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Dick Anthony Williams

Dick Anthony Williams

Actor · Died February 16, 2012, aged 77 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Richard Anthony Williams (August 9, 1934 – February 16, 2012) was an American actor. Williams is best known for his starring performances on Broadway in The Poison Tree, What the Wine-Sellers Buy and Black Picture Show. Williams also had notable roles in 1970s blaxploitation films such as The Mack and Slaughter's Big Rip-Off.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 9, 1934
Died
February 16, 2012 (aged 77)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 79 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 17% in 30 days

What are Dick Anthony Williams' films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
23%
Bonds
22%
Power
19%
Self
15%
Survival
14%
Society
7%
Justice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 8 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 16 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 9 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6
Trickster
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
9
Dread
6
Thrilling
5
Joyful
5
Other
21

How their films linger

Hopeful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dick Anthony Williams' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dick Anthony Williams' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

79 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Grizzly II: Revenge(1983)

    as Charlie

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Blood and Bone(2009)

    as Roberto

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Steam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as August

  • Black Listed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Missouri

  • The Shield(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Reverend Neal Cook

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • X-Men: The Mutant Watch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Sen. Frank Radler

  • Hot Boyz(2000)

    as Harold

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Players Club(1998)

    as Mr. Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • JAG(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Special Agent Lang

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Parent 'Hood(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Due South (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as ATF Agent MacFadden

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Wilkes

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Agent Reggie Purdue

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Percy & Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Caswell Baker

  • The Gifted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Daniel

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Dick Anthony Williams

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Beverly's Father

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rapture(1991)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Homefront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 42 episodes · Actor

  • Roc(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Boyd

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Edward Scissorhands(1990)

    as Officer Allen

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Burdette

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Mo' Better Blues(1990)

    as Big Stop Williams

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Shannon's Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as McGuire

  • Cast the First Stone(1989)

    as Jackson Phillips

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Snoops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Devilar

  • The Meeting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Malcolm X

  • Tap(1989)

    as Francis

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Gardens of Stone(1987)

    as Slasher Williams

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Heart of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ed Van Duzer

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Charles Jackson · as Franklin Hovey

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Our Family Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 13 episodes · as Chief of Detectives Jonas Jones

  • Summer Rental(1985)

    as Dan Gardner

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Stingray(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Challenge of a Lifetime(1985)

    as Dr. Hume

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Through Naked Eyes(1983)

    as Det. Wylie

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Night Partners(1983)

    as Instructor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Star Chamber(1983)

    as Detective Paul Mackey

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • For Us, the Living: The Story of Medgar Evers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Keeping On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Samuel Taylor

  • Something So Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Morris Elliot

  • Sister, Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Rev. Richard Henderson

  • This Is Kate Bennett... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Leonard Hayes

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Sly

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Malcolm X · as Professor Carter · as Samuel Traylor

  • The Sophisticated Gents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as Ralph Joplin

  • A Gun in the House(1981)

    as Det. Frank Campbell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Night the City Screamed(1980)

    as Jim Downs

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Brave New World(1980)

    as Helmholz Watson

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Tenspeed and Brown Shoe(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • One in a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Jerk(1979)

    as Taj

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Archie Bunker's Place(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hollow Image (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Danny

  • An Almost Perfect Affair(1979)

    as Jackson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Dr. Hopstone

  • A Woman Called Moses(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Tubman

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • King(1978)

    Show 3 episodes · as Malcolm X

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Sparrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Martin

  • Freeman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Freeman

  • The Storyteller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Anthony

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Deep(1977)

    as Slake

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Richard Pryor Special?(1977)

    as Writer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Long Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Paul

  • Deadly Hero(1975)

    as District Attorney Winston

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dog Day Afternoon(1975)

    as Limo Driver

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Maceo Prentiss

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Five on the Black Hand Side(1973)

    as Preston

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Slaughter's Big Rip-Off(1973)

    as Joe Creole

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Mack(1973)

    as Pretty Tony

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Who Killed Mary Whats'ername?(1971)

    as Malthus

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Anderson Tapes(1971)

    as Spencer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nanny and the Professor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lost Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ronald

  • Uptight(1968)

    as Corbin

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 79 titles from 1967 to 2020; peak year 1990.

Biggest box office

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

$86M worldwide

Highest rated

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19672020

Peak 1990 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting79 of 79: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1960s3 · acting1970s25 · acting1980s27 · acting1990s17 · acting2000s6 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
718191

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Dick Anthony Williams' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Hot Boyz (2000)

84th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Dick Anthony Williams' work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles19–76 · median 53 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles13–71 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles38–86 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles31–47 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles10–64 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Dick Anthony Williams work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dick Anthony Williams' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Carl Reiner shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles