Billy dee williams who plays the role of louise mckay in 72 billie dee was 35 years old and he really didnt have much if any movie experience. He is best known as lando calrissian in the star wars franchise, first in the early 1980s, and nearly forty years later in the rise of. With diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james t. Loosely based on billie holidays memoirs, lady sings the blues is a. Billy dee williams comes out as gender fluid blackdoctor.
Billie holiday lady sings the blues releases discogs. Billie holiday and richard pryor piano man along with billie dee williams. All of those thoughts were wiped out of my mind within the first three or four minutes of lady sings the blues, and i was left with a feeling of complete confidence in a dramatic performance. See more ideas about lady sings the blues, lady and billie holiday.
With billy dee williams and richard pryor, in his first important part. Lady sings the blues diana ross billy dee williams richard pryor 1972 billie holiday diana ross goes from harlem brothel maid to heroinaddicted singing star, losing the man billy dee williams she loves. Arguably the most charismatic role in the biggest movie series of alltime star wars. You would think that the eventful and exciting life of billie holiday would provide more than enough dramatic material for an engrossing, involving, and emotionpacked motion picture, but apparently the creators of lady sings the blues thought otherwise.
A legendary endorsement campaign with with malt liquor brand colt 45. Billy dee williams shares his star wars memories and why. Diana ross in lady sings the blues 1972 billy dee williams in lady sings the. Furie about jazz singer billie holiday, loosely based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holidays most popular songs. A handsome, suave leading man, billy dee williams was often touted as the black clark gable, especially after his costarring role in lady sings the blues 1972, opposite diana ross. A look at 5 of his best roles billy dee williams may have turned 80 last friday but he doesnt seem to be slowing down much. Only 147 films and tv series, including a movie that i wrote. On this date in 1937 actor billy dee williams was born in new york city. Yes, there are differences, such as the explicit role that drugs and.
Rather than concentrate on the fascinating real life of the woman who was arguably the. Lady sings the blues is a very loosely constructed autobiography arranged in chronological order but leaving many gaps. January 8, 2016 when talking about a masterpiece like lady sings the blues, its easy to get caught up in the actual story about the life of the iconic jazz great, billie holiday, but oftentimes, the stories of what happened behind the. Solider story narrates the classic and original movie trailer for the hit film lady sings the blues starring diana ross, billy dee williams. He rose to stardom after his role in brians song 1971. Lady sings the blues is an amazing chronicle of one of musics most gifted and soulful human beings. Episode vthe empire strikes back, lady sings the blues, and mahogany. Diana ross as billie holliday in lady sings the blues billy dee williams, lady sings. Diana ross as billie holiday billy dee williams as louis mckay. If you have the slightest spark of interest, you would be cheating yourself by passing on this wonderfully haunting book.
The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary jazz singer, billie holiday. This movie is about the legendary blues singer billie holiday from when she was a teenager till her tragic way too early death. Billie holiday giorgio armani diana ross style billy dee williams lady sings the blues paramount pictures hair fotografia instruments. Billy dee williams trends on twitter, fans immediately fear. Billy dee williams full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Even in characters like louis in lady sings the blues with diana ross or as the capewearing smuggler lando calrissian in the star wars universewilliams always gets the girl and does it. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 film about jazz singer billie holiday based on her 1956 autobiography which, in turn, took its title from one of holidays most popular songs. Billie holiday saw that her storys value was dependent upon absolute honesty on her part. Billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the.
Billie holidays bio, lady sings the blues, may be full of lies, but it. Billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads. Her supporting cast is solid, and theres definite chemistry between ross and billy dee williams. Actor billy dee williams as always been seen as the smoothtalking, ladies man who made it look all too easy to get women to fall all over him. Much of what is covered in the doc is also covered in the audio commentary, and it seems odd that gordy, furie and berger. His overwhelming popularity and powerful performance opposite diana ross in the films mahogony and lady sings the blues led many women flocking to see his character, lando calrissian, in george lucas space fantasy. Biopic of billie holiday starring diana ross in oscar nominated role. Diana ross portrayed holiday, alongside a cast including billy dee williams. Jan 12, 2017 billy dee williams, lando calrissian of star wars, to attend 2017 grand rapids comiccon.
