Greg Berlanti, Gregory Smith, Sarah Drew React To Treat Williams Death
UPDATE: Everwood creator Greg Berlanti has shared a remembrance of his first meeting with Treat Williams following the veteran actor’s death Monday in a motorcycle accident in Vermont. Berlanti posted a tribute on Instagram next to a photo of Williams with Berlanti’s sister. “I can still feel the warmth of your presence,” Berlanti wrote.
“I remember our first lunch like it was yesterday. Myself and my fellow producer were meeting you about playing Doctor Andy Brown. I was only 29 and had never worked with a star of your stature, let alone had lunch about anything I had written. I was shaking (it was only months after September 11th and the whole world was still shaking). The assignment by the studio was to somehow vibe and see if “you were Andy”. The lunch lasted hours and at the end you gave me a hug that made me feel like everything would be okay. My answer to the network after was that if we were able to capture half of Treat’s warmth, humor, wisdom and heart we would have a tv show. I can still feel the warmth of your presence back then. People could feel it through the screen when watching Everwood. That was the secret magic of the show, every week you were giving the world a much needed hug. The kindness you showed me from that lunch through our time working together changed the course of my life and my own heart. Your loss from this world, especially only weeks after the loss of the beloved John Beasley, is heartbreaking and inconceivable to me. My love and prayers for you and your beautiful family who you loved so dearly and always reminded me nothing was worth anything without.
I have many photos from that joyful time. This is the one I keep by my writing desk. It’s from our lunch after the Everwood pick up at upfronts, of you and my sister. I’ve always loved it because it reminds me of the best about this business. As it, and you, always will.”
PREVIOUS: Gregory Smith, who portrayed Treat Williams’ son Ephram on all four seasons of Everwood, is paying tribute to the veteran actor, who died Monday following a motorcycle accident.
“This news is devastating,” Smith said in a statement to Deadline. “Treat was a wonderful man and a brilliant actor. Above all, he loved his family so much. I’m very grateful for the time I got to spend as part of his extended tv family. He made an indelible impression on me during my most formative years. I will always cherish my time with Treat and think fondly of his stories, his laugh and his passion for adventure. I’m sending love to his family, Pam, Gil and Elinor. He will be deeply missed.”
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Williams starred as the kindhearted Dr. Andy Brown on WB’s Everwood from 2002-2006, receiving two SAG Award nominations for his work on the show, which also helped launch the careers of Smith, Emily VanCamp and Chris Pratt.
RELATED: Emily VanCamp Pays Tribute To ‘Everwood’ Co-Star Treat Williams
Sarah Drew, who co-starred as Hannah Rogers on Seasons 3 and 4 of Everwood also issued a statement to Deadline. “I’m utterly heartbroken by the tragic and sudden death of Treat Williams. My experience working with Treat on Everwood was formative in my life and career. We had a beautiful and extremely close-knit family during our years in Salt Lake City. I learned so much from Treat’s talent and leadership and we have lost a bright light today. My heart goes out to his family.”
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VanCamp, who starred opposite Williams issued a statement Monday. “The many times we worked together- always wonderful and I was always excited for the next time,” VanCamp wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Williams. “Sending all my love to your family, Treat. Fly high my friend.”
Scott Wolf, who protrayed Dr. Jake Hartman on Everwood, remembers Williams’ “big, beautiful heart.”
Source: Deadline
