state school to clean up his life. He'd about managed it when someone in an SUV turned and ran over his bike. His funeral was the first time I'd mourned the death of an age peer.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 6:51 AM on June 13, 2023 [6 favorites]
The Substitute 2 and other sequels! He substituted for the original substitute, what a total trooper.
Safe journeys.
.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 7:11 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
Safe journeys.
.
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 7:11 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
I loved him and Kris Kristofferson as Border Patrol agents in the "neo-western action thriller" Flashpoint (1984; unavailable for streaming, but on YouTube). Also with Rip Torn, Jean Smart, Kurtwood Smith, Tess Harper, and a bunch of HITGs. Try to find out as little as possible about it before watching if you get the chance.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:52 AM on June 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:52 AM on June 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
I recall having a giant crush on him due to this weird little movie, "Why Would I Lie?" (1980). But, even after reading a synopsis I don't actually recall the movie.
.
posted by Glinn at 8:00 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Glinn at 8:00 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
let the sun shine, the sun shine in
posted by j_curiouser at 8:01 AM on June 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
let the sun shine, the sun shine in
posted by j_curiouser at 8:01 AM on June 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
🛥️🍹
posted by badbobbycase at 8:01 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by badbobbycase at 8:01 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Because it was the first role I saw him in, I always thought of Treat Williams as the quintessential D.B. Cooper.
✈️💰🕴️🪂
.
posted by mumkin at 8:11 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
✈️💰🕴️🪂
.
posted by mumkin at 8:11 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
By all accounts a lovely man. Just tragic.
(And this goes into my driver's ed curriculum for the lesson about how turning vehicles pose the most danger to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists--especially turning SUVs.)
.
posted by tzikeh at 8:18 AM on June 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
(And this goes into my driver's ed curriculum for the lesson about how turning vehicles pose the most danger to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists--especially turning SUVs.)
.
posted by tzikeh at 8:18 AM on June 13, 2023 [10 favorites]
.
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 8:24 AM on June 13, 2023
posted by AnyUsernameWillDo at 8:24 AM on June 13, 2023
Only learned today that he lived in Vermont and only 50 miles from me. My deepest sympathies to his family and all who knew and loved him — which appears to cover many people.
posted by terrapin at 8:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by terrapin at 8:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is super sad and happened down the road from me in Vermont. Many locals knew Treat and his family and it's all obviously incredibly upsetting.
In a shitty, shitty parallel, a month ago my son's best friend was in a motorcycle accident and has been on life support ever since. His prognosis does not look promising and his parents are now considering removing life support. It's all fucking gutting.
When people say that motorcyclists died or were injured doing what they loved, it really pisses me off because I'm like 99% CERTAIN THAT THEY'D RATHER BE ALIVE.
Please, people, stop riding goddamned motorcycles.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:56 AM on June 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
In a shitty, shitty parallel, a month ago my son's best friend was in a motorcycle accident and has been on life support ever since. His prognosis does not look promising and his parents are now considering removing life support. It's all fucking gutting.
When people say that motorcyclists died or were injured doing what they loved, it really pisses me off because I'm like 99% CERTAIN THAT THEY'D RATHER BE ALIVE.
Please, people, stop riding goddamned motorcycles.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:56 AM on June 13, 2023 [11 favorites]
Fuck cars, like fuck cancer.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:04 AM on June 13, 2023 [9 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:04 AM on June 13, 2023 [9 favorites]
I loved him and Kris Kristofferson as Border Patrol agents in the "neo-western action thriller" Flashpoint (1984; unavailable for streaming, but on YouTube). Also with Rip Torn, Jean Smart, Kurtwood Smith, Tess Harper, and a bunch of HITGs. Try to find out as little as possible about it before watching if you get the chance.
Flashpoint is currently streaming on MAX; I recently watched it based on the pairing of Kristofferson and Williams.
My personal favorite is his portrayal of weary marine salvage mercenary Finnegan in Deep Rising. It's a movie also packed with HITGs including Wes Studi, Kevin J. O'Connor and Jason Flemyng. Fancy 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray.
Williams was also great as nefarious industrialist Xander Drax in the 1996 pulp actioner The Phantom; "It begins and ends with an 'X.'" His performance is earnest and refreshing, with appropriate moustache-twirling villainy. Roger Ebert enjoyed the film.
posted by JDC8 at 9:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
Flashpoint is currently streaming on MAX; I recently watched it based on the pairing of Kristofferson and Williams.
My personal favorite is his portrayal of weary marine salvage mercenary Finnegan in Deep Rising. It's a movie also packed with HITGs including Wes Studi, Kevin J. O'Connor and Jason Flemyng. Fancy 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray.
