Don S. Williams
Encyclopedia
Don S. Williams is a Vancouver
-based Canadian producer, director, actor, choreographer, and writer.
- just west of Edmonton where he graduated from Memorial High School in 1955. From the age of twelve, he had a keen interest in the Film and Entertainment Industry.
/Saskatchewan
border town of Lloydminster
and began working at the new CKSA
radio station. In the following year (1958), Williams accepted a one-year contract at the CKRM radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan
. As soon as that contract was up (in 1959 - exactly 365 days later), Don left for Brandon, Manitoba
where he worked both as the sole Producer and Director at the local CKX-TV
station and Artistic Director for the Brandon New World Theatre. He continued in these roles for the next four years, 3 months and 8 days.
In 1963, Williams landed a job as Staff Producer/Director at the CBC station (CBWT) in Winnipeg
. He spent 15 and half years there: the first five at the CBC and the remainder working as a freelance director, producer, and writer. With the freelance work came a great deal of travel - a considerable portion of which was to Vancouver
. One of his early opportunities as a freelancer was to work as the Director of the third and fifth episode of the then-new CBC
series, The Beachcombers
- a show that would go on to be the longest running series in Canadian television history.
Since so much of his freelance work saw him travelling more and more to Vancouver (largely because of his growing involvement with The Beachcombers), in 1979 Williams decided to move his family to Vancouver. Over the ensuing years, Don continued to be involved with The Beachcombers in the capacities of director, producer, and executive producer. Additionally, he was involved in projects that saw him directing other notable people from the entertainment industry when they were at the early stages of their careers, such as Cameron Bancroft
, Chief Dan George, Michael J. Fox
, and Bruce Greenwood
(in both The Beachcombers and in 21 episodes of a 1979 live-to-tape comedy mini-series called "Dr. Bundolo". He has also worked as the director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
.
In 1991, Williams made a decision to focus more on acting citing that "the market is good for overweight middle-aged men." After appearing as a guest star in shows such as Wiseguy
, Mom P.I., The Commish
, and Neon Rider
, in 1995, Don landed the role that he would become best recognized for - appearing in the recurring role of The First Elder on the hit Fox
series The X-Files
. He made regular appearances in that role until 1999 - including an appearance in The X-Files Movie
. He also appeared in the films The Stepfather
and Reindeer Games
.
From 1968 to 1978 Williams also worked as the Chief Negotiator for collective bargaining
agreements for the CTPDA (Canadian Television Producers and Directors Association) - an association of which he was one of the founders. During his time there, he became known as a "raving moderate."
Williams joined the Liberal Party of Canada
in 1965. He has worked on campaigns for the party both federally and provincially (in both Manitoba and British Columbia). In fact, Williams worked as the Director of Communications for the campaign of Izzy Asper in the 1973 Manitoba Election.
Locally, in North Vancouver, Williams has run (unsuccessfully) for the North Vancouver School Board the North Vancouver District Council.
In 1993, Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
– a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. In March 2002, a small flurry of media interest erupted when it was revealed by documentary film-maker Gerry Thompson (for the Canadian broadcaster CTV
) that Don was one of four people who worked together at the CBC in 1979 (the most famous being Michael J. Fox
) who would all later go on to not only develop Parkinson's Disease, but to have the symptoms appear at roughly the same time (the early 1990s). Current evidence suggests that as many as eight crew and cast members on the project have developed Pakinson's symptoms.
This unusual coincidence led to the suggestion that Parkinson's may possibly have some sort of environmental trigger.
Thus, during the week of March 22–29, 2002, Williams and his doctor were interviewed by Good Morning America
, ABC News
, NBC News
, Entertainment Tonight
, Access Hollywood
, CNN
, People Magazine, MacLean's Magazine, CTV and The New York Times
.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
-based Canadian producer, director, actor, choreographer, and writer.
Early life
Williams was born Donald William Schlit in Edmonton, Alberta. He grew up in the small community of Stony Plain, AlbertaStony Plain, Alberta
Stony Plain is a large town in rural Alberta, Canada, just west of Edmonton.Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by...
- just west of Edmonton where he graduated from Memorial High School in 1955. From the age of twelve, he had a keen interest in the Film and Entertainment Industry.
