Samm-Art Williams, whose Tony-nominated 1979 play Home is being revived on Broadway this year and whose TV producing credits include Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, died peacefully today in Burgaw, North Carolina. He was 78.
His death was announced by family.
Born Samuel Arthur Williams on January 20, 1946, in Philadelphia, Williams was a prolific playwright, screenwriter, actor, and producer.
Performing as Samm Williams, he got his start on the New York stage in the early 1970s, appearing in notable plays such as Black Jesus and, with the New York’s Negro Ensemble Company, Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide and Liberty Calland. By the mid-’70s he began performing in other Off Broadway shows under the name Samm-Art Williams.
By the end of the decade, Williams had made his mark as a stage writer, and is today best known for Home, a drama originally staged by the Negro...
His death was announced by family.
Born Samuel Arthur Williams on January 20, 1946, in Philadelphia, Williams was a prolific playwright, screenwriter, actor, and producer.
Performing as Samm Williams, he got his start on the New York stage in the early 1970s, appearing in notable plays such as Black Jesus and, with the New York’s Negro Ensemble Company, Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide and Liberty Calland. By the mid-’70s he began performing in other Off Broadway shows under the name Samm-Art Williams.
By the end of the decade, Williams had made his mark as a stage writer, and is today best known for Home, a drama originally staged by the Negro...
- 5/14/2024
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Angelo Badalamenti, the composer best known for collaborating with David Lynch on Twin Peaks (including the ABC series’ haunting, iconic theme) as well as many other projects, died on Sunday at age 85.
Badalamenti died of natural causes, surrounded by his family, it was confirmed in a family statement.
More from TVLineAl Strobel, Twin Peaks Actor, Dead at 83Twin Peaks Cast Members Reunite, 'Feelin' All the Feels' -- See PhotoTwin Peaks Icon Julee Cruise Dead at 65
One family member first shared the news on Instagram, writing, “My great uncle Angelo Badalamenti has crossed the barrier onto another plane of existence.
“Between his work on Blue Velvet,...
Badalamenti died of natural causes, surrounded by his family, it was confirmed in a family statement.
More from TVLineAl Strobel, Twin Peaks Actor, Dead at 83Twin Peaks Cast Members Reunite, 'Feelin' All the Feels' -- See PhotoTwin Peaks Icon Julee Cruise Dead at 65
One family member first shared the news on Instagram, writing, “My great uncle Angelo Badalamenti has crossed the barrier onto another plane of existence.
“Between his work on Blue Velvet,...
- 12/12/2022
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Jenji Kohan, creator of Weeds and Orange Is the New Black, will be this year’s recipient of the WGA West’s Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award, which is given to a guild member who has “advanced the literature of television and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the television writer.” She will be honored at the guild’s La awards show on February 17.
“Jenji Kohan’s work is what all good writers aspire to – touching on the harsh but also comedic realities of life through characters that don’t sound written, that talk like real people,” said WGA West president David A. Goodman. “Her scenes can be comic and tragic simultaneously; while she engages, she also unnerves, pushing us out of our comfort zone. Her work has truly advanced the literature of television, and the WGA West board of directors considers it our honor to give her this award.
“Jenji Kohan’s work is what all good writers aspire to – touching on the harsh but also comedic realities of life through characters that don’t sound written, that talk like real people,” said WGA West president David A. Goodman. “Her scenes can be comic and tragic simultaneously; while she engages, she also unnerves, pushing us out of our comfort zone. Her work has truly advanced the literature of television, and the WGA West board of directors considers it our honor to give her this award.
- 1/16/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
In the long list of David Bowie's collaborators - Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, Trent Reznor, TV on the Radio - there's one slightly odd standout: Bing Crosby. And the pair's duet on "Little Drummer Boy" for the 1977 TV special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas has indeed become something of an outlier in Bowie's career, landing as it did in the middle of Bowie's particularly strange - even for him - late '70s run, that found him making stark, groundbreaking albums like Low while sequestered in Berlin. The clip usually pops up around Christmas every year as part of All-Things-Bowie Internet round-ups,...