Williams was also great as nefarious industrialist Xander Drax in the 1996 pulp actioner The Phantom; "It begins and ends with an 'X.'" His performance is earnest and refreshing, with appropriate moustache-twirling villainy. Roger Ebert enjoyed the film.
posted by JDC8 at 9:38 AM on June 13, 2023 [5 favorites]
.
Another sacrifice to the god of blood-soaked fenders in this fucking country.
No driver of a car shall ever be meaningfully punished, NAY, even stopped - temporarily - from driving their multiton machine, upon their killing or maiming another, unless they are intoxicated or reckless beyond the wildest dreams of psychopathy.
posted by lalochezia at 9:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [7 favorites]
Another sacrifice to the god of blood-soaked fenders in this fucking country.
No driver of a car shall ever be meaningfully punished, NAY, even stopped - temporarily - from driving their multiton machine, upon their killing or maiming another, unless they are intoxicated or reckless beyond the wildest dreams of psychopathy.
posted by lalochezia at 9:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [7 favorites]
My personal favorite is his portrayal of weary marine salvage mercenary Finnegan in Deep Rising. It's a movie also packed with HITGs including Wes Studi, Kevin J. O'Connor and Jason Flemyng. Fancy 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray.
OMG I had forgotten about this movie! That it is directed by Stephen Sommers (who did The Mummy with Weisz and Fraser) is a bonus.
posted by Kitteh at 9:54 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
OMG I had forgotten about this movie! That it is directed by Stephen Sommers (who did The Mummy with Weisz and Fraser) is a bonus.
posted by Kitteh at 9:54 AM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
Let the sunshine...
I have a friend who is about 5 years younger than Treat who is a dead ringer (no pun intended) for Treat. He used to get "recognized" in airports and out in public semi regularly. After some years, he hated it. He would try to tell the people he was not Treat but often they would think he was covering for himself as Treat. A few times he signed autographs rather than argue. One of those times he was not thinking clearly and signed his own name for the autograph. He texted me when he saw the news. He said now that it should stop, he was going to miss the celebrity sightings he would endure. He always said that fame was not worth a fortune.
I am a former motorcycle rider. My youth in college and for a few years after. I stopped riding for two reasons. One, a friend was in medical school and told me that they call riders, "donors". They get a lot of organs for transplant and cadavers from motorcycle riders. Two, I met the woman I was to marry and we moved back to NYC for a year. I just did not have the balls to ride in Manhattan.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:57 AM on June 13, 2023 [8 favorites]
Let the sunshine...
I have a friend who is about 5 years younger than Treat who is a dead ringer (no pun intended) for Treat. He used to get "recognized" in airports and out in public semi regularly. After some years, he hated it. He would try to tell the people he was not Treat but often they would think he was covering for himself as Treat. A few times he signed autographs rather than argue. One of those times he was not thinking clearly and signed his own name for the autograph. He texted me when he saw the news. He said now that it should stop, he was going to miss the celebrity sightings he would endure. He always said that fame was not worth a fortune.
I am a former motorcycle rider. My youth in college and for a few years after. I stopped riding for two reasons. One, a friend was in medical school and told me that they call riders, "donors". They get a lot of organs for transplant and cadavers from motorcycle riders. Two, I met the woman I was to marry and we moved back to NYC for a year. I just did not have the balls to ride in Manhattan.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:57 AM on June 13, 2023 [8 favorites]
.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:25 AM on June 13, 2023
posted by Mister Moofoo at 10:25 AM on June 13, 2023
Oh no. This is so sad. I had such a crush on him from Hair, and I too loved Deep Rising. I’m so sorry for his loved ones.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:28 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kitten kaboodle at 10:28 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
OMG I had forgotten about this movie! That it is directed by Stephen Sommers (who did The Mummy with Weisz and Fraser) is a bonus.
There's a recent version with a very good commentary by Sommers and uh someone else sorry.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:41 AM on June 13, 2023
There's a recent version with a very good commentary by Sommers and uh someone else sorry.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 10:41 AM on June 13, 2023
He was allegedly in The Empire Strikes Back.
posted by Etrigan at 10:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 10:49 AM on June 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
.
posted by Faintdreams at 11:19 AM on June 13, 2023
posted by Faintdreams at 11:19 AM on June 13, 2023
.
(Also, please don't sleep on his hilarious performance in the gay classic "The Ritz." Here's the trailer although it barely shows Williams.)
posted by dnash at 11:37 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Also, please don't sleep on his hilarious performance in the gay classic "The Ritz." Here's the trailer although it barely shows Williams.)
posted by dnash at 11:37 AM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Please, people, stop riding goddamned motorcycles.
