Bald-shaven, mustachioed African-American daytime TV talk show host who brought a variously incisive, dignified, smarty-pants or pompous style to his duties discussing trashy, trendy topics with distraught studio and home audiences. While serving in the military, Williams began touring the country, giving motivational speeches to young Americans. He later filmed an introduction to the classroom version of the Civil War epic "Glory" (1989) and within two years of that the tall, imposing speaker landed his own syndicated TV show. Something of a vagabond in its search for a home, "The Montel Williams Show" did not challenge the dominance of Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey in the ratings, but Williams's more-than-decent start boded well for his future as a TV personality. Williams made his dramatic TV debut as star of the CBS series "Matt Waters" (1996) as a concerned and caring high school teacher.
- Also Credited As:
Michael White, Montel B. Williams, Montel Brian Hank Williams, Suzan Wexler
- Born:
July 3, 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland
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Job Titles:
Talk show host, Actor, Author, Director, Motivational speaker
Family
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Brother: Herman Williams.
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Daughter: Wynter-Grace Williams. born on January 21, 1994; mother, Grace Williams
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Son: Montel Brian Hank Williams II. born on September 17, 1993; mother, Grace Williams
Significant Others
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Companion: Tara Fowler. engaged July 2006
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Wife: . divorced; mother of Williams' oldest two daughters
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Companion: My Karlsson. Swedish; Williams admitted to having a relationship with Karlsson which led to his wife's filing for divorce; no longer together
Milestones
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1989 Hired by Pepsi to film an introduction to the classroom version of the Civil War feature film, "Glory"
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1989 Left the military
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1991 Hosted and co-executive produced the syndicated daytime talk show, "The Montel Williams Show"
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1996 Co-executive produced and starred in CBS drama series "Matt Waters"
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1999 Announced he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
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2002 Joined cast of the ABC daytime serial "All My Children" as a judge presiding over the murder trial of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci)
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Given leave by the military to tour the country delivering motivational speeches to young Americans
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Made feature directorial debut with "Little Pieces" (lensed 1999), co-starring his wife Grace Morley (who also co-scripted with Amy Acton)
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Served in the military for 15 years; at one point with the Marines and later an intelligence officer with the Navy; served aboard warships and fast-attack submarines