He is best known as lando calrissian in the star wars franchise, first in the early 1980s, and nearly forty years later in the rise of skywalker 2019, marking one of the longest intervals between onscreen portrayals of a character by the same actor in american film history. Apr 06, 2020 with 147 acting credits in his filmography, billy dee williams excelled at playing actionadventure roles and romantic leads. The star is also famous for roles in bryans song, mahogany, lady sings the blues, nighthawks. Lady sings the blues is a 1972 american biographical drama film directed by sidney j. Lady sings the blues is the fiercely honest, noholdsbarred originally released by doubleday in 1956, harlem moon classics celebrates the publication with the fiftiethanniversary edition of billie holidays unforgettable and timeless memoir. Many were skeptical that diana ross was the right casting for this crucial role, but the consensus is that she did a creditable job, and brought her own charismatic, mercurial wattage to a part that would be formidable.
Billy dee williams who plays the role of louise mckay in 72 billie dee was 35 years old. It was produced by motown productions for paramount pictures. Beginning with holidays traumatic youth, the film depicts her early. Rarely has the anticipation of a screen debut or the excitement over its success run as high as when diana ross stepped into the role of a lifetime as tortured jazz singer billie holiday in lady sings the blues 1972. Lady sings the blues original soundtrack diana ross.
Lady sings the blues 1972 pop star diana ross portrays legendary jazz singer billie holiday in this biographical drama. Billy dee tells what made berry gordy extremely jealous on. Billy dee williams celebrity profile check out the latest billy dee williams photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Lady sings the blues and brians song star billy dee williams, 82, returns to his role as the dashing lando calrissian in star wars. The former heartthrob recently reprised his popular, somewhat controversial role as the brand ambassador for colt 45. Diana ross portrayed holiday, alongside a cast including billy dee williams, richard pryor. Best known for his work as lando calrissian in the star wars franchise, his legacy, career and impact. I knew she could sing, although not as well as billie holiday and certainly not in. Williams will be a featured guest at the nickel city con, which will take place at the buffaloniagara events center this friday, may 19 through sunday. It is based on billie holidays reminiscences as told to collaborator. Billy dee tells what made berry gordy extremely jealous on lady sings the blues set posted on. Diana ross plays the magnificent, tragic song stylist billie holiday. Mom and pop were just a couple of kids when they got married.
May 31, 2018 billy dee williams made his first film debut in 1959. The billie holiday story adapted as a star vehicle for diana ross, who. An oscar nomination for her seemed almost inevitable. Steve harveys relationship advice book act like a lady. Billie holiday the real lady sings the blues 1963, vinyl. In the process, she becomes the lover of gambler louis mckay billy dee williams, who. Nevertheless, the carnegie triumph is frozen in time. Williams became one of americas wellknown africanamerican film actors during the 1970s.
Some of his most notable work includes appearances in star wars. When diana ross chose to make her feature film debut playing the role of billie holiday, in the biopic lady sings the blues, released on october it was a bold move for the motown queen. Billy dee williams was trending on twitter early thursday morning, and people immediately thought the worst. Sep 18, 2006 billie holidays autobiography, lady sings the blues, begins with one of the great alltime leads. Like other stories in this frank, funny and compelling book, whats on the. He starred in the movie the the last angry man, opposite of paul muni, in which he portrayed a delinquent young man. If you copy, it means youre working without any real feeling. Billy dee s career has encompassed so much, including the films undercover brother, nighthawks, bingo longand bryans. Apr 06, 2012 today marks the 75th birthday of american actor, singer, writer and artist billy dee williams. Apr 06, 2017 billy dee williams was trending on twitter early thursday morning, and people immediately thought the worst. Billy dee williams list of movies and tv shows tv guide.
His first role was a boy suffering from convulsions being. Billy dee williams was born william december williams on april 6, 1937 in new york city. Billy dee williams, lando calrissian of star wars, to. Trousdale estates billy dee williams beverly hills. Hollywood costume, diana ross, best black, character costumes, costume. Eastern lady sings the blues diana ross, billy dee williams, richard pryor, james callahan, paul hampton, sid melton. He is best known as lando calrissian in the star wars franchise, first in the early 1980s, and nearly forty years later in the rise of skywalker 2019, marking one of the longest intervals between onscreen portrayals of a character. Levi stubbs for the role of louis mckay, but stubbs had turned it down because he. Billie holiday quotes author of lady sings the blues. Billy dee williams trends on twitter, fans immediately.