Clarence Williams III, Linc on "The Mod Squad," Dies at 81

"Solid!"

He also played "The Kid"'s (i.e. Prince's) wife-beating father in "Purple Rain."

Was it just natural causes?

That’s a MAN?!? Looks more like Shirley Hemphill’s older sister.

"Bad trip, man!"

He had the best Fro on TV.

THE MOD SQUAD had one of my favourite intros.

He was hot on The Mod Squad.

I think Tyne Daly dated him briefly after she divorced Georg Stanford Brown.

Colon cancer.

Clarence is now the missing Linc.

Fucking cancer. I’m fairly certain it will be the thing that ends up killing me someday.

May he Rest In Peace.

So sad. He was great on the Mod Squad. Those were the days.

Has Susan Dey commented?

From the NYT review of the play for which he was nominated for a Tony in 1965 ("Slow Dance on the Killing Ground")

"Mr. Williams glides like a dancer, giving his long, fraudulently airy speeches the inner rhythms of fear and showing the nakedness of terror when he ceases to pretend."

RIP

Even as a kid I could tell they were three of the worst actors I'd ever seen (though they did get better in later projects).

I guess they were hired for their 'look'.

Clarence Williams III (August 21, 1939 – June 4, 2021), 81, was an American actor. He played the character of Linc Hayes in the police television series The Mod Squad from 1968 to 1973. He also appeared in films such as Purple Rain, 52 Pick-Up, Tales from the Hood, Half Baked, and Reindeer Games.

Susan Dey is quite busy these days being solicited for condolences. I hope she comes through.

He was in one of my favorite Everybody Hates Chris episodes as the criminal Mr Tate they rent the upstairs apt to. Go to 1:14

"I don't fink on soul-brothas!!"

R5, I love it too. As a kid, it seemed scary and mysterious—like who were they running from and why is she extra tired (because she’s a woman?)

I have seen Michael Cole sporadically in commercials.

RIP Linc.

I agree R13. They needed “one black, one white and one blonde” to fill the roles.

They were hip. Even Michael Cole who couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag.

But, but, but Datalounge, what about Tige Andrews from The Mod Squad?

No love for that hairy Syrian who ALSO played a Klingon on Star Trek:TOS? Oh you are slopping Datalounge, slipping!

Aw R20. We can’t forget Captain Greer. He had a soft spot for those hippies.

He was married to Jan Brady in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

I couldn't get through ten minutes of the show when it debuted in the fall of 1968. Contrived stories, bad acting...just bad bad bad. I was twelve at the time.

He had one of the most epic afros in the history of TV hair.

Peggy Lipton (2019 at 72) and now Clarence Williams III (2021 at 81). Of the three leads, Michael Cole is the only one from Mod Squad still alive. He's 80 now, soon to be 81 on the 3rd of July.

^ Michael Cole, former drug addict and alcoholic. Life is funny sometimes.

As a kid I thought Link was the coolest name (I didn't know it was spelled Linc...that probably would have confused me).

Has Kellie Martin commented yet? She spent time with Clarence shooting those "Mystery Woman" shows for Hallmark.

Man, think about how strange a life/career can be... Linc on the Hallmark channel opposite the girl from "Life Goes On".

BTW - Michael Cole did appear in one of those TV movies... but no Peggy.

He had to be gay. Divorced a very long time ago and never had children. Even for a black man of his generation that is weird. I am not saying that those that have kids can't be gay but it puts things in a different prospective.

R25 how could I have had such a crush on Michael Cole? WTF is that face?!

Damn, R3 beat me to it.

[quote]Has Kellie Martin commented yet? She spent time with Clarence shooting those "Mystery Woman" shows for Hallmark.

I advised her not to comment.

Susan, at R32, thanks for popping in! I do hope you're saving up your commenting for when Shirley passes. You must have some dirt to dish about life on the set of TPF!