Billy Dee Williams is an American actor and artist. Best known as Lando Calrissian in the original Star Wars trilogy, Williams' first major role was Gale Sayers in the 1971 television movie Brian's Song.

Billy Dee Williams grew up in Harlem, New York. With both parents working, his father as a maintenance man and his mother as an elevator operator, his West Indian maternal grandmother lived with the Williams family to help raise him and his twin sister, Loretta. People.com Out of This World Although Williams gained worldwide celebrity for his role in the second Star Wars film, he actually began his acting career primarily to support his art. In a 1980 People Magazine article, Williams was quoted as saying, "When I needed money for paint and canvases, I would do some TV work."People.com Out of This World

• Josh Quincy in The Last Angry Man (1959)
• Gale Sayers in Brian's Song (1971)
• Louis McKay in Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
• Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Episode V-The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Episode VI-Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Brady Lloyd in Dynasty (1984-1985)
• Harvey Dent in Batman (1989)
• Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Jedi Knight II-Jedi Outcast (2002) (voice)
• Touissant DuBois in General Hospital: Night Shift (2007)