- 1/11/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
In the long list of David Bowie's collaborators - Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, Trent Reznor, TV on the Radio - there's one slightly odd standout: Bing Crosby. And the pair's duet on "Little Drummer Boy" for the 1977 TV special Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas has indeed become something of an outlier in Bowie's career, landing as it did in the middle of Bowie's particularly strange - even for him - late '70s run, that found him making stark, groundbreaking albums like Low while sequestered in Berlin. The clip usually pops up around Christmas every year as part of All-Things-Bowie Internet round-ups,...
- 1/11/2016
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Carol Burnett – comedic trailblazer, actor, singer, dancer, producer and author – has been named the 52nd recipient of SAG-aftra’s highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Burnett will be presented the performers union’s top accolade at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at 8 p.m. (Et), 7 p.m. (Ct), 6 p.m. (Mt) and 5 p.m. (Pt). Given annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession,” the SAG Life Achievement Award will join Burnett’s exceptional catalog of preeminent industry and public honors, which includes multiple Emmys, a special Tony, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and both a Kennedy Center Honor and its Mark Twain Prize for Humor.
In making today’s announcement, SAG-aftra President Ken Howard said, “Carol Burnett is a creative dynamo and a comedic genius.
In making today’s announcement, SAG-aftra President Ken Howard said, “Carol Burnett is a creative dynamo and a comedic genius.
- 7/20/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Sopranos was named the best-written show in television history by the Writers Guild of America, edging out an eclectic collection of some of the most beloved and admired series. Members of the Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) voted online for the 101 Best Written TV Series, with David Chase’s iconic “family” drama topping Seinfeld, The Twilight Zone, All in the Family, and M*A*S*H*.
“At their core, all of these wonderful series began with the words of the writers who created them and were sustained by the writers...
“At their core, all of these wonderful series began with the words of the writers who created them and were sustained by the writers...
- 6/3/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside TV
Since 1976, Buz Kohan (middle in the above photo) has written for 20 Oscar ceremonies. He seems to enjoy the job, but admits that, not surprisingly, it comes with several caveats -- like dealing with bad hosts, worse presenters and annoying writers.
In an interview with Vulture, Kohan starts off by dishing on the Oscar writing process, as well as how some method actors have trouble delivering the lines that were written for them.
"Some of them are wonderful actors but they're just uncomfortable being themselves," admits Kohan. "I've dealt with him so many times, but it's painful watching Robert De Niro be Robert De Niro on camera."
Buz also discusses the dynamic between the two sets of writers (one usually belongs to the host for that year, the other is the show's general staff assigned to come up presenter jokes and miscellaneous musical numbers). There usually wasn't "crossover" between the groups...
In an interview with Vulture, Kohan starts off by dishing on the Oscar writing process, as well as how some method actors have trouble delivering the lines that were written for them.
"Some of them are wonderful actors but they're just uncomfortable being themselves," admits Kohan. "I've dealt with him so many times, but it's painful watching Robert De Niro be Robert De Niro on camera."
Buz also discusses the dynamic between the two sets of writers (one usually belongs to the host for that year, the other is the show's general staff assigned to come up presenter jokes and miscellaneous musical numbers). There usually wasn't "crossover" between the groups...
- 2/24/2012
- by Alex Suskind
- Huffington Post
Since 1976, Buz Kohan (middle in the above photo) has written for 20 Oscar ceremonies. He seems to enjoy the job, but admits that, not surprisingly, it comes with several caveats -- like dealing with bad hosts, worse presenters and annoying writers. In an interview with Vulture, Kohan starts off by dishing on the Oscar writing process, as well as how some method actors have trouble delivering the lines that were written for them. "Some of them are wonderful actors but they're just uncomfortable being themselves," admits Kohan. "I've dealt with him so many times, but it's painful watching Robert De Niro be Robert De Niro on camera." Buz also discusses the dynamic between the two sets of writers (one usually belongs to the host for that year, the other is the show's general staff assigned to come up presenter jokes and miscellaneous musical numbers). There usually wasn't "crossover" between the groups...
