Happy Days

Background:

American actor and director Anson Williams is best remembered as Warren 'Potsie' Weber on the long running ABC sitcom “Happy Days” (1974-1984), from which he picked up a Golden Globe nomination. An aspiring gym teacher, Williams found a knack on acting as a freshman in college and began pursuing his ambitions after he quit college. Following early stage work in Kansas, he appeared in commercials and TV shows during the early 1970s and soon hit the big time with “Happy Days.” Since the demise of “Happy Days,” Williams has switched gears from acting to directing. He has helmed episodes of popular TV shows such as “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Melrose Place,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Charmed” and “Lizzie McGuire.” More recently, he worked on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (2008-?).

In the early 2000s, Williams made sporadic return to acting with work in episodes of “Baywatch” (as Councilman McKenn), “Son of the Beach” (as Warden Jack Beatty) and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (reprised the role of Potsie). In 2009, he costarred in the television film “Take 2” (also a director and an executive producer).

Williams has been married twice. He is the father of six. He is the nephew of Dr. Henry Heimlich, famous for creating the Heimlich Maneuver for treating upset victims.

Potsie

Childhood and Family:

Anson Williams was born Anson William Heimlich on September 25, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. His father Haskel was an art director for an aviation company, as well as a concessionaire. During high school, Anson worked nights at his dad's Orange Julius stand on Van Nuys Boulevard. Anson attended Pierce Junior College and took a drama class as a freshman. He immediately caught by the acting bug, and then dropped out of college. The captain of high school's track team gave up his plans to become a physical education teacher to try his hand in acting.

On November 19, 1978, Anson tied the knot with actress Lorrie Mahaffey, whom he met on the set of “Happy Days.” In the series, she played Anson's onscreen girlfriend, Jennifer Jerome. They divorced in 1986 after having one daughter. Anson next married Jackie Gerken in 1988. The couple have five children together.

Anson is known with the nickname Potsie.

Behind the Camera

Career:

Anson Williams got his first professional acting job in Kansas where he performed in “The Spund of Music” and “The Music Man.” He went on to appear in several McDonalds commercials in 1971 and also began taking guest spots in television series such as “Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law” (1971), “The Paul Lynde Show” (1972) and “Marcus Welby, M.D.” (1973). He made TV movie bow in the NBC critically acclaim drama “Lisa, Bright and Dark” (1973), playing Brian Morris. Costars in the film include Anne Baxter, John Forsythe and Anne Lockhart.

Williams' big breakthrough arrived when he landed the regular role of Warren 'Potsie' Weber on the Garry Marshall-created comedy series “Happy Days” (ABC, 1974-1984), opposite Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Ron Howard and Don Most. Playing a gifted singer, and the closest friend of Richie (played by Howard), he stayed with the show throughout its seven season run, and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1985 in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV for his fine acting.

During his tenure on “Happy Days,” Williams could also be seen making guest appearances in the TV series “Laverne & Shirley” (1976), where he reprised his “Happy Days” role in the episode “Excuse Me, May I Cut in?,” “The Love Boat” (1977, as Sean McGlynn), “Greatest Heroes of the Bible” (1979, as Nabar) and “Fantasy Island” (1983). Besides, he appeared in the TV film “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” (1977), directed by Tim Kiley, and hosted with the then wife Lorrie Mahaffey the TV special “Anson and Lorri” (1981), which was conceptualized as a pilot for a spin off, but it was unsold.

Four months after the departure of “Happy Days” from the airwaves, Williams had a supporting role as Nick Bellows in the NBC telepic “I Married a Centerfold” (1984), based on the real life romance and marriage of Playboy's Miss April 1982, Linda Rhys Vaughn. The film starred Teri Copley, Tim Daly and Diane Ladd. “I Married a Centerfold” became Williams' last performance for about 11 years as he focused on his new career, directing.

Williams made his directing debut in 1985 with the “ABC Afterschool Specials” “No Greater Gift,” starring Ajay Naidu and Betty Thomas. It was followed by work in the CBS “School Break Special” “The Drug Knot” (1986) and “L.A. Law” (1987) before he co wrote and directed the TV movie “Lone Star Kid” (1988), which he also executive produced with former “Happy Days” costar Ron Howard. He continue to helm Barbara Eden, Hector Elizondo, Meagen Fay and David Kaufman in “Your Mother Wears Combat Boots” (1989), Tempestt Bledsoe and Clifton Davis in “Dream Date” (1989) and Tim Matheson, Ann Jillian and Howard's younger brother, Clint, in “Little White Lies” (1989). All the three telepics aired on NBC. He also helmed episodes of “Hooperman” (3 episodes, 1987-1988), “Just the Ten of Us” (1 episode, 1988) and “Baywatch” (unknown episode, 1989).

During the 1990s, Williams' directing career increased significantly. He helmed episodes of popular series like “Diagnosis Murder” (4 episodes, 1993-1994), “SeaQuest DSV” (7 episodes, 1995-1996), “Xena: Warrior Princess” (1 episode, 1996), “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” (2 episodes, 1996), “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” (2 episodes, 1997-1998), “Star Trek: Voyager” (4 episodes, 1997-1999), “Melrose Place” (9 episodes, 1996-1999), “Beverly Hills, 90210” (8 episodes, 1996-1999) and “7th Heaven” (2 episodes, 1998-1999). Other directing efforts included the TV film “Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder” (1990, starred Teri Garr and Robert Urich), the direct to video thriller “All-American Murder” (1991, starred Christopher Walken and Charlie Schlatter) and other episodic TV such as “New York Undercover,” “The Pretender” and “The Love Boat: The Next Wave.” In 1995, Williams made a brief return to acting when he appeared as a waiter in an episode of the sitcom “Fudge” called “No Exit.” He also directed the episode and six more episodes of the series named “ The Mouse Trappers,” “The Art of Friendship,” “The Grade Escape,” “The TV Star,” “Saving Up Is Hard to Do” and “How Turtle Got His Name” (all 1995).

In the new millennium, Williams continued to direct a string of hit series like the Melissa Joan Hart fantasy “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (1999-2003), the Holly Marie Combs/Alyssa Milano/ Shannen Doherty (later replaced by Rose McGowan) mystery series “Charmed” (3 episodes, 2000-2001) and the Hilary Duff vehicle “Lizzie McGuire” (5 episodes, 2001-2002). From 2000 to 2002, he also directed episodes of “The Pretender,” “Titans,” “The Nightmare Room” and “Body & Soul.”

Back to acting after a long time hiatus, Williams delivered good performance as Councilman McKenna in two episodes of “Baywatch” (2000). He next played Warden Jack Beatty in an episode of “ Son of the Beach” called “Jailhouse Notch: Part 2” (2002) and reprised the role of Potsie in an episode of “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” named “Sabrina in Wonderland” (2003), which he also directed.

Recently, in 2009, Williams directed episodes of the teen drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” created by Brenda Hampton and starring Shailene Woodley, Daren Kagasoff, Kenny Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley II, Megan Park, Francia Raisa and Molly Ringwald. He also directed and executive produced the comedy telepic “Take 2” (2009), which he starred with Beth Littleford and Don Most.

Awards:
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