Shana Danielle
Becca Krienke
Desiree Michael
FIT 4 LIFE
Nicole Fitchett
Yvette Jarvis
Constantina Ioannou
tselane Bell
Meika MathewsCommunity Dads: Albert Williams
A father-figure and mentor to many: He had the honor of acting in more than 100 movies and series–including the game-changing series of The Cosby Show. iBronze caught up with actor and octogenarian Albert Williams.
I appeared on many TV shows, such as The Cosby Show, Law and Order, New York Undercover, a PBS show called The Lions.
-Albert Williams
Interview
ibronze: Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Williams: Well, I was born January 28, 1941, in Woodbridge, Virginia. I graduated from Jennie Dean High School in Manassas, Virginia. The school was founded September 3, 1894, by a former freed slave named Jennie Dean. She named the school, Manassas Industrial School. When I started going there, the name was changed to Manassas Regional High School. By the time I graduated, it was named the Jennie Dean High School. After graduating from Jennie Dean, I attended Howard University in Washington, D.C.
I left Washington D. C. and went on to graduate from Pace University in New York City. It was there that I began working as an analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY). I remained at the FRBNY for 33 years and then retired in 1994. However, while living in New York, I appeared on many TV shows, such as The Cosby Show, Law and Order, New York Undercover, a PBS show called The Lions. I also had numerous small roles in most of the major Soap Operas of that time such as The Guiding Light, All My Children, One Life to Live, and Search for Tomorrow; and I had the opportunity to work on many well-known movies such as Cotton Comes to Harlem, Heartburn, Two Week Notice, The Associate (starring Whoppie Goldberg). In 1968, I became a member of the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/ AFTRA). I am still a member to this day.
iBronze: Wow! What a spectacular run. So, tell us, what was the catalyst for you to enter acting. Also, you mentioned Whoopi Goldberg. What was it like to act with her?
Williams: Whoopi Goldberg is a wonderful person–very caring. She tried to get me upgraded in the film, the Associate, and when we worked on Fatal Beauty, or something like that, she complimented me on my grey hair. I worked in a few movies with her. She can be funny off-stage too! Besides, Whoopi, I really enjoyed working with Meryl Streep. I worked with her on a movie called, Heartburn.
As for acting: I got the idea of acting when I started to see people who looked like me on the television and in the movies: actors like Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, James Edwards, Roscoe Lee Brown, Richard Roundtree, William Marshall, Robert Hooks, and others. I started attending various acting schools in New York and did a lot of Off-Broadway plays, a few commercials, and so on.
iBronze: So, as a community-father of sorts, what could share with others who might like to go into acting?
Williams: I would say to anyone who wants to go into acting: Have a backup plan and don’t quit your day job–at least not in the beginning. (iBronze: That’s right, you continued to work with the Federal Reserve for 33-years!} Take some acting classes and try to find out who’s casting for what show or movie.
iBronze: What would you say is the most important thing that people wanting to act can remember:
Williams: Well, I once had an acting teacher tell me, “No one can teach you how to act, but they can teach you the techniques of acting.” I believe this, right to this day!
iBronze: So, on this Father’s Day, even though you do not have your own children, as a community father, what are your words of inspiration?
Williams: No, I am not a father but there are a few people who tell me that I am like a father to them. I remember my sister (who reared me and is now deceased), telling me many times that I’m like everybody’s father.
iBronze: …and so, you get our Community Dad acknowledgement for this Father’s Day!
Click the button to learn more about Mr. Williams’ continued contribution to the Manassas community with the local organization CAPAC. If you like acting–even if you think you have missed your calling–CAPAC may be a good place to start.
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Desiree, what a wonderful job you did on the interview You are an amazing person. Truly a phenomenal woman. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much, Mr. Williams. There is so much more to add to your story we’ll have to do it again before your autobiographical book release!!
Dear Mr. Williams,
I found your book on a Google search. The title really grabbed my attention. Got a copy thru Amazon and pretty much read it with few breaks. I believe I better understand what growing up in Woodbridge was like. You are five years older than me, so we lived through some of the same history. Your East Coast involvement trumps my Kansas involvement.
I would like to hear more about Kankey Hill. Why? My GGGGrandfather Zebulon Kankey bought land there in the early 1800s, and the land stayed in the family until (I believe) around 1890. Zebulon, wife Araminta, son Zebulon A., and several others were probably buried there. While growing up do you remember any family cemetery down near the bottom of Kankey Hill? There used to be an old Neabsco Hotel in the same area.
I have visited years ago, but had no way to narrow my search area. Can you help?
Sincerely, Roland Kankey