Paul Williams

Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. was born on September 19, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska. His early life involved frequent relocations due to his father, an architectural engineer. Following his father’s death when Paul was 13, he moved to Long Beach, California, and later to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he engaged in theater. He began his career as an actor, notably portraying a 10-year-old boy genius in the 1965 film “The Loved One” at age 24. This role, along with others, established his presence in film and television, leading to significant acting credits including “Smokey and the Bandit” films and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes.”

Williams transitioned into songwriting, collaborating with Biff Rose on “Fill Your Heart” (1968), later covered by David Bowie. A pivotal partnership with Roger Nichols led to hit songs like The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun” (1970) and “Rainy Days and Mondays” (1971), and Three Dog Night’s “Out in the Country” (1970) and “An Old Fashioned Love Song” (1971). His work also extended to film scores, earning an Academy Award nomination for “Nice to Be Around” (1973) from “Cinderella Liberty” and for the cult classic “Phantom of the Paradise” (1974), in which he also starred. He served as Music Supervisor for “A Star Is Born” (1976), co-writing “Evergreen” with Barbra Streisand, which won an Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe. Williams further contributed to Jim Henson’s projects, including the Academy Award-nominated song “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie” (1979).

In addition to his creative pursuits, Williams has been a recovery advocate. After overcoming personal struggles with substance abuse, he became certificated as a drug and alcohol counselor by UCLA and has been active in promoting recovery. Since 2009, he has served as the president and chairman of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), championing music creators’ rights. His career has also seen collaborations with contemporary artists like Daft Punk on their Grammy-winning album “Random Access Memories” (2013). Williams continues to be recognized for his extensive songwriting catalog, acting roles, and dedication to recovery and artist advocacy.