Dolly Parton Mourns Co-Star’s Death

Dolly Parton took to Instagram to mourn the loss of her one time co-star, Treat Williams, who was killed in a motorcycle accident this week.

It was announced on the night of June 12, 2023 that veteran actor Treat Williams had died. Barry McPherson, the actor’s longtime agent, confirmed the news to PEOPLE, saying, “He was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off. I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented.”

The Accident

The accident took place in Dorset, Vermont on Monday (June 12) around 5pm, according to the fire chief, Jacob Gribble. Gribble confirmed that the crash only involved one car other than Williams’ motorcycle. Williams was the only one injured and was airlifted to a hospital in New York, where he passed away. First responders suspect that the car was trying to turn and did not see Williams on his motorcycle, but they will be doing an investigation.

Williams’ 48-Year Career

Treat Williams’ acting career kicked off in 1975 when he was in the thriller Deadly Hero. A year later, he appeared in the filmsThe Ritz and The Eagle Has Landed. He shot to stardom after his Golden Globe-nominated starring role in the movie musical Hair, based on the hit broadway musical.

He continued to act, and receive another Golden Globe nomination, over the years. In 2002 he once again gained mainstream attention when he starred on the TV show Everwood as Dr. Andy Brown. In 2019, the actress who played his love interest on the show, Stephanie Niznik, passed away, and just a few weeks ago fellow cast member John Beasly died, leaving the Everwood fans heartbroken especially after Williams’ passing.

In recent years, Williams has had recurring roles on Blue Bloods and Chicago Fire, and has dipped his toes in the Hallmark world, appearing in Christmas movies and one of their hit shows. He also appeared in Dolly Parton’s Christmas On The Square.

Tributes To Treat

After the news of Williams’ death, tributes began pouring in from co-stars through the years.

Dolly Parton also took to social media to mourn his death and write a sweet message about Williams.

“I was very sad to hear that Treat Williams had passed away,” she wrote. “I’ve always been a fan and I had the wonderful opportunity of working with him on ‘Christmas on the Square’ a few years back. I’ve never known a kinder, sweeter, more talented person in my life.”

She continued, “I just wanted to send my condolences to his family and just to know that we’ll always remember the great body of work he left behind.”

We also send our thoughts and prayers to Williams’ family and friends. He leaves behind his wife, Pam Van Sant, and their two children, Gille and Ellie. He was 71 years old.

See Dolly’s post below.