Who was Clarence Williams III and how did he die?
HOLLYWOOD actor Clarence Williams III was best known for appearing in The Mod Squad. Williams III passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 81. Clarence Williams III, was an American actor from Harlem, New York. He rose to prominence after his role as Linc Hayes, an undercover officer, in the ABC series The Mod Squad which ran from 1968 till 1973. Williams III starred in films such as Purple Rain, 52 Pick-Up, Tales From The Hood, Half Baked and Reindeer Games. He also had a recurring role in season two of Twin Peaks. 4 Williams III rose to prominence after his role as Linc Hayes in The Mod Squad  The actor was also a Broadway star and appeared in productions such as Walk in Darkness, Sarah And The Sax, Doubletalk, and Slow Dance On The Killing Ground, which earned him a Tony nomination. According to his management, Williams III passed away from colon cancer in Los Angeles. He is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw, and grandniece Azaria Verdin. Williams III was married to actress Gloria Foster. The pair tied the knot in 1967 but divorced in 1984. They starred on The Mod Squad together and were also in the film, The Cool World. Williams III and Foster did not have any children together. Despite their separation, they remained close friends, with Williams III announcing her death to the public in 2001. Twitter erupted with condolences to Williams III's family as news broke out that he had passed. One user wrote: "Actors like Mr. Williams laid the groundwork for the future success of today's working African american stars. Thank you. Rest in peace." Another added: "A very nice man, with many talents." A third replied: "Rest In Peace to a legend"  Most read in Celebrity 'CREEPY!' Clarence Williams III's ex-wife BE-HOTTIE Adam Levine and wife Behati pack on the PDA in Maui as model wears teeny bikini breakup blues ARod looks sad dining alone while ex JLo's romance with Ben Affleck heats up SWEET! Williams III was reportedly worth $2million. It is unclear if he left a will prior to his death. He is survived by his daughter, Jamey Phillips, and his sister, Sondra Pugh.