Career
Williams started his career in 1957, at the age of 19, when he moved to the AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
/Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
border town of Lloydminster
Lloydminster
Lloydminster is a Canadian city which has the unusual geographic distinction of straddling the provincial border between Alberta and Saskatchewan...
and began working at the new CKSA
CKSA-FM
CKSA-FM is a Canadian radio station owned by Newcap Broadcasting. It broadcasts at 95.9 FM in Lloydminster, Alberta/Saskatchewan. It currently plays a country format, with the on-air moniker Lloyd at 95-9.-History:...
radio station. In the following year (1958), Williams accepted a one-year contract at the CKRM radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
. As soon as that contract was up (in 1959 - exactly 365 days later), Don left for Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon is the second largest city in Manitoba, Canada, and is located in the southwestern area of the province. Brandon is the largest city in the Westman region of Manitoba. The city is located along the Assiniboine River. Spruce Woods Provincial Park and CFB Shilo are a relatively short distance...
where he worked both as the sole Producer and Director at the local CKX-TV
CKX-TV
CKX-TV was a television station in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, formerly affiliated with CBC Television. Owned and operated by CTVglobemedia, it was the first privately owned television station in Manitoba...
station and Artistic Director for the Brandon New World Theatre. He continued in these roles for the next four years, 3 months and 8 days.
In 1963, Williams landed a job as Staff Producer/Director at the CBC station (CBWT) in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. He spent 15 and half years there: the first five at the CBC and the remainder working as a freelance director, producer, and writer. With the freelance work came a great deal of travel - a considerable portion of which was to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. One of his early opportunities as a freelancer was to work as the Director of the third and fifth episode of the then-new CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
series, The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers
The Beachcombers is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that ran from October 1, 1972 to December 12, 1990 and is the longest-running dramatic series ever made for English-language Canadian television...
- a show that would go on to be the longest running series in Canadian television history.
Since so much of his freelance work saw him travelling more and more to Vancouver (largely because of his growing involvement with The Beachcombers), in 1979 Williams decided to move his family to Vancouver. Over the ensuing years, Don continued to be involved with The Beachcombers in the capacities of director, producer, and executive producer. Additionally, he was involved in projects that saw him directing other notable people from the entertainment industry when they were at the early stages of their careers, such as Cameron Bancroft
Cameron Bancroft
Cameron Bancroft , sometimes credited as Cam Bancroft is an actor known for playing Joe Bradley on the TV Series Beverly Hills, 90210. He was on the show from 1995 to 1996....
, Chief Dan George, Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
, and Bruce Greenwood
Bruce Greenwood
Bruce Greenwood is a Canadian actor and musician. He is generally known for his roles as U.S. presidents in Thirteen Days and National Treasure: Book of Secrets and for his role as Captain Christopher Pike in the 2009 Star Trek film...
(in both The Beachcombers and in 21 episodes of a 1979 live-to-tape comedy mini-series called "Dr. Bundolo". He has also worked as the director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America....
.
In 1991, Williams made a decision to focus more on acting citing that "the market is good for overweight middle-aged men." After appearing as a guest star in shows such as Wiseguy
Wiseguy
Wiseguy is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 16, 1987 to December 8, 1990 for a total of four seasons. Starring Ken Wahl, the series was produced by Stephen J...
, Mom P.I., The Commish
The Commish
The Commish is a television series that aired on ABC in the United States from 1991 to 1996. The series focused on the work and home life of a suburban police commissioner in upstate New York....
, and Neon Rider
Neon Rider
Neon Rider is a Canadian drama television series which first aired between 1990 and 1995. Created by Winston Rekert and Danny Virtue, the show was about the titular character, a man named Michael Terry who quits his job as a therapist to become a mentor for troubled kids which he brings to his...
, in 1995, Don landed the role that he would become best recognized for - appearing in the recurring role of The First Elder on the hit Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
series The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. He made regular appearances in that role until 1999 - including an appearance in The X-Files Movie
The X-Files (film)
The X-Files is a 1998 American science fiction-thriller film written by Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz, and directed by Rob Bowman. It is the first feature film based on The X-Files series created by Carter that revolves around a fictional FBI paranormal investigation unit called the X-Files...
