Actor Dick Anthony Williams [Homefront] 1934-2012

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Dick Anthony Williams, 77, a prolific actor who was nominated for Tony Awards for his work in the 1970s Broadway dramas "Black Picture Show" and "What the Wine-Sellers Buy" and gained acclaim for his portrayal of Malcolm X in theater and TV productions, died Thursday at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys after a long illness, said family friend Samantha Wheeler.

Williams was described in a 1979 Times profile as "an actor with the capacity for turning tiny roles into small gems."

He played Malcolm X in the 1978 NBC miniseries "King" starring Paul Winfield in the title role and again played the militant in several theatrical productions of Jeff Stetson's play "The Meeting" as well as a version of the drama that aired on public television.

Williams was a regular on the early '90s ABC-TV series "The Homefront" and had guest roles on "The Jeffersons," "Lou Grant," "L.A. Law," "The X-Files," "Law & Order," "The Larry Sanders Show," "NYPD Blue" and many other TV series. His film appearances included "The Mack," "Five on the Black Hand Side," "The Jerk," "Gardens of Stone," "Edward Scissorhands" and "Mo' Better Blues."

On stage, he directed and starred in "Big Time Buck White" in Watts before it moved to New York. In New York he was active in the early days of Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre and its minority-focused productions.

Born in Chicago on Aug. 9, 1934, Williams had polio as a child and began acting in college.