Nov 27, 2023
Anson Williams is an
established actor, singer and
Williams has since become a prominent television director, working on programs such as Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Lizzie McGuire and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Williams began his career in 1971, when he appeared in a commercial for McDonald’s. The first of many. In 1972, Williams landed the role of Potsie Weber in a segment of the comedy-anthology series Love, American Style titled "Love and the Happy Days", which also introduced Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard), Richie's mother Marion (Marion Ross), and other characters that were spun off into the television series Happy Days.
After Happy Days, Williams began a very prolific career as a television director, starting with short programs for adolescent-age children, including afterschool specials "No Greater Gift" and "The Drug Knot", and TV-movie Lone Star Kid. He has gone on to direct many episodes for a variety of television series, including The Pretender, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, seaQuest 2032, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed. He also directed several episodes of the TV series 7th Heaven.
Williams is also a businessman. He founded Starmaker Products, a cosmetics company, and was a featured speaker at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's National Trademark Expo in April 2008, at which he talked about the importance of registered trademarks for small businesses.
Williams is the author of Singing to a Bulldog: From Happy Days to Hollywood Director, and the Unlikely Mentor Who Got Me There.
Dr. Henry Heimlich, namesake of the Heimlich maneuver for treating choking victims, was the inspiration for his most recent creation, Alert Drops, to combat the ever growing danger of individuals falling asleep while driving. Williams has become an advocate for Drowsy Driver Awareness and Alert Drops.com has been credited with saving thousands of lives and been acknowledged by First Responders across the country and the US Congress.