Former Oakland Raiders / Kansas City Chiefs football star who rose to prominence as one of the first African-American male action stars of the "blaxploitation" genre of the early 1970s, who has since gone onto a long and illustrious career as an actor, director, writer & producer! Burly, yet handsome 6' 3" Williamson first came to attention in the TV series _"Julia" (1968)_ playing love interest, Steve Bruce. However, his rugged, athletic physique made him a natural for energetic roles and he quickly established himself as a street wise, tough guy in films including That Man Bolt, Boss Nigger, Black Caesar and Mean Johnny Barrows. Talented Williams established his own production company "Po 'Boy Productions" in 1974, which has produced over 40 movies to date. Like many young American stars of the 60s & 70s, Williamson was noticed by Italian producers who cast him in a slew of B-grade action movies that occupied a lot of his work in the 1980s. From the late 80s onwards, much of his work has been of the "straight to video" fare (often playing police officers), but none could deny he has kept actively busy in movies and TV for over three decades, both in front and behind the camera. More recently, indie director 'Robert Rodrigues' cast him alongside FX guru Tom Savini as two vampire killing bikers, in his bloody action film _From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)_ , and he has most recently appeared on screen (displaying his wonderful comedy skills) playing grumpy Captain Dobey in Starsky & Hutch.
Played football at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois). High School - Froebel High School, Gary, IN College - Northwestern University, Evanston, IL He is a trained Architect Did a season of Monday Night Football w/Howard Cosell Appeared (mostly) nude in October 73 issue of Playgirl Magazine. Graduated from high school in 1955. 1959 Northwestern University graduate Got the nickname Hammer while playing football he was known to hit hard. "Put the hammer on you". Has black belts in the following martial arts: Kenpo, Shotokan Karate, and Tae- Kwon-Do. Was one of the judges in the Miss Universe pageant in 1976.