David Walliams is an English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, who first gained fame with the television show Little Britain, a sketch comedy that he and his frequent collaborator, Matt Lucas, starred in and wrote. Walliams later became a successful children’s book author. Williams grew up in

LaVern Baker was an American rhythm-and-blues singer notable for her vocal power and rhythmic energy. At age 17 she performed as Little Miss Sharecropper. Her 1955–65 tenure with Atlantic Records yielded 15 rhythm-and-blues hits, most notably “Tweedle Dee” (1955), “Jim Dandy” (1957), and “I Cried a

Johnny Mathis: …a duet with rhythm-and-blues singer Deniece Williams. Additional duets with Williams followed, as well as with other performers, including Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight.

Utah Jazz: The Jazz drafted point guard Deron Williams in 2005, and after a three-year absence the team returned to the playoffs in Williams’s second season. Utah beat the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors in the postseason to advance to the conference finals, where the Jazz lost to the eventual…

universal: Trope nominalism: …nominalists, follow the American philosopher Donald Cary Williams in positing an extra kind of part for things. Williams held that a round red disk, for example, has parts in addition to its concrete spatial parts, such as its upper and lower halves. It also has as parts a particular “redness…

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Led by quarterback Doug Williams, in 1979 the Bucs—to the surprise of many observers—won 10 games and qualified for the postseason, where they advanced to the conference championship game but lost to the Los Angeles Rams. Tampa Bay went on to playoff berths in both 1981 and 1982,…

Wales: Politics and religion, 1640–1800: …of its key figures was Edward Williams (Iolo Morganwg), whose endeavours encompassed a vast range of literary and historical studies and who also represented the political radicalism inspired by the French Revolution. Radical convictions were held only by a small minority, some of them eccentrics and others distinguished expatriates, but…

Edward Bennett Williams was an American lawyer best known for his defense of famous public figures. After graduating summa cum laude from Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, he served in the Army Air Force before earning a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in

Bert Williams was a Bahamian-born American comedian and singer who portrayed the slow-witted, shuffling Black man that was then a standard, if racist, role in vaudeville. Williams and his family moved from the Bahamas to the United States when he was ten. They made their way to California and

Betty Williams was a Northern Irish peace activist who, with Máiread Maguire and Ciaran McKeown, founded the Peace People, a grassroots movement dedicated to ending the sectarian strife in Northern Ireland. For her work, Williams shared with Maguire the 1976 Nobel Prize for Peace. Williams, an

Jean Rhys was a West Indian novelist who earned acclaim for her early works set in the bohemian world of Europe in the 1920s and ’30s but who stopped writing for nearly three decades, until she wrote a successful novel set in the West Indies. The daughter of a Welsh doctor and a Creole mother, Rhys

The Vikings: …by the film’s famed editor, Elmo Williams, who had won an Academy Award for his work on the classic High Noon (1952).

Emlyn Williams was a Welsh actor and playwright, author of some highly effective, often macabre plays. Williams was educated in Geneva and at Christ Church, Oxford. In the 1930s and ’40s he wrote some immensely successful plays, which contained starring parts for himself. The best-known of these

Williamstown: …1765 and renamed for Colonel Ephraim Williams, killed in the French and Indian War (1754–63), who had bequeathed money in his will to establish a “free school” there provided the town bear his name. The school was opened in 1791 and chartered as Williams College in 1793. The town’s Sterling…

Eric Williams was the first and longtime prime minister of independent Trinidad and Tobago (1962–81), who founded (1956) the People’s National Movement (PNM) and led his country to independence. Williams was educated at Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain, and at the University of Oxford, from

Eric Williams was the first and longtime prime minister of independent Trinidad and Tobago (1962–81), who founded (1956) the People’s National Movement (PNM) and led his country to independence. Williams was educated at Queen’s Royal College, Port of Spain, and at the University of Oxford, from

Esther Williams was an American swimming champion who became one of the most popular and profitable Hollywood movie stars of the 1940s and ’50s. Williams was a teenaged swimming champion who set a record for the 100-metre breaststroke in 1939 and won national titles in Seattle, Washington, and