. He also appeared in the films The Stepfather
The Stepfather (1987 film)
The Stepfather is a 1987 American thriller film starring Terry O'Quinn in the title role. It is loosely based on the life of mass murderer John List, although the plot is more commonly associated with slasher films of the era than a true story. It was directed by Joseph Ruben and written by Donald E...
and Reindeer Games
Reindeer Games
Reindeer Games is a 2000 American film, directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, and Charlize Theron. It was Frankenheimer's final theatrically released film and received poor reviews.-Plot:...
.
From 1968 to 1978 Williams also worked as the Chief Negotiator for collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
agreements for the CTPDA (Canadian Television Producers and Directors Association) - an association of which he was one of the founders. During his time there, he became known as a "raving moderate."
Political Involvement
Williams started being interested in politics as a young child - getting much of his political awareness from his maternal grandfather (an Alberta Social Credit supporter). It was from his grandfather that Williams came to believe that, if you don't like the political situation, you have to get involved in the political system.Williams joined the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in 1965. He has worked on campaigns for the party both federally and provincially (in both Manitoba and British Columbia). In fact, Williams worked as the Director of Communications for the campaign of Izzy Asper in the 1973 Manitoba Election.
Locally, in North Vancouver, Williams has run (unsuccessfully) for the North Vancouver School Board the North Vancouver District Council.
Personal life
Williams has two children and two grandchildren.In 1993, Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
– a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. In March 2002, a small flurry of media interest erupted when it was revealed by documentary film-maker Gerry Thompson (for the Canadian broadcaster CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
) that Don was one of four people who worked together at the CBC in 1979 (the most famous being Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...
) who would all later go on to not only develop Parkinson's Disease, but to have the symptoms appear at roughly the same time (the early 1990s). Current evidence suggests that as many as eight crew and cast members on the project have developed Pakinson's symptoms.
This unusual coincidence led to the suggestion that Parkinson's may possibly have some sort of environmental trigger.
Thus, during the week of March 22–29, 2002, Williams and his doctor were interviewed by Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
, Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, People Magazine, MacLean's Magazine, CTV and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Appearances
- Reindeer GamesReindeer GamesReindeer Games is a 2000 American film, directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, and Charlize Theron. It was Frankenheimer's final theatrically released film and received poor reviews.-Plot:...
with Ben AffleckBen AffleckBenjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
(2000) - The X Files
- One Son (1999)
- Two Fathers (1999)
- The Beginning (1998)
- The End (1998)
- The Red and the Black (1998)
- Patient X (1998)
- Redux II (1997)
- Redux (1997)
- Zero Sum (1997)
- Herrenvolk (1996)
- Apocrypha (1996)
- 731 (1996)
- The Unopened File (1995)
- Paper Clip (1995)
- The Blessing Way (1995)
- Fatal Memories with Shelley LongShelley LongShelley Lee Long is an American actress best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the sitcom Cheers, for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress...
and Dean StockwellDean StockwellDean Stockwell is an American actor of film and television, with a career spanning over 65 years. As a child actor under contract to MGM he first came to the public's attention in films such as Anchors Aweigh and The Green Years; as a young adult he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway and...
(1992) - Mom P.I.Mom P.I.Mom P.I. is a 1990 Canadian television comedy-drama series starring Rosemary Dunsmore, Stuart Margolin, Emily Perkins, and Shane Meier....
- A Fugue for Mr. X (1991)
- Neon RiderNeon RiderNeon Rider is a Canadian drama television series which first aired between 1990 and 1995. Created by Winston Rekert and Danny Virtue, the show was about the titular character, a man named Michael Terry who quits his job as a therapist to become a mentor for troubled kids which he brings to his...
- Neon Rider
- Twist in the Wind (1991)
- WiseguyWiseguyWiseguy is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 16, 1987 to December 8, 1990 for a total of four seasons. Starring Ken Wahl, the series was produced by Stephen J...
- Wiseguy
- Going Home (1988)
- The StepfatherThe Stepfather (1987 film)The Stepfather is a 1987 American thriller film starring Terry O'Quinn in the title role. It is loosely based on the life of mass murderer John List, although the plot is more commonly associated with slasher films of the era than a true story. It was directed by Joseph Ruben and written by Donald E...
(1987)
- The Stepfather