Early life
Williams was born in Rowayton, Connecticut to Richard Norman Williams, a prize-fighter, and his wife Marion Treat, a Housewife, for whom he is named. Williams graduated from the Kent School in Connecticut and Franklin and Marshall College.
Career
Williams came to world attention when he starred in the Miloš Forman film Hair (1979). This film was based on the Broadway musical Hair. Since that time he has gone on to appear in over seventy-five films and several television series, including, most notably, 1941 (1979), Once Upon A Time In America (1984), Dead Heat (1988), Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) and Deep Rising (1998).
Expected to become a big star in the early '80s due to his talent and film exposure, he never quite did, though he did become a prolific character actor who remains active in films to this day. From 2002 to 2006 he was the star of the popular television series Everwood.
Williams was nominated for a Golden Globe award for his part in Hair. He got a second Golden Globe nomination for starring in Sydney Lumet's Prince of the City. He got a third nomination for his performance as Stanley Kowalski in the television presentation of A Streetcar Named Desire. In 1996, he was nominated Best Actor by the Emmy Awards for his work in The Late Shift, an HBO movie. Williams has also worked as a director, winning won two festival awards for directing Texan in Showtime's Chanticleer series.
In 1996, he played bad guy Xander Drax in Paramount's big budget comic book adaptation, The Phantom, where he did his best to take over the world and kill Billy Zane's mysterious superhero.
Williams' acting career includes numerous stage roles. He won a Drama League Award for his work in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, and another for starring in the off-Broadway production of Captains Courageous.
Other notable Broadway shows include Grease, the Sherman Brothers' Over Here!, Once in a Lifetime, Pirates of Penzance and Love Letters, and off-Broadway, he has appeared in David Mamet's Oleanna and Oh, Hell (at Lincoln Center), Some Men Need Help, and Randy Newman's Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong.
He premiered the Los Angeles production of Love Letters and appeared in War Letters at the Canon Theatre in Los Angeles.
Williams is probably best known for his leading role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the former WB series Everwood, about a New York neurosurgeon who moves his family to the fictional Everwood, Colorado. Although the show's ratings were never spectacular, it won critical acclaim and had a devoted following. Williams received two SAG award nominations (2003 and 2004) for his role on the show.
Williams has recently made several guest appearances on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters playing the role of David Morton, a friend and potential suitor of the Sally Field character.
Personal life
Williams lives with his wife and two children in New York City, although they have/had a home in Utah where Everwood was shot.
Movie and Television Performances
* Brothers & Sisters (2006)
* Searching for Mickey Fish (2006) (post-production)
* Everwood (television series)(2002-06)
* Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
* Hollywood Ending (2002)
* Going to California (2002) television episode
* Guilty Hearts (2002) (television)
* Venomous (2002)
* Gale Force (2002) (V)
* UC: Undercover (2002) television episode
* Skeletons in the Closet (2001)
* The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001) (V)
* The Fraternity (2001)
* Critical Mass (2000)
* Extreme Limits (2000)
* Journey to the Center of the Earth (1999) (television)
* The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All (1999) (television)
* 36 Hours to Die (1999) (television)
* The Deep End of the Ocean (1999)
* Every Mother's Worst Fear (1998) (television)
* The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) (television)
* Escape: Human Cargo (1998) (television)
* Deep Rising (1998)
* The Devil's Own (1997)
* The Phantom (1996)
* Mulholland Falls (1996)
* The Late Shift (1996) (television)
* Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)
* Johnny's Girl (1995) (television)
* In the Shadow of Evil (1995) (television)
* The Taming Power of the Small (1995)
* Mister Dog (1995)
* Texan (1994) (television)
* Parallel Lives (1994) (television)
* Where the Rivers Flow North (1994)
* Hand Gun (1994)
* Vault of Horror I (1994) (television)
* Good Advice (1993) (television series)
* Road to Avonlea (television)
* Bonds of Love (1993/I) (television)
