Barry Williams (actor)

2022-05-20T15:19:59Z

71.163.174.31:

{{Short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Barry Williams
|image = Barry Williams 2017.jpg
|caption = Williams at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017
|image_size =
|birth_name = Barry William Blenkhorn
|birth_date = {{birth date and age |1954|9|30}}
|birth_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
|occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer}}
|years_active = 1967–present
|spouse = {{marriage|Diane Martin|1990|1992|reason=divorced}}<ref name=people2005/><br>{{marriage|Eila Mary Matt|1999|2005|reason=divorced}}<br>Tina Mahina (m. 2017)<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20130034,00.html| magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]| date=December 13, 1999| volume=52| issue=23| title=The Family Still Matters| first1=Julie K.L.| last1=Dam| first2=Samantha| last2=Miller| access-date=January 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.seawindsam.com/#our-experience| title=Experience Matt| website=Seawinds Asset Management| access-date=January 23, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603111238/http://www.seawindsam.com/#our-experience| archive-date=June 3, 2013| url-status=live}} Note: Some sources erroneously give first name as "Ella"</ref><ref name=people2005>{{cite news| url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1021977,00.html| title=In Brief| first=Stephen M.| last=Silverman| date=January 28, 2005| magazine=People| access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>
|children = 2
}}

'''Barry William Blenkhorn''' (born September 30, 1954),<ref name=tvg>{{cite web| url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/barry-williams-189526/bio/| title=Barry Williams| magazine=[[TV Guide]]| access-date=January 23, 2015}}{{dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> known professionally as '''Barry Williams''', is an American actor and singer best known for his role as the eldest of the Brady sons, [[Characters of The Brady Bunch#Greg Brady|Greg Brady]], on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television series ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.

==Early life and career==
Williams, the youngest of three boys, was born in 1954 in [[Santa Monica, California]],<ref name=tvg/> to Doris May Moore and Canadian-born Frank Millar Blenkhorn, of [[English Canadian|English]], [[Scottish Canadian|Scottish]], and [[German Canadian|German]] ancestry.<ref>[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/celeb/blenkhorn.htm Family Tree]{{dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> Barry and siblings Craig and Scott Blenkhorn<ref name=tvg /> grew up in [[Pacific Palisades, California]], where actor [[Peter Graves]] was a neighbor.<ref name=officialbio>{{cite web| url=http://www.thegregbradyproject.com/gregs-story/| first=Barry| last=Williams| title=Greg's Story| website=The Greg Brady Project| access-date=January 23, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815034602/http://www.thegregbradyproject.com/gregs-story| archive-date=August 15, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref> Williams decided, as a child, that he wanted to be an actor, and in 1967 he made his television debut in a "Christmas" episode of ''[[Dragnet (series)#Television|Dragnet 1967]]''.

[[File:The Brady Bunch Barry Williams 1973.jpg|thumb|Williams' most famous role was as oldest son Greg Brady on the 1970s sitcom ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.]]
Williams continued to be cast in guest roles on other TV series including ''[[Adam-12]]'', ''[[The Invaders]]'', ''[[That Girl]]'', ''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]'', ''[[The Mod Squad]]'', ''[[Here Come the Brides]]'', ''[[Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.]]'', ''[[Highway to Heaven]]'' and ''[[Bartleby, the Scrivener]]''<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bartleby-the-Scrivener| title=Bartleby the Scrivener| encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]| access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> before being cast in 1969 as Greg Brady on ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.

==Later career==
Following the cancellation of ''The Brady Bunch'' in 1974, Williams continued to appear in guest roles on television, and became involved in [[musical theater]], touring with productions such as ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', ''[[The Sound of Music]]'', ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]'', and ''[[West Side Story (musical)|West Side Story]]''.

In 1988, Williams appeared on Broadway in the musical ''[[Romance/Romance]]'' with Tony Award-nominee [[Alison Fraser]]. Williams took over the lead male role of "Alfred/Sam" when [[Scott Bakula]] left the production. Years later, Williams was able to capitalize on being typecast as Greg Brady. Amid a procession of appearances in TV and movies that played up his famous teen role, he ended up landing a role that was a departure from the Brady image. He was tapped to play English con man Hannibal in 1984, who conspired with Holly Sutton Scorpio ([[Emma Samms]]) on the top-rated ''[[General Hospital]]''.

