TREAT WILLIAMS, R.I.P.
Even though I met Treat Williams only once, I’m really shaken up by his shocking death. This is one tiny tribute I never expected to be writing so soon, if ever.
Treat Williams.
But I feel compelled to do so to tell everyone just how nice he was. From what I’ve read about Treat in the past two days, everyone he’s ever worked with agrees with that assessment. But my story is of his kindness as a stranger, not an acting colleague, which makes it perhaps even more rare.
Several years ago, on one of my trips to New York, my friend Sheila and I somehow got lost in the middle of Manhattan. I usually know my way around there pretty well, but not that day. We asked a few people if they could point us in the right direction of our next destination, but nobody would give us the time of day. They wouldn’t even slow down to tell us they didn’t know the answer.
The next guy who came along was rocking sweat pants and walking at a brisk clip, which could have meant he was exercising and didn’t want to be disturbed, but we tried him anyway, asking for directions. He very pleasantly answered, “I’m going that way; I’ll show you. Come walk with me.” As we strolled along, chatting with this easygoing stranger, Sheila asked him, “Are you Treat?,” which, of course, it turned-out he was.
Treat Williams walking down a NYC street, but in a film, not the time we met him. I just wanted to simulate the experience for you as best I could.
At the time, I had not seen any of his work, even though I now know how plentiful it is, so I thought perhaps he was someone she knew from college or Ohio (where she lives) or someplace else because she always seems to know everyone from everywhere no matter where we are.
And then she told him how much she loved him in the movie version of Hair. So I realized he was a celebrity, although you would have never known that from his personable demeanor and personality. He got us to exactly where we needed to go, and could not have been nicer the entire time. When we thanked him profusely, he just said something humble, (in his very soothing voice,) to the effect of, “All right; you guys take care now.” I became an instant fan.
Since then, I’ve seen him on TV a few times, most notably during the past few years in his half dozen appearances on Blue Bloods, as Tom Selleck’s character’s former police partner, who was now dying on his latest episode a month ago. How chilling.
Mr. X doesn’t watch that show, but caught part of it with me that night. So I told him this very same story of Treat Williams’ kindness, never thinking I would be sharing it with all of you so soon and for such a horrific reason.
The world has lost a truly good guy. What an absolute shame that is.
Treat Williams’ beautiful Vermont home. This was his final social media post.
R.I.P., Treat Williams. I hope wherever you are now will give you as much peace as your recent life in your country home has.