* Deadly Matrimony (1992) (television)
* Batman (1992)
* The Water Engine (1992) (television)
* Tales from the Crypt (1992) (television)
* Till Death Us Do Part (1992) (television)
* Final Verdict (1991) (television)
* Eddie Dodd (1991) television series
* Max and Helen (1990) (television)
* Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (1990) television miniseries
* Oltre l'oceano (1990)
* Russicum - I giorni del diavolo (1989)
* Heart of Dixie (1989)
* Third Degree Burn (1989) (television)
* Dead Heat (1988)
* Sweet Lies (1988)
* Echoes in the Darkness (1987) (television)
* Faerie Tale Theatre (1987) (television)
* J. Edgar Hoover (1987) (television)
* Notte degli squali, La (1987)
* The Men's Club (1986)
* Smooth Talk (1985)
* Some Men Need Help (1985) (television)
* Flashpoint (1984)
* A Streetcar Named Desire (1984) (television movie)
* Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
* Stangata napoletana (1983)
* Dempsey (1983) (television)
* The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper (1981)
* Prince of the City (1981)
* Why Would I Lie? (1980)
* Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
* 1941 (1979)
* Hair (1979)
* The Ritz (1976)
* The Eagle Has Landed (1976)
* Deadly Hero (1976)
Hair
Treat Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a hairy guy
I'm hairy noon and night
Hair, that's a fright
I'm hairy high and low
Don't ask me why
Don't know
It's not for lack of bread
Darling
Gimme a head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming
Streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy daddy
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair
Let it fly in the breeze
And get caught in the trees
Give a home to the fleas in my hair
A home for the fleas
A hive for the buzzin' bees
A nest for birds
There ain't no words
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder
Of my
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
Oily, greasy, fleecy
Shining, gleaming, streaming
Flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka-dotted
Twisted, beaded, braided
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied
Oh say can you see my eyes?
If you can
Then my hair's too short
Down to here
Down to there
Down to where
Down to where
It stops by itself
They'll be ga ga at the go go
When they see me in my toga
My toga made of blond
Brilliantined
Biblical hair
My hair like Jesus wore it
Hallelujah, I adore it
Hallelujah, Mary loved her son
Why don't my mother love me?
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair
The lyrics of the song "Hair" by Treat Williams are a celebration of individuality and self-expression. The singer questions why he's a "hairy guy" but also declares proudly that his hair is a part of who he is, lacking a specific reason for its existence. The chorus is a perfect example of the theme of self-expression, as the singer demands "long, beautiful hair" in a variety of styles, from shiny and gleaming to twisted and braided, and declares that his hair is a natural wonder that should be appreciated.
The verses reference the negative connotations that some people may associate with long hair, including the idea that it's unkempt or "a fright." However, the singer rejects this idea by embracing his hair regardless of its length or style, even acknowledging that it provides a home for insects and birds. The playful nature of the song is evident in the final verse, where the singer imagines himself in a toga with "biblical hair," a nod to the idea that long hair has been associated with holiness and purity at different points in history.
Overall, "Hair" is a joyful celebration of individuality and self-expression, using the hair as a metaphor for all the small things that make us unique and special.
Line by Line Meaning
She asks me why
The singer is being questioned about why he has so much hair.
I'm just a hairy guy
The singer acknowledges that he is very hairy.
I'm hairy noon and night
The singer's hair is noticeable at all times of the day.
Hair, that's a fright
The amount of hair the singer has scares people.
I'm hairy high and low
The singer has hair on many different parts of his body.
Don't ask me why
The singer doesn't know why he is so hairy.
Don't know
The singer is unaware of the reason for his hairiness.
It's not for lack of bread
The singer's hair isn't due to malnourishment or poverty.
Like the Grateful Dead
The singer's hair is similar to that of a fan of the band Grateful Dead.
Darling
The singer addresses someone lovingly.
Gimme a head with hair
The singer desires hair on his head.
Long beautiful hair
The singer wants long, beautiful hair.