Williams has appeared in various ''Brady Bunch'' TV movie reunions, including the 1988 Christmas movie, ''[[A Very Brady Christmas]]''.

In 1989, Williams was honored by the [[Young Artist Award|Young Artist Foundation]] with its [[Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award|Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award]] for his role as Greg Brady.<ref name="Young Artist Awards 10">{{cite web| url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms10.htm| title=10th Annual Youth in Film Awards| access-date=March 31, 2011| website=YoungArtistAwards.org| url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716012647/http://youngartistawards.org/pastnoms10.htm| archive-date=July 16, 2015}}</ref>

His 1992 autobiography, ''[[Growing Up Brady|Growing Up Brady: I Was A Teenage Greg]]'', co-written with [[Chris Kreski]], was a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestseller]] and was adapted into a 2000 TV movie titled ''[[Growing Up Brady (TV movie)|Growing Up Brady]]'' starring [[Adam Brody]] as Williams.

In 2000, Williams sang a parody of [[Eminem]]'s "The Real Slim Shady" called "The Real Greg Brady"; the song was co-written by Williams, comedy writer and radio producer, [[Elvis Duran and the Morning Show#Hosts|David Brody]] of Z100 NY [[WHTZ]], and Jay Gilbert of Froggy Radio in Cincinnati.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Gavin Report]] |title=Please Stand Up |date=August 25, 2000 |page=12 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Gavin-IDX/IDX/00s/00/Gavin-2000-08-25-OCR-Page-0012.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>

Williams appeared briefly as an audience member in the 2002 music video of [[Peter Gabriel]]'s song, "The Barry Williams Show". The song is actually about a fictional [[Jerry Springer]]-like talk show host, not the actor; Gabriel later revealed that he did not know of the ''Brady Bunch'' star when he wrote the song.

Williams has made multiple appearances as a paid featured dancer at the World's Largest Disco in [[Buffalo, New York]].

In 2001–2002, he played Manager Dean "The Machine" Strickland in 13 episodes of the sitcom, ''[[Hollywood 7]]'', which featured the British pop group [[S Club 7]].

[[File:Barry Williams.jpg|thumb|Williams signing autographs in 2003 at "Barry Williams Disco Night"]]

Williams played himself in the 2003 film ''[[Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star]]''.

In 2008, Williams appeared in Episode 6 of the [[VH1]] series, ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]''. Williams participated as a friend of one of the patients, [[Chyna]], and explained to her during a group session how drinking had a negative impact on his own life and career.<ref>[http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1581483&vid=209293 ''Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew'', Season 1, Episode 6]. ''[[VH1]]''. Retrieved February 28, 2011.</ref>

In January 2010, he took a role in [[The Asylum]] [[mockbuster]], ''[[Mega Piranha]]'',<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35441/first-pics-from-mega-piranha-stink-like-fish| title=First Pics From Megapiranha Stink Like Fish| work=Dread Central| access-date=March 1, 2015}}{{dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> who played alongside the former [[teen pop]] singer [[Tiffany Darwish|Tiffany]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/15455/megapiranha-artwork-everything-you-could-have-hoped-for/| title=Megapiranha Artwork Everything You Could Have Hoped For| journal=Dread Central| date=January 29, 2010| access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref>

As of 2019, he makes [[Branson, Missouri]], his home and tours with the musical group ''Barry Williams and the Traveliers''. He also joined with the other ''Brady Bunch'' kids in the 2019 television series ''[[A Very Brady Renovation]]'' on [[HGTV]].<ref name=Sun2019>{{cite news| author=Lee, Luaine| title=Bradys go 'home' again for HGTV| newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]| date=September 8, 2019| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98315471/the-baltimore-sun/| page=A&E 4}}</ref> In 2021, Williams starred in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] Christmas movie, ''Blending Christmas'', alongside his ''Brady Bunch'' co-stars [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]], [[Mike Lookinland]], [[Susan Olsen]], and [[Robbie Rist]].<ref>{{cite news| last=Jones|first=Marcus| date=May 19, 2021| title=Lifetime reunites High School Musical, Brady Bunch stars for holiday movies| url=https://ew.com/tv/lifetime-holiday-movies-reunite-high-school-musical-brady-bunch-stars/| url-status=live| access-date=December 22, 2021| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| language=en-US| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519181312/https://ew.com/tv/lifetime-holiday-movies-reunite-high-school-musical-brady-bunch-stars/| archive-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Barry Williams in Concert, Branson, Missouri 101414.jpg|thumb|Williams performing in [[Branson, Missouri]] in October 2014]]

