Anson Williams is a famous actor from the hit series “Happy Days” who played Potsie. Decades later, he’s still asked about his time on the show. However, since the show’s end, Williams has built several businesses and sưrvivеd colon cancеr. He turned his new lease on life into a chance to live a purposeful life and even tried running for major.
Anson Williams broke into fame as Potsie on the iconic series “Happy Days.” His character was so big that it earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
The role of Potsie took time to fill, as hundreds of people auditioned for it. But it fell into Williams’s lap. His agent threw the part at him last minute, and William showed up late to the audition.
But the first pilot of the show did not sell. However, the actor was invited to shoot the second pilot and went on to do a screen test with a lot more other people, but he had to wait a month before he knew he got the role.
“Happy Days” was not his first on-screen job; Williams made his first paycheque in a McDonald’s commercial, which also turned out to be so iconic that it was brought back on TV years later.
The actor was proud that he worked with such a famous brand and got the feel of making his own money. But his time on “Happy Days” was most memorable.
Williams credited the creator of the show, Garry Marshall, for carefully selecting a group of people that would end up having the closest relationship even four decades after the show ended.
The actor also reiterated that Marshall did not only lead them when it came to their performances, but he treated their time on the show as a learning experience and taught the whole “Happy Days” crew about the ins and out of the entertainment industry.
Most “Happy Days” members have sustained successful careers on and off-screen. For Williams, his time on the show gave him the best friendships and an on-screen girlfriend that would later become his wife.
Williams met his first wife, Lorrie Mahaffey, on the Grand Ole Opry, but art imitated life when Mahaffey was a guest star on “Happy Days” and played Williams’ girlfriend. They married in 1978 but ended their union in 1986. They also have a daughter, Hannah, together.
Despite all the fame he gained from “Happy Days,” Williams could not get used to the glamour of Hollywood. He said he would still choose a hamburger over a filet Mignon.
But the actor was most appreciative of the opportunity to be introduced to a group of successful and talented actors that became family.
While acting positively impacted William’s life, he explained that he never feared becoming typecast because he knew he would not be in the industry forever. The actor had his entrepreneurial passions to explore.
Beating Cancer and Saving Lives
Since the end of “Happy Days,” Williams has ventured into creating a business behind the scenes. He directed the show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” for five years.
The actor owns two product companies and has his hands full as a father of five. “I have no time. My life’s not my own.” reiterated Williams.
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