Shining, gleaming
The singer wants his hair to sparkle and shine.
Streaming, flaxen, waxen
The singer wants his hair to be long, flowing, and silky.
Give me down to there hair
The singer wants hair that is long enough to reach his shoulders.
Shoulder length or longer
The singer wants his hair to be at least as long as his shoulders.
Here baby, there mama
The singer wants hair all over his body.
Everywhere daddy daddy
The singer wants hair on every part of his body.
Flow it, show it
The singer wants his hair to be visible and flowing.
Long as God can grow it
The singer wants his hair to be as long as it naturally can grow.
Let it fly in the breeze
The singer wants his hair to blow in the wind freely.
And get caught in the trees
The singer doesn't mind if his hair gets tangled in trees.
Give a home to the fleas in my hair
The singer is okay with having fleas live in his hair.
A home for the fleas
The singer's hair provides shelter for fleas.
A hive for the buzzin' bees
The singer's hair is a place where bees can live and make honey.
A nest for birds
The singer's hair provides a place for birds to nest.
There ain't no words
The singer can't describe how beautiful his hair is.
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder
The singer's hair is a thing of beauty and fills him with awe.
I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
The singer wants his hair to have many different textures.
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
The singer wants his hair to be messy and unkempt.
Oily, greasy, fleecy
The singer doesn't mind if his hair is oily or greasy, but wants it to be soft like fleece.
Knotted, polka-dotted
The singer is okay with having tangled hair, and wants it to be decorated with polka dots.
Twisted, beaded, braided
The singer wants his hair to be styled in various ways.
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
The singer wants his hair to be covered in various substances and decorations.
Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied
The singer wants his hair to be adorned with intricate designs and decorations.
Oh say can you see my eyes?
The singer wants his hair to be long enough to cover his eyes.
If you can
If someone can see his eyes, his hair is too short.
Then my hair's too short
The length of the singer's hair should be long enough to cover his eyes.
Down to here
The singer wants his hair to reach down to his chest or lower.
Down to there
The singer wants his hair to reach all the way down his body.
Down to where
The singer wants his hair to reach the very bottom of his body.
It stops by itself
The singer's hair will only grow to a certain length before it stops naturally.
They'll be ga ga at the go go
People will be amazed when they see the singer's hair.
When they see me in my toga
The singer will wear a toga, possibly to show off his hair.
My toga made of blond
The singer's toga is made of blonde hair.
Brilliantined
The hair in the singer's toga is slicked back and shiny.
Biblical hair
The singer's hair is compared to the hair in biblical times.
My hair like Jesus wore it
The singer's hair style is similar to the way Jesus wore his hair.
Hallelujah, I adore it
The singer loves his hair and praises it.
Hallelujah, Mary loved her son
The singer references Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also loved her son's hair.
Why don't my mother love me?
The singer wonders why his mother doesn't love his hair.
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
The song emphasizes the amount of hair the singer has.
My hair
The singer's hair is a source of pride for him.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt Mac Dermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sandra Castillo
Thank you for your glorious contributions to this world, Treat Williams. RIP
Mark Whitman
Treat Williams was so good in so many things. And said to be one of the kindest men in the industry as well. Glad his suffering was brief. 🥀✋
Anne Coblentz
My favorite movie of all time! Speaks volumes.
Stacy B-R
RIP Treat Williams. Loved you in Chesapeake Shores and everything else! Such a handsome guy and wonderfully talented actor!!
zephyr
RIP, Treat Williams, actor and icon. May your memory be a blessing.
Carlos Guzman
Whatta TREAT this film was, Thanx Mr. Williams 🙏
KAREN Goldenthal
RIP, Treat Williams...😢
EmsLionHeart
🪦
You will be missed good sir
🕊️ Treat Williams
Sally Larkin
RIP Treat Williams. 😢
goodstorylover
Let the sunshine in...thanks for this film and a posssibility to taste some freedom feeling during our teens in a communist regime. And thank you Mister Berger!