Esther Williams was an American swimming champion who became one of the most popular and profitable Hollywood movie stars of the 1940s and ’50s. Williams was a teenaged swimming champion who set a record for the 100-metre breaststroke in 1939 and won national titles in Seattle, Washington, and

Evan Williams is an American computer programmer who, with Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone, founded Twitter, an online microblogging service. Williams grew up on a farm but had aspirations of starting his own business, and he left the University of Nebraska at Lincoln without graduating. In the mid-1990s

Fannie Barrier Williams was an American social reformer, lecturer, and clubwoman who cofounded (1893) the National League of Colored Women. Williams graduated from the local State Normal School (now the State University of New York College at Brockport) in 1870. Thereafter she taught in freedmen’s

Emlyn Williams was a Welsh actor and playwright, author of some highly effective, often macabre plays. Williams was educated in Geneva and at Christ Church, Oxford. In the 1930s and ’40s he wrote some immensely successful plays, which contained starring parts for himself. The best-known of these

Kofi Awoonor was a Ghanaian novelist and poet whose verse has been widely translated and anthologized. After graduating (1960) from the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana, Legon), Awoonor studied at University College, London (M.A., 1970), and the State University of

George Washington Williams was an American historian, clergyman, politician, lawyer, lecturer, and soldier who was the first person to write an objective and scientifically researched history of black people in the United States. The son of a laborer, Williams enlisted at age 14 in the Union Army

The Incredible Shrinking Man: …cloud, Scott Carey (played by Grant Williams) discovers that his body is shrinking. As he grows smaller, his understanding of the world—and his role in it—also changes. At one point, he is forced to reside in a dollhouse and battle “giant” spiders and cats just to stay alive. Eventually he…

Oklahoma City Thunder: …by guards Dennis Johnson and Gus Williams, as well as center Jack Sikma—winning the rematch in five games to capture the franchise’s first NBA championship. Seattle advanced to the conference finals again in 1979–80 but was eliminated by a Lakers team featuring rookie sensation Magic Johnson.

Zorro: Disney’s Zorro series (1957–59), starring Guy Williams as the masked hero, as well as a syndicated live-action show (1990–93) and numerous animated series.

Hank Williams was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music’s first superstar. An immensely talented songwriter and an impassioned vocalist, he also experienced great crossover success in the popular music market. His iconic status was amplified by

Hank Williams Jr. is an American country and western musician and one of the most successful and long-lasting performers of the genre. Although in the early years of his career he sang the songs of his legendary father, over time he developed his own voice and sound—a fusion of rock and country

Helen Maria Williams was an English poet, novelist, and social critic best known for her support of such radical causes as abolitionism and the French Revolution. The daughter of an army officer, she was privately educated at Berwick-on-Tweed. After she went to London in 1781 to publish her poem

geochronology: Completion of the Phanerozoic time scale: …by the paleontologist and stratigrapher Henry Shaler Williams.

Pan-Africanism: The Pan-African Congress movement: The organizer was Henry Sylvester Williams, a native of Trinidad. The meeting was attended by several prominent Blacks from Africa, Great Britain, the West Indies, and the United States. Du Bois was perhaps the most-prominent member of U.S. delegation.

Hank Williams was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who in the 1950s arguably became country music’s first superstar. An immensely talented songwriter and an impassioned vocalist, he also experienced great crossover success in the popular music market. His iconic status was amplified by

Hosea Williams was an American civil rights leader and politician who was a major figure in the struggle against segregation and served with the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., as organizer and advance man. He and John Lewis led the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, during

Batwoman: …and the revolutionary artwork of J.H. Williams III. Williams, who had previously worked on Alan Moore’s genre-bending Promethea, redefined the visual expectations of a monthly superhero book with bold pencil work and innovative page layouts that were complex without looking cluttered.

Jody Williams is an American activist who helped found the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 1992. In 1997 she and the campaign were named corecipients of the Nobel Prize for Peace. (Read Nobelist Jody Williams’ Britannica essay on landmines.) In 1984 Williams received a master’s

Joe Williams was an American singer known for his mastery of jazz, blues, and ballads and for his association with Count Basie in the 1950s. Williams moved from Georgia to Chicago at the age of three. As a youth he sang with a gospel group. In 1937 he joined clarinetist Jimmie Noone’s band, which

Rarotonga: …was the base from which John Williams of the London Missionary Society (who arrived in 1823) sought to Christianize the islands.