- 2/24/2012
- by Alex Suskind
- Moviefone
They've tried everything. One host. Two hosts. Four hosts. 32 hosts. Comic hosts. Serious-thespian hosts. Hollywood-legend hosts. Young hosts. Old hosts. Hip hosts. Square hosts. Singing-and-dancing hosts. Every year, it seems, the Academy Awards goes back to the drawing board to figure out what sort of emcee will keep the show lively, attract viewers (especially younger viewers) and keep them from flipping channels during the slow parts. It's a thankless gig; no wonder Billy Crystal, who's done it eight times, decided to sit out for eight years before agreeing to return to host this year's Academy Awards on Sunday night. The job requires a difficult and rare set of skills: a host must entertain both the Hollywood big-shots in the auditorium and regular folks at home. They can poke fun at the huge egos in the room, but can't deflate them with too much snark, and they can't be too inside-baseball.
- 2/22/2012
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
HollywoodNews.com: Executive Producer Spike Jones, Jr. and Talent Producer Carole Propp have confirmed a top line-up of Hollywood talent set to present honors at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards L.A. ceremony coming up on Sunday, February 19, at the Hollywood Palladium. This year’s West Coast show will feature writers, actors, and directors who’ve collaborated to create memorable films, television series, videogames, new media, and other written programs.
In addition to previously announced 2012 WGA Hollywood show co-hosts Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) and Joel McHale (Community, The Soup), this year’s Writers Guild Awards presenters will include: Parks & Recreation star Amy Poehler with Parks & Recreation co-creator Michael Schur, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, 2 Broke Girls star Kat Denning with 2 Broke Girls co-creator Michael Patrick King, Web Therapy star/co-creator Lisa Kudrow with Web Therapy co-creator Don Roos, actor-comic Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) with director-screenwriter...
In addition to previously announced 2012 WGA Hollywood show co-hosts Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) and Joel McHale (Community, The Soup), this year’s Writers Guild Awards presenters will include: Parks & Recreation star Amy Poehler with Parks & Recreation co-creator Michael Schur, Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, 2 Broke Girls star Kat Denning with 2 Broke Girls co-creator Michael Patrick King, Web Therapy star/co-creator Lisa Kudrow with Web Therapy co-creator Don Roos, actor-comic Patton Oswalt (Young Adult) with director-screenwriter...
- 2/6/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
With the threat of picketing writers having faded, Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and producer Gil Cates are now busily burnishing their upcoming Oscar telecast, promising a bright and starry night.
Host Jon Stewart is expected to arrive Saturday in Hollywood, bringing his writing team with him for an intensive week of Oscar prep. The Academy also has engaged veteran Oscar scribes Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Jon Macks and Bruce Vilanch.
"We are now full-steam ahead", Ganis said Thursday at a news conference at Academy headquarters in Beverly Hills, where he unveiled a list of presenters on board for the 80th Annual Academy Awards broadcast, set for Feb. 24.
"The writers are writing furiously or furiously writing," he added. Cates said no writing had been done while the strike was in effect. "We are behind, but we will catch up," he said. "Instead of writing eight hours a day, they are writing 12-13 hours a day."
Normally, the Academy rations out the Oscar show's star power, three or four names at a time. But this year, while the strike was taking place, Cates quietly set about booking the show, with the stars' participation contingent on whether a picket line would be in place.
Host Jon Stewart is expected to arrive Saturday in Hollywood, bringing his writing team with him for an intensive week of Oscar prep. The Academy also has engaged veteran Oscar scribes Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Jon Macks and Bruce Vilanch.
"We are now full-steam ahead", Ganis said Thursday at a news conference at Academy headquarters in Beverly Hills, where he unveiled a list of presenters on board for the 80th Annual Academy Awards broadcast, set for Feb. 24.
"The writers are writing furiously or furiously writing," he added. Cates said no writing had been done while the strike was in effect. "We are behind, but we will catch up," he said. "Instead of writing eight hours a day, they are writing 12-13 hours a day."
Normally, the Academy rations out the Oscar show's star power, three or four names at a time. But this year, while the strike was taking place, Cates quietly set about booking the show, with the stars' participation contingent on whether a picket line would be in place.
- 2/15/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.