Treat Williams

Williams in 2011, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Richard Treat Williams

Date of Birth: December 1, 1951

Place of Birth: Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.

Date of Death: June 12, 2023

Place of Death: Albany, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, smaller amounts of Dutch, Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, and Welsh, distant German

Treat Williams was an American actor, children’s book author, and aviator. His roles included the films Deadly Hero, The Eagle Has Landed, Hair, 1941, Why Would I Lie?, Prince of the City, The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper, Once Upon a Time in America, Flashpoint, Smooth Talk, The Men’s Club, Night of the Sharks, Dead Heat, Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead, Mulholland Falls, The Phantom (1996), The Devil’s Own, Deep Rising, The Deep End of the Ocean, The Substitute sequels, Hollywood Ending, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, The Hideout, What Happens in Vegas, Howl, 127 Hours, Barefoot, Second Act, and 12 Mighty Orphans; the series Everwood, Heartland, White Collar, Chicago Fire, Chesapeake Shores, Blue Bloods, and We Own This City; the made-for-tv movies A Streetcar Named Desire (1984), Drug Wars: The Camarena Story, and The Late Shift (1996); and acclaimed stage performances.

Treat was the son of Marian (Andrew), an antiques dealer, and Richard Norman “Dick” Williams, a corporate executive. He had considerable Colonial American ancestry, with deep roots focused in Connecticut in particular. He was raised mostly in Rowayton, Connecticut, and was from an upper-class family. Treat was married to Pam Van Sant, until his death, with whom he had two children.

Treat’s paternal grandfather was William Norman Williams (the son of S. John/Samuel John Williams and Jennie/Jenny Jones). William was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady, New York, and was President of the Chemical Group of the FMC Corporation of Chicago. S. John was English. Jennie was Canadian, and the daughter of English parents.

Treat’s paternal grandmother was Blanche Mott (the daughter of Charles C. Mott and Luella Ostrander). Blanche was born in New York. Charles was the son of Tallman Mott and Cornelia Case. Luella was the daughter of George Ostrander and Josephine Colliton.

Treat’s maternal grandfather was Treat Paine/Payne Andrew (the son of George Willey Andrew and Mary Abigail Gillette). Treat’s grandfather Treat was born in Naugatuck, New Haven, Connecticut. George was the son of George Sidney/Sydney Andrew and Harriett Louisa/Louise Scott. Mary was the daughter of Rufus M. Gillette and Abigail Payne.

Treat’s maternal grandmother was Eleanor Barnum (the daughter of Richard Nicholls/Nichol Barnum and Marian Hutchinson/Hutchison Cocks/Cox). Eleanor was born in Connecticut. Treat’s great-grandfather Richard was born in Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer, New York, and was a member of the Secret Service during WWII. He was the son of Charles W. Barnum and Mary Elizabeth Nicholls. Charles’s father, Treat’s great-great-great-grandfather, was William Henry Barnum, a Democratic politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut, from May 18, 1876 to March 4, 1879, and who was a third cousin, once removed, of showman and politician P. T. Barnum; William was nicknamed “Seven Mule Barnum.” Treat’s great-grandmother Marian was born in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, the daughter of John James Cocks, whose paternal grandfather likely was born in London, England, and of Florence Eliza Hutchison/Hutcheson/Hutchinson, whose paternal grandfather was born in Armagh, Ireland.

Sources: Genealogy of Treat Williams – https://famouskin.com

Genealogy of Treat’s parents – http://www.barnum.org

Treat’s paternal grandfather, William Norman Williams, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Treat’s paternal grandmother, Blanche Mott, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Blanche Mott on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Treat’s maternal grandfather, Treat Paine/Payne Andrew, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Treat’s maternal grandmother, Eleanor Barnum, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org