John Williams is an American composer who created some of the most iconic film scores of all time. He scored more than a hundred movies, many of which were directed by Steven Spielberg. Williams is also known for his work on numerous Star Wars films. Williams was raised in New York, the son of a

William Laud: Early life and career.: His lifelong conflict with John Williams, later bishop of Lincoln and archbishop of York, began when both sought advancement through the patronage of Charles’s favourite, the Duke of Buckingham. During Buckingham’s years of power, Laud was his chaplain and confidant, and he established a dominant voice in church policies…

Dial M for Murder: Cast: Assorted Referencesdiscussed in biography

African American literature: The Black Arts movement: … (1970), and the novels of John A. Williams, particularly The Man Who Cried I Am (1967), a roman à clef about a dying Black novelist intent on maintaining his political integrity in the face of government persecution, communicate the spirit of the new Black ideals. The “tell it like it…

John Henry Williams was an American economist, banker, and government adviser who achieved world renown as an expert on international trade. Williams was educated at Brown University and Harvard, where he obtained his Ph.D. (1919). He was a professor of economics at Harvard (1921–57) and then

Gareth Edwards: … (1966–78, 46 Tests), and fullback John Peter Rhys (“JPR”) Williams (1969–81, 55 Tests). Wales was frequently launched into attack by Edwards, who passed the ball back to Johns and later Bennett, with the action ending often in a try from one of the great back line players such as Davies.…

John Williams is an American composer who created some of the most iconic film scores of all time. He scored more than a hundred movies, many of which were directed by Steven Spielberg. Williams is also known for his work on numerous Star Wars films. Williams was raised in New York, the son of a

Smokey Joe Williams was an American baseball player who was an early star of the Negro leagues. Williams was a 6-foot 4-inch (1.93 metre) right-handed pitcher who combined a high-velocity fastball with very good control. Williams was occasionally called “Cyclone,” a nickname, like “Smokey,” derived

dark triad: …Canadian psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams, who described the three traits as overlapping but distinct. Although some psychologists have questioned the utility of grouping the traits together, suggesting that the differences between them might be more important than their similarities, most other researchers have continued to rely on the…

Black Sox Scandal: …were pitchers Eddie Cicotte and Claude (“Lefty”) Williams, first baseman Arnold (“Chick”) Gandil, shortstop Charles (“Swede”) Risberg, third baseman George (“Buck”) Weaver, outfielders Joe (“Shoeless Joe”) Jackson and Oscar (“Happy”) Felsch, and utility infielder Fred McMullin. Court records

Lucinda Williams is an American singer and songwriter who received critical acclaim for her label-defying music, which ranged from folk to country to rock. Williams, whose father was the poet Miller Williams, began writing songs after borrowing a guitar at age 12. She later studied guitar and then

List of Influential Women and Nonbinary People in Computing: Marsha Rhea Williams (1948–): Marsha Rhea Williams, in 1982, was the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in computer science. Her academic history is diverse; Williams also has an M.S. in physics and systems and information science. Her research mainly revolved around databases and other data management systems.…

Mary Lou Williams was a jazz pianist who performed with and composed for many of the great jazz artists of the 1940s and ’50s. Williams received early instruction from her mother, a classically trained pianist. Picking out simple tunes at age two, Mary Lou was a prodigy with perfect pitch and a

Hubert de Givenchy: …Clare Waight Keller (2017–20), and Matthew M. Williams (2020–24).

Sue: …a cattle ranch owned by Maurice Williams. It was discovered by American marine archaeologist and paleontologist Susan Hendrickson, the scientist for whom the specimen is named, as she searched the property with American paleontologist Peter Larson.

Destiny’s Child: Michelle Williams, who, through their songs and performances, collectively became a symbol of empowerment for women worldwide.