With the death of [[Florence Henderson]] on November 24, 2016, Williams became the oldest surviving (adult) cast member from ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''.

==Actors' Equity Association dispute==
In January 2001, Williams was fined $52,000 by [[Actors' Equity Association]], the [[Trade union|union]] representing stage actors, for starring as Captain Von Trapp in a non-union tour of ''[[The Sound of Music]]''. According to ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', the production was picketed in several cities. Williams responded by filing a complaint with the [[National Labor Relations Board]], arguing that the fine was illegal because he had resigned from the union in September 2000 before the tour began.<ref>{{cite news| title=Sound of Music 's Barry Williams Says Equity's $50K Fine Is Political| url=https://www.playbill.com/article/sound-of-music-s-barry-williams-says-equitys-50k-fine-is-political-com-94816| date=February 6, 2001| magazine=[[Playbill]]| access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> Equity alleged that Williams, who joined the union in 1974, was still a member when he began contract negotiations for the role.<ref>Jones, Chris (June 25, 2001). [https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117801886.html?categoryid=22&cs=1 "Williams battles fine by Equity"]. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''.</ref>

Williams was reinstated by Actor's Equity as a member in good standing in 2005 after he unionized a non-Equity production of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' in late 2004.{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}


==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
|1968
|''[[Wild in the Streets]]''
|Young Max Frost
|-
|1969
|''Bartleby''
|Ginger Nut
|-
|1974
|''Goodnight Jackie''
|Barry
|-
|1995
|''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch Movie}}''
|Music Producer
|-
|2010
|''Mega Piranha''
|Bob Grady
|-
|2018
|''Flea''
|Marsh Man
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1967
|''[[Run for Your Life (TV series)|Run for Your Life]]''
|Stanley
|"The Company of Scoundrels"
|-
|1967
|''[[Dragnet (franchise)|Dragnet 1967]]''
|John Heffernan
|"The Christmas Story"
|-
|1968
|''{{sortname|The|Invaders}}''
|Paper Boy
|"The Pursued"
|-
|1968
|''{{sortname|The|F.B.I.|The F.B.I. (TV series)}}''
|Boy
|"The Messenger"
|-
|1968
|''[[Lancer (TV series)|Lancer]]''
|Ben Price
|"Blood Rock"
|-
|1968
|''[[That Girl]]''
|Autograph Seeker
|"7 1/4: Part 2"
|-
|1968
|''[[Gomer Pyle, USMC]]''
|Boy No. 1
|"A Star Is Not Born"
|-
|1968
|''{{sortname|The|Mod|Squad}}''
|Newspaper Boy
|"The Guru"
|-
|1969
|''[[Here Come the Brides]]''
|Peter
|"A Kiss Just for So"
|-
|1969
|''[[It Takes a Thief (1968 TV series)|It Takes a Thief]]''
|Herbie DuBois
|"A Matter of Grey Matter: Parts 1 & 2"
|-
|1969
|''[[Adam-12]]''
|Johnny Grant
|"Log 152: A Dead Cop Can't Help Anyone"
|-
|1969
|''[[Marcus Welby, M.D.]]''
|Pancho McGurney
|"The Chemistry of Hope"
|-
|1969–1974
|''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch}}''
|[[List of The Brady Bunch characters#Greg Brady|Greg Brady]]
|117 episodes
|-
|1970
|''Hastings Corner''
|Junior Fandango
|TV film
|-
|1970
|''[[Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series)|Mission: Impossible]]''
|King Victor
|"Gitano"
|-
|1972
|''{{sortname|The|ABC Saturday Superstar Movie}}''
|Greg Brady (voice)
|"The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island"
|-
|1972
|''{{sortname|The|Brady Kids}}''
|Greg Brady (voice)
|17 episodes
|-
|1973
|''[[The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl]]''
|Greg Brady
