Treat Williams dies in motorcycle accident aged 71

Actor Treat Williams, star of the film Hair and television series Everwood, has died aged 71 after a motorcycle accident.

Williams’ agent told US outlet People that he was killed on Monday afternoon when a car cut him off as he was making a turn on his motorcycle in Vermont.

“I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented,” agent Barry McPherson said.

“He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s.

“He was really proud of his performance this year. He’s been so happy with the work that I got him. He’s had a balanced career.

The local fire chief confirmed the crash involved a single car and the actor’s motorcycle.

Williams was airlifted to hospital in New York.

The actor was born in Connecticut in 1951 and is a distant relative of Robert Treat Pain, a signatory to the US Declaration of Independence.

He made his acting debut in the thriller Deadly Hero but it was the 1979 film Hair, based on the Broadway musical, that was his breakout role.

His performance as hippie group leader George earned him a Golden Globe nomination for new star of the year.

Williams earned a second Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a motion picture drama for his role in the 1981 film Prince of the City.

He also received an Emmy nomination for Best Actor in 1996 for the film The Late Shift and a third Golden Globe nomination for his performance as Stanley Kowalski in the 1984 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire.

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Two decades later, he took on the lead role of Dr Andy Brown on the television show Everwood.

He starred in all four seasons and earned SAG Award nominations for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series in 2002 and 2003.

He has more than 120 acting credits to his name including Heart of Dixie, 127 Hours and The Eagle Has Landed.

Williams is survived by his wife, actress Pam Van Sant and their two children Gille and Ellie.