Actors - Paul Williams

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	Actors - Paul Williams

Paul Hamilton Williams (born September 19, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska) is an American composer and songwriter. The diminutive (5 feet (1.5 m.) tall) and cherubic Williams is also an actor, appearing in films and many television guest appearances, notably as the lead role in the cult film Phantom of the Paradise
, a rock and roll remake of Phantom of the Opera. Williams worked closely with Jim Henson's Henson Productions on The Muppet Movie
, most specifically on the soundtrack.

Achievements

He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and his songs have been performed by both popular and country music artists. He is the son-in-law of actor Keenan Wynn. He has won one Academy Award, two Grammy Awards and several Golden Globes.

Williams is responsible for a number of enduring pop hits from the 1970s, including, "(Just an) Old Fashioned Love Song", a U.S. top-ten hit for the band Three Dog Night in late 1971, and a number of Carpenters hits, most notably "We've Only Just Begun", which has since become a cover-band standard, and de rigeur for weddings throughout North America. In addition, Williams penned the popular children's favorite "The Rainbow Connection", sung by Kermit in "The Muppet Movie".

Later life

Williams has been active in the field of recovery from addictions. He has been divorced twice, is currently married, and has two children.

Acting career

Movies

The Loved One, 1965
The Chase, 1966
Watermelon Man, 1970
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
, 1973
Phantom of the Paradise
, 1974
Smokey and the Bandit
, 1977, as Little Enos, a recurring part
The Cheap Detective
, 1978
The Muppet Movie
, 1979
Smokey and the Bandit II
, 1980
Smokey and the Bandit Part 3
, 1983
The Doors, 1991
Headless Body in Topless bar, 1995
The Rules of Attraction
, 2002

Plays

Under the Sycamore Tree
Tru on Broadway, 1989

Television

He has also made numerous television appearances in the 1970s and 1980s, including guest appearances on Match Game '79, The Love Boat, and The Muppet Show.

He is also known as the voice of the Penguin in Batman: The Animated Series.

Songwriter career

Albums

Words & Music
The Holy Mackerel
We've Only Just Begun
Someday Man
Just An Old Fashioned Love Song
Life Goes On
Here Comes Inspiration
A Little Bit Of Love
Phantom Of The Paradise
Ordinary Fool
A Little On The Windy Side
Crazy For Loving You

Notable songs

"We've Only Just Begun"
"Rainy Days and Mondays"
"I Won't Last a Day Without You"
"What Would They Say"
"Someday Man"
"Waking Up Alone"
"Rainbow Connection"
"(Just An) Old Fashioned Love Song"
"The Hell of It"
"One More Angel"
"Theme to the Love Boat"

Film music

The Getaway, 1972
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, 1972
Cinderella Liberty
, 1973
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
, 1974
Phantom of the Paradise
, 1974
The Day of the Locust
, 1975
Bugsy Malone
, 1976
A Star Is Born
, 1976
One on One, 1977
The End, 1978
Agatha, 1979
The Muppet Movie
, 1979
The Secret of NIMH
, 1982

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