Eh, you can mainly say the same about bicycles or ebikes. The problem is more about cars and car culture and how we automatically default to using euphemistic language like "they died in a car accident" instead of "they were murdered by someone operating a motor vehicle unsafely and not paying attention" which is the case for the vast majority of deaths involving motor vehicles.
It's not an accident when someone drives drunk, while texting or distracted, or even simple chooses to buy or operate an oversized SUV with poor driver visibility and sightlines that increases the risk of death to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders because they're not held to the same pedestrian and safety metrics as passenger vehicles because of the "work truck" or "utility vehicle" loopholes, especially in the US.
Those are all choices, not accidents.
If we had as many deaths per hour of operation of heavy earth moving equipment or commercial trucks OSHA and DOT and other agencies would be all up in that regulating things and imposing much stricter operator training, testing and licensing - which they obviously do now - but somehow cars mostly get a free pass all the time because that's just how it is and cars/trucks are essential and it's ridiculously way too easy to get a driver's license and basically never get tested or retrained ever again in your whole life.
If I die riding my bicycle at least I was probably smiling right up until I became a meat crayon. Yeah, I'd rather still be riding but I'm not going to stop doing something I love that's good for me and effectively and functionally totally harmless to everyone around me.
My bike has never hurt anyone and I've never even come close to running into someone because I take the responsibility of using and operating my bike very seriously - more seriously than almost everyone I know who drives - even though it's several orders of magnitude less dangerous to bystanders.
Anyway, this is a de-rail, sorry.
posted by loquacious at 11:40 AM on June 13, 2023 [16 favorites]
Eh, you can mainly say the same about bicycles or ebikes. The problem is more about cars and car culture and how we automatically default to using euphemistic language like "they died in a car accident" instead of "they were murdered by someone operating a motor vehicle unsafely and not paying attention" which is the case for the vast majority of deaths involving motor vehicles.
It's not an accident when someone drives drunk, while texting or distracted, or even simple chooses to buy or operate an oversized SUV with poor driver visibility and sightlines that increases the risk of death to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycle riders because they're not held to the same pedestrian and safety metrics as passenger vehicles because of the "work truck" or "utility vehicle" loopholes, especially in the US.
Those are all choices, not accidents.
If we had as many deaths per hour of operation of heavy earth moving equipment or commercial trucks OSHA and DOT and other agencies would be all up in that regulating things and imposing much stricter operator training, testing and licensing - which they obviously do now - but somehow cars mostly get a free pass all the time because that's just how it is and cars/trucks are essential and it's ridiculously way too easy to get a driver's license and basically never get tested or retrained ever again in your whole life.
If I die riding my bicycle at least I was probably smiling right up until I became a meat crayon. Yeah, I'd rather still be riding but I'm not going to stop doing something I love that's good for me and effectively and functionally totally harmless to everyone around me.
My bike has never hurt anyone and I've never even come close to running into someone because I take the responsibility of using and operating my bike very seriously - more seriously than almost everyone I know who drives - even though it's several orders of magnitude less dangerous to bystanders.
Anyway, this is a de-rail, sorry.
posted by loquacious at 11:40 AM on June 13, 2023 [16 favorites]
I'll always remember him for giving us one of the most amazing shoot out sequences in all of action film history. [CW: violence, blood, shooting]
Ok that was hilarious and what the fuck. Also it ended too soon. That's even better then the ridiculous fight and shoot out at the end of They Live.
posted by loquacious at 11:43 AM on June 13, 2023
Ok that was hilarious and what the fuck. Also it ended too soon. That's even better then the ridiculous fight and shoot out at the end of They Live.
posted by loquacious at 11:43 AM on June 13, 2023
The Phantom is a great film and doesn't get the recognition it deserved.
This really sucks, I suspect he had some great roles left in him that none of us will ever see now, all because somebody in an SUV wasn't paying attention.
.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:12 PM on June 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
This really sucks, I suspect he had some great roles left in him that none of us will ever see now, all because somebody in an SUV wasn't paying attention.
.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:12 PM on June 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
I don't know if this was the cause with Williams' death, but often the reason for cars hitting motorcycles is the car driver can't see the motorcycle when they are head-on because of the slim profile. I've noticed this more than once, when the motorcycle and the background are the same color. They can have a really, really narrow head-on profile, sort of accidentally camouflaged.