Michelle Williams is an American actress known for her delicate beauty and for the emotional depth she brings to vulnerable characters. Williams spent her early childhood in Montana, where her mother was a homemaker and her father a financial trader and author. After moving with her family to San

Michelle Williams is an American actress known for her delicate beauty and for the emotional depth she brings to vulnerable characters. Williams spent her early childhood in Montana, where her mother was a homemaker and her father a financial trader and author. After moving with her family to San

Lucinda Williams: …whose father was the poet Miller Williams, began writing songs after borrowing a guitar at age 12. She later studied guitar and then voice, but she never learned to read music. Early musical influences included Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and especially Bob Dylan. Miller Williams introduced his daughter to some…

Myrna Loy was an American motion-picture actress who began her screen career playing treacherous femmes fatales and who attained stardom during the 1930s in roles as glib, resourceful sophisticates. Dubbed the “Queen of Hollywood” during her heyday, Loy was often promoted by her studio as every

WDIA: Black Music Mother Station: …but blues aficionados; however, deejay Nat D. Williams was. A former high-school history teacher and journalist, Williams brought his own records and his familiarity with Memphis’s blues hotbed Beale Street with him. But rather than aspiring to be a hipster, Williams acted as a cultural historian and gatekeeper, watching for…

Paul Williams is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor known for his long and storied career in which he has written numerous award-winning songs, scored films, and acted in films and television. Paul Williams is one of three boys born to Bertha Mae and Paul Williams, Sr. The family

Paul Williams is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor known for his long and storied career in which he has written numerous award-winning songs, scored films, and acted in films and television. Paul Williams is one of three boys born to Bertha Mae and Paul Williams, Sr. The family

Paul R. Williams was an American architect noted for his mastery of a variety of styles and building types and for his influence on the architectural landscape of southern California. In more than 3,000 buildings over the course of five decades, mostly in and around Los Angeles, he introduced a

Paul R. Williams was an American architect noted for his mastery of a variety of styles and building types and for his influence on the architectural landscape of southern California. In more than 3,000 buildings over the course of five decades, mostly in and around Los Angeles, he introduced a

Ntozake Shange was an American author of plays, poetry, and fiction noted for their feminist themes and racial and sexual anger. Shange attended Barnard College (B.A., 1970) and the University of Southern California (M.A., 1973). From 1972 to 1975 she taught humanities, women’s studies, and

Percy Williams was a Canadian sprinter, winner of two upset gold medals at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. He was the first sprinter not from the United States to win two gold medals at one Olympics. When Williams was 15 years old, he suffered from rheumatic fever and was told to avoid

Pharrell Williams is an American musician who was involved in a number of pop hits as part of the producing team the Neptunes, as a songwriter, as a member of the band N.E.R.D., and as a solo performer. He also is known for his musical contributions to films, especially his hit song “Happy” for the

Hank Williams Jr. is an American country and western musician and one of the most successful and long-lasting performers of the genre. Although in the early years of his career he sang the songs of his legendary father, over time he developed his own voice and sound—a fusion of rock and country

Robert Williams was an American civil rights leader known for taking a militant stance against racism decades before the Black Power and black nationalist movements of the late 1960s and early ’70s adopted similar philosophies. As early as the late 1940s, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Robert Williams was an American civil rights leader known for taking a militant stance against racism decades before the Black Power and black nationalist movements of the late 1960s and early ’70s adopted similar philosophies. As early as the late 1940s, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation

electronic adventure game: Graphic-based adventures: …is usually credited to writer Roberta Williams and her computer programmer husband, Ken Williams, who formed Sierra Entertainment (1979). In particular, beginning with King’s Quest (1984) for MS-DOS, Sierra released a steady stream of successful graphical adventure games throughout the 1980s and early ’90s. While the graphics consisted of nothing…

Robin Williams was an American comedian and actor known for his manic stand-up routines and his diverse film performances. He won an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting (1997). Williams’s father, Robert, was an executive for the Ford Motor Company, and his mother was a former fashion

Robin Williams was an American comedian and actor known for his manic stand-up routines and his diverse film performances. He won an Academy Award for his role in Good Will Hunting (1997). Williams’s father, Robert, was an executive for the Ford Motor Company, and his mother was a former fashion

Roger Williams was an English colonist in New England, founder of the colony of Rhode Island and pioneer of religious liberty. The son of a merchant tailor, he was a protégé of the jurist Sir Edward Coke and was educated at Cambridge. In 1630 he left his post as chaplain to Sir William Masham,

