Van Williams

Vocation

Actor best known for his television role as Britt Reid/the Green Hornet and his earlier leading role as Kenny Madison in both television detective series Bourbon Street Beat (1959-60) and its sequel, Surfside 6 (1960). A diving instructor in Hawaii in 1956, Williams was discovered there in 1957 by producer Mike Todd. Williams took vocal and acting lessons in Hollywood and was under contract with Warner Bros., 1959-1964. His big break came as costar of the television series Bourbon Street Beat, set in New Orleans. His character, Kenny Madison, was recycled into the Surfside 6 series in the same time slot. Williams played the famous radio character in the TV series, The Green Hornet, 1966–67, portraying the mysterious masked hero and his alter ego, newspaper editor Britt Reid. He and co-star Bruce Lee made guest appearances, in character, on the Batman series in several episodes. He retired from acting in 1982 to open a California communications company that leases time on six two-way radio repeater stations. In 1993, Williams made a cameo in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story as a director of The Green Hornet. Link to Wikipedia biography