A friend of mine had a motorcycle and the brightest, loudest jacket you've ever seen: bright yellow, red, green. He said he wore to stand out and make sure that drivers could see him.
posted by zardoz at 1:18 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
A friend of mine had a motorcycle and the brightest, loudest jacket you've ever seen: bright yellow, red, green. He said he wore to stand out and make sure that drivers could see him.
posted by zardoz at 1:18 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dead Heat was one of my favourite films way back then. I never really saw Williams in much else oddly but he really did seem like a great fellow. Sad to hear he's gone.
posted by cirhosis at 1:32 PM on June 13, 2023
posted by cirhosis at 1:32 PM on June 13, 2023
People got run over by horses and carriages back in the day.
My exposure to Treat was what was probably my uncle getting stuck with my cousin and I one weekend when we were 13 and taking us to see "Prince of the City." Quite a movie, even for kids already into slashers.
I wasn't particularly enamored of his roles in some of those first-responder soap operas, but I did see at least a few episodes of Chesapeake Shores! It's nice to learn he was nice.
.
posted by rhizome at 2:01 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
My exposure to Treat was what was probably my uncle getting stuck with my cousin and I one weekend when we were 13 and taking us to see "Prince of the City." Quite a movie, even for kids already into slashers.
I wasn't particularly enamored of his roles in some of those first-responder soap operas, but I did see at least a few episodes of Chesapeake Shores! It's nice to learn he was nice.
.
posted by rhizome at 2:01 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:07 PM on June 13, 2023
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:07 PM on June 13, 2023
He was also good in Once Upon a Time in America.
Or, as I like to call it, Once Upon a Time in My Underwear
posted by kirkaracha at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Or, as I like to call it, Once Upon a Time in My Underwear
posted by kirkaracha at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
We really enjoyed Evermore, which in retrospect was just a WB network evening soap with quality acting, but they had me at quality acting. Kinda sorta thinking of revisiting it.
posted by indexy at 6:07 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by indexy at 6:07 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Loved him in Hair - was so sad to see this.
posted by leslies at 6:18 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by leslies at 6:18 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
He was so good in so many things, but especially in Hair. Even without watching the whole movie, I still can't watch this clip without starting to tear up (spoilers if you haven't seen it).
posted by Mchelly at 7:14 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 7:14 PM on June 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
The Substitute 2 is one of my all-time favorite shitty movies. He also did a two-parter with Gilbert Gottfrieds podcast a year or so back.
Bummer, I got hit by an SVU crossing the street last year in broad daylight. Those things are awful.
posted by lkc at 10:19 PM on June 13, 2023
Bummer, I got hit by an SVU crossing the street last year in broad daylight. Those things are awful.
posted by lkc at 10:19 PM on June 13, 2023
He was so good in so many things, but especially in Hair. Even without watching the whole movie, I still can't watch this clip without starting to tear up (spoilers if you haven't seen it).
And if you haven't seen Hair, what's stopping you? It holds up very well for a 45 year old social commentary musical.
posted by Thella at 11:52 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
And if you haven't seen Hair, what's stopping you? It holds up very well for a 45 year old social commentary musical.
posted by Thella at 11:52 PM on June 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I should have prefaced my previous posting with a comment on my love for Treat Williams. He had such an easy smile. Hair was the first thing I saw him in and I loved his character's kindness, his unwilling sacrifice, and how I imagined he got on with the job of supporting his fellows once he was in the situation he abhorred. As you can tell, he was Berger to me. I think he was my first manly screen-passion.
I'm a motorcyclist. Being hit by a driver who doesn't look for bikes is so fucking mundane. LOOK FOR BIKES people. Please.
posted by Thella at 2:20 AM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm a motorcyclist. Being hit by a driver who doesn't look for bikes is so fucking mundane. LOOK FOR BIKES people. Please.
posted by Thella at 2:20 AM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
The vehicle involved was a Honda Element so maybe dial back the SUV-hate.
posted by leaper at 10:04 AM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by leaper at 10:04 AM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
OK, but I was hit by an SUV, so i will continue to hate.
posted by lkc at 11:59 AM on June 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by lkc at 11:59 AM on June 14, 2023 [1 favorite]
Dead Heat was great, campy fun, but he gave a stellar performance as Critical Bill in "Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead."
Also, Deep Rising was a ton of fun, too.
posted by Thistledown at 1:29 PM on June 14, 2023
Also, Deep Rising was a ton of fun, too.
posted by Thistledown at 1:29 PM on June 14, 2023
The film version of “Hair” was so striking to junior high school me, and it held up really well on a recent rewatch. It would not have been the same film without Williams, especially that last half hour.
.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 2:24 PM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
.
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 2:24 PM on June 14, 2023 [2 favorites]
« Older A man doesn't make me straight, and a woman... | a beautiful retro nostalgia trip Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by kabong the wiser at 6:16 AM on June 13, 2023