Born in
Des Moines, Iowa, Williams graduated from
East High School and attended
Coe College and served in the
United States Marine Corps before pursuing a career in acting. He made his acting debut opposite
Steven Seagal in the 1988 film
Above the Law. The following year, Williams won the role of Garner Ellerbee in
Baywatch. He reprised the role in the 1995 spin-off series
Baywatch Nights before returning to
Baywatch in 1996. After leaving the series in 1998, Williams has had recurring guest roles on
The Sopranos,
The West Wing,
The District,
The Game,
Army Wives,
Drop Dead Diva, and
Chicago Med. Additionally, he has guest starred in episodes of
NYPD Blue,
Boston Legal,
One Tree Hill, and
Meet the Browns and has also lent his voice to the animated series
Aqua Teen Hunger Force. From 2009 to 2013, Williams appeared as Judge Warren Libby in the comedy series
Drop Dead Diva. Since 2011, Williams has portrayed the role of Coach Pat Purnell in the
USA Network drama series
Necessary Roughness. Williams has also had roles in several films, including
Remember the Titans (2000),
Old School (2003),
Be Cool (2005),
Dog Days of Summer (2007),
Oliver Stone's biopic
W. (2008),
The Collector (2009), and
MacGruber (2010). Williams also serves as the host of the syndicated series
Know Your Heritage and
Know Your Heritage: Black College Quiz. In 1992, Williams became the first recipient of the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice (through Voices Against Injustice) due to his heroic efforts during the 1992 Los Angeles race riots in which he rescued an individual who had been pulled out of his car and was being beaten. ==Writing==