|TV film
|-
|1976
|''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]''
|Steve Glass
|"Generation of Evil"
|-
|1976–77
|''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch Hour}}''
|Greg Brady
|9 episodes
|-
|1979
|''Greatest Heroes of the Bible''
|Jacob
|"Jacob's Challenge"
|-
|1981
|''{{sortname|The|Brady Girls Get Married|The_Brady_Bunch#The_Brady_Girls_Get_Married_.2F_The_Brady_Brides}}''
|Greg Brady
|TV film
|-
|1982
|''[[Three's Company]]''
|David Winthrop
|"Up in the Air"
|-
|1984
|''[[General Hospital]]''
|Hannibal
|TV series
|-
|1985
|''[[Highway to Heaven]]''
|Miki Winner
|"A Song for Jason: Parts 1 & 2"
|-
|1986
|''[[Rocky Road (TV series)|Rocky Road]]''
|Wayne Kincaid
|"The Wrong Mr. Right"
|-
|1987
|''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
|Nate Findley
|"Night of the Headless Horseman"
|-
|1988
|''{{sortname|A|Very Brady Christmas}}''
|Dr. Greg Brady
|TV film
|-
|1990
|''{{sortname|The|Bradys}}''
|Dr. Greg Brady
|6 episodes
|-
|1991
|''[[Kids Incorporated]]''
|Ana's Dad
|"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
|-
|1993
|''Bradymania: A Very Brady Special''
|Barry Williams
|TV special
|-
|1994
|''Summertime Switch''
|Frederick Egan II
|TV film
|-
|1994
|''[[Full House]]''
|Barry Williams
|"Making Out Is Hard to Do"
|-
|1997
|''[[Perversions of Science]]''
|Neighbor
|"People's Choice"
|-
|2001
|''[[Hollywood 7]]''
|Dean Strickland
|Main role
|-
|2004
|''[[The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special: Still Brady After All These Years|The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special]]''
|Barry Williams
|TV special
|-
|2006
|''[[According to Jim]]''
|Ben
|"Sex Ed Fred"
|-
|2006
|''[[That '70s Show]]''
|Jeff
|"We Will Rock You"
|-
|2009
|''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]''
|Barry Williams
|"My Soul on Fire: Part 1"
|-
|2010
|''[[Mega Piranha]]''
|Bob Grady
|TV film
|-
|2011
|''[[A.N.T. Farm]]''
|Game Show Host
|"America Needs TalANT"
2011
Camp Director
"Camp Playboy"
|-
|2012
|''[[Bigfoot (2012 film)|Bigfoot]]''
|Simon Quint
|TV film
|-
|2017
|''{{sortname|The|Loud House}}''
|Bumper Sr. (voice)
|"Future Tense"
|-
|2019
|''[[A Very Brady Renovation]]''
|Barry Williams
|7 episodes
|-
|2021
|''[[Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch]]''<ref>{{cite news| title= ‘Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch’ Delivers a Satisfying Twist on a Beloved Sitcom: TV Review| url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/reviews/drag-race-brady-bunch-crossover-episode-tv-review-1235007421/crossover-episode-tv-review-1235007421/| first=Daniel| last=D'Addario| date=June 30, 2021| magazine=Variety| access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref>
|Mike Brady
|[[Paramount Plus]] TV special
|-
|2021
|''Blending Christmas''
|John
|TV film
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080226203109/http://daily.mahalo.com/2008/02/20/md061-the-greg-brady-project/ Interview with Barry Williams on "The Greg Brady Project"]
* {{IMDb name|0930064}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|35599|Barry Williams}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141026230834/http://www.hughes-brothers.com/the-shows/70s-music-celebration-starring-barry-williams-show-description.html Williams' ''70s Music Celebration!'' show at the Hughes Brothers Theatre in Branson, Missouri]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Barry}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Male actors from Santa Monica, California]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]

Good Old TV Fan Wiki - User contributions [en]

Barry Williams (actor)