Treat Williams Called Life As Father To Son Gill & Daughter Ellie ‘Perfect’

Jun 14, 2023

Treat Williams, the actor most popularly known for the movie musical "Hair" and his role in Steven Spielberg's "1941," passed away at the age of 71 years old on Jun. 12, 2023. Treat's agent for 15 years, Barry McPherson, confirmed the saddening news to People magazine. 

Born Dec. 1, 1951, in Stamford, Connecticut, Richard Treat Williams had over 120 acting credits to his name. His appearance in the movie musical "Hair" and the movie "1941" catapulted the actor's reputation to popularity. 

Later on, he also starred in various films like "The Eagle Has Landed," "Prince of the City," "Once Upon a Time in America," "The Late Shift," and "127 Hours," among many others. Aside from working in film, he also became a lead actor in "Everwood," which made him one of the biggest television actors at the time. For his role as Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Brown in "Everwood," Treat earned him two Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

In his last few years, Treat appeared sparingly in some television shows and films. He appeared as a recurring actor in "Chicago Fire," "Heartland," "Against the Wall," "Eve of Destruction," "White Collar," "Blue Bloods," and a main actor in "American Odyssey" and "Chesapeake Shores." Aside from being a distinguished actor, Treat was also a writer, stage actor, and aviator. 

Recent reports say that Treat lived alternately in Park City in Utah and Manchester Center in Vermont with his wife, Pam Van Sant, and their two children, Gill and Elinor Williams. Keep reading to learn more about Treat, his life in front of the camera, and the loving bond he shared with his beloved kids. 

Treat, a Connecticut native, was the son of Marian, an antique dealer, and Richard Norman Williams, a corporate executive. From Stamford, Treat and his family relocated to Rowayton, Connecticut. 

The actor has a long line of prominent people down his ancestry. His maternal great-great-great-grandfather was US Senator William Henry Barnum, the third cousin of showman P.T. Barnum. Treat was also a distant family relative of one of the American Founding Fathers, Robert Treat Paine. 

Growing up, Treat played a lot of football. He then finished his education at the Kent School in Connecticut and Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

Eventually, Treat ventured into acting and had his film debut in 1975 on "Deadly Hero." Afterward, he had a role in "The Ritz," playing a curious detective. In 1979, he was catapulted to fame as he became George Berger in the Miloš Forman film "Hair," based on the hit 1967 Broadway musical. 

He went on to earn his first Golden Globe nomination for the said role. From then on, he started appearing in more than 75 films and shows on television. 

Eventually, Treat's second Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance in a Motion Picture came in the form of his starring role in "Prince of the City." Meanwhile, his third nod was for Best Performance in a Miniseries or Television Film for Stanley Kowalski in the television film" A Streetcar Named Desire."

He then earned his Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Emmy Award for his work in "The Late Shift." 

Aside from his excellent work in film and television, Treat was also a brilliant stage actor. Among the credits in his belt were "Grease," where he played Danny Zuko; "Follies," "Bobby Gould in Hell," "The Pirates of Penzance," "Once in a Lifetime," "Captains Courageous, the Musical," "Oleanna," "Love Letters," and "Some Men Need Help." He won a Drama League Award for "Follies." 

All the fame and popularity that some of his show has contributed was nothing in comparison to the acclaim that he got from playing Dr. Andrew 'Andy' Brown in "Everwood." He was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama, a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Parental Unit. 

Sadly, Treat tragically passed away on Jun. 12, 2023, because of a vehicular accident. In a statement to People Magazine by his agent, McPherson, Treat was killed after a collision occurred between his motorcycle and a car. 

"He was an actor's actor. Filmmakers loved him. He's been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s," McPherson said. "He was really proud of his performance this year. He's been so happy with the work that I got him. He's had a balanced career."

According to authorities, the car crash happened in the afternoon on Jun. 12 in Dorset, Vermont. Reports revealed that the approaching car was turning and did not see Treat. At the time, the victim's identity had not yet been revealed, but the press later confirmed it was the famed actor. 

Treat and his wife Van Sant welcomed their first child Gill in 1992 and daughter Elinor, who Treat endearingly called Ellie, in 1998. Treat once said he felt “blessed” to have his family as he described his situation during the pandemic to Smashing Interviews Magazine. “My daughter is up at UVM, and my son’s living with us. I think being on an old farm with land and able to get out and about every day makes it a lot easier than my friends in New York City. So I feel very blessed that we’re in an environment that I love,” he said.

Treat doted on his children, as evident by the numerous posts shared online. When Gill graduated in 2015, his loving father marked the day with a touching photo captioned, “Family summer photo. My son graduated from NYU. My daughter is 16 my wife is the best and at 63 I am content. Lucky.” A few months earlier, he shared a photo of him and Gill dressed to the nines captioned, “Acting with my son Gill today  Life is perfect.” 

Treat doted on Ellie just as much. A week before his passing, Treat shared a stunning portrait of her with the caption, “I miss you daughter ❤️❤️❤️” In 2015, Treat posted a photo of her joining him on set as he worked. In April 2023, he treated her to a father-daughter day out at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and she posted photos of their fun trip. In March 2023, he wished his “beautiful Ellie” a happy Women’s Day.

Treat was clearly a family man who cherished his family. He marked Mother’s Day in May 2023 with a sweet message that read: 

“Thank you Pam for raising these wonderful humans into the great people they are today.”

Condolences to Treat Williams' family. Are you a fan of Treat Williams? What is your favorite performance of his? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!