Rowan Williams is a noted theologian, was the 104th archbishop of Canterbury (2002–12), archbishop of the Church in Wales (2000–02), and the first archbishop of Canterbury in modern times chosen from outside the Church of England. Williams was born into a Welsh-speaking family. After attending the

Rowan Williams is a noted theologian, was the 104th archbishop of Canterbury (2002–12), archbishop of the Church in Wales (2000–02), and the first archbishop of Canterbury in modern times chosen from outside the Church of England. Williams was born into a Welsh-speaking family. After attending the

Dean Smith: …such as Larry Brown and Roy Williams, became renowned coaches at the collegiate or professional level. Smith was also known for his strong commitment to racial integration, becoming one of the first white coaches in the South to recruit African American players in the 1960s. In 1986 the Tar Heels’…

Roy Lee Williams was an American union leader, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (1981–83) before being convicted in 1982 with four others of conspiring to bribe Howard Cannon, U.S. senator from Nevada, to defeat a trucking industry regulation bill. In 1935 Williams began his

Roy Lee Williams was an American union leader, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (1981–83) before being convicted in 1982 with four others of conspiring to bribe Howard Cannon, U.S. senator from Nevada, to defeat a trucking industry regulation bill. In 1935 Williams began his

Saul Williams is an American rapper, poet, and actor who has been a prominent figure in the scenes of alternative hip-hop and slam poetry. He has performed at the White House and the Sydney Opera House as well as at small community centres and prisons all over the world. Born to a Baptist minister

Serena Williams is an American tennis player who revolutionized women’s tennis with her powerful style of play and who won more Grand Slam singles titles (23) than any other woman or man during the open era. Williams grew up in Compton, California. The family included her parents—Oracene Price, a

Social Democratic Party: History: David Owen, William Rodgers, and Shirley Williams—to quit the leftward path that had lately been taken by Labour. The party was formally founded on March 26, including in its ranks 14 members of the House of Commons (all former Labour members but one, who had been a Conservative) and about…

Bernard Williams was an English philosopher, noted especially for his writings on ethics and the history of Western philosophy, both ancient and modern. Williams was educated at Chigwell School, Essex, and Balliol College, Oxford. During the 1950s he served in the Royal Air Force (1951–53) and was

Sir Frederic Williams was a British electrical engineer who invented the Williams tube store, a cathode-ray-tube memory system that heralded the beginning of the computer age. Educated at the University of Manchester and at Magdalen College, Oxford, Williams in 1939 joined the staff of the Bawdsey

Sir Frederic Williams was a British electrical engineer who invented the Williams tube store, a cathode-ray-tube memory system that heralded the beginning of the computer age. Educated at the University of Manchester and at Magdalen College, Oxford, Williams in 1939 joined the staff of the Bawdsey

Smokey Joe Williams was an American baseball player who was an early star of the Negro leagues. Williams was a 6-foot 4-inch (1.93 metre) right-handed pitcher who combined a high-velocity fastball with very good control. Williams was occasionally called “Cyclone,” a nickname, like “Smokey,” derived

Black horror: History of Black horror: The film was written by Spencer Williams, Jr., a Black actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. Williams also wrote, directed, and costarred in another early Black horror film, The Blood of Jesus (1941). In this film, a newlywed woman is accidentally shot by her husband; after dying of her injury, she…

Sunita Williams is an American astronaut who set records on her three flights to the International Space Station (ISS). In 1983 Williams entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. She was made an ensign in 1987 and reported for aviator training at the Naval Aviation Training Command. In

Sunita Williams is an American astronaut who set records on her three flights to the International Space Station (ISS). In 1983 Williams entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. She was made an ensign in 1987 and reported for aviator training at the Naval Aviation Training Command. In

Ted Williams was an American professional baseball player who compiled a lifetime batting average of .344 as an outfielder with the American League Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. He was the last player to hit .400 in Major League Baseball (.406 in 1941). Williams was an excellent ballplayer as a

Tennessee Williams was an American dramatist whose plays reveal a world of human frustration in which sex and violence underlie an atmosphere of romantic gentility. Williams became interested in playwriting while at the University of Missