Treat Williams, the beloved star of Hallmark’s Chesapeake Shores, was killed on June 12 in Vermont. The actor was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a car, according to reports from the Vermont State Police and the Dorset Fire Department.
The actor leaves behind his wife, Pam Van Sant, and two children, Gill Williams, 31, and Ellie Williams, 24.
Treat Williams
Treat Williams made his film debut in 1975’s Deadly Hero. He appeared in the movies The Ritz and The Eagle Has Landed before landing the role of George Berger in the screen adaptation of the musical Hair. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. He received another Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the 1981 movie Prince of the City.
His agent, Barry McPherson, told People magazine that the star will be missed.
“He was the nicest guy,” McPherson said. “He was so talented. He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s.”
Chesapeake Shores
From 2016 to 2022, Williams starred as Mick O’Brien in the hit Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores, alongside Meghan Ory, Barbara Niven, and Dianne Ladd. He also had lead roles in the Hallmark movies The Christmas House and The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls.
When he wasn’t filming, the actor lived with his family in Vermont. In a 2020 interview with Southern Living magazine, the actor talked about how his home life resembled the lives of the characters he played for Hallmark. For example, he and his children would cut down their own Christmas tree every year.
“We go to a little, wonderful, vegetable market stand,” he said. “And then my son and I, we put it up. All the decorations come out into the living room, a bottle of wine gets set down on the table and we always put on the exact same album. It’s Frank Sinatra’s Jolly Christmas.”
Tragic accident
According to a report from the Vermont State Police, a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it collided with Williams’ motorcycle in the town of Dorset.
“Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” according to the statement.
Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.
Tributes
Fellow actors and directors have spoken out on social media about how wonderful Williams was to work with.
“Treat and I spent months in Rome filming “Once Upon a Time in America,’” actor James Woods tweeted. “It can be pretty lonely on the road during a long shoot, but his resilient good cheer and sense of humor was a Godsend. I really loved him and am devastated that he’s gone.”
“Treat Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man,” actor Wendell Pierce tweeted. “In a short period of time, he quickly befriended me & his adventurous spirit was infectious. We worked on just 1 film together but occasionally connected over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. RIP.”
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Treat Williams, the beloved star of Hallmark’s Chesapeake Shores, was killed on June 12 in Vermont. The actor was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a car, according to reports from the Vermont State Police and the Dorset Fire Department.
The actor leaves behind his wife, Pam Van Sant, and two children, Gill Williams, 31, and Ellie Williams, 24.
Treat Williams
Treat Williams made his film debut in 1975’s Deadly Hero. He appeared in the movies The Ritz and The Eagle Has Landed before landing the role of George Berger in the screen adaptation of the musical Hair. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance. He received another Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the 1981 movie Prince of the City.
His agent, Barry McPherson, told People magazine that the star will be missed.
“He was the nicest guy,” McPherson said. “He was so talented. He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s.”
Chesapeake Shores
From 2016 to 2022, Williams starred as Mick O’Brien in the hit Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores, alongside Meghan Ory, Barbara Niven, and Dianne Ladd. He also had lead roles in the Hallmark movies The Christmas House and The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls.
When he wasn’t filming, the actor lived with his family in Vermont. In a 2020 interview with Southern Living magazine, the actor talked about how his home life resembled the lives of the characters he played for Hallmark. For example, he and his children would cut down their own Christmas tree every year.
“We go to a little, wonderful, vegetable market stand,” he said. “And then my son and I, we put it up. All the decorations come out into the living room, a bottle of wine gets set down on the table and we always put on the exact same album. It’s Frank Sinatra’s Jolly Christmas.”
Tragic accident
According to a report from the Vermont State Police, a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it collided with Williams’ motorcycle in the town of Dorset.
“Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” according to the statement.
Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.
Tributes
Fellow actors and directors have spoken out on social media about how wonderful Williams was to work with.
“Treat and I spent months in Rome filming “Once Upon a Time in America,’” actor James Woods tweeted. “It can be pretty lonely on the road during a long shoot, but his resilient good cheer and sense of humor was a Godsend. I really loved him and am devastated that he’s gone.”
“Treat Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man,” actor Wendell Pierce tweeted. “In a short period of time, he quickly befriended me & his adventurous spirit was infectious. We worked on just 1 film together but occasionally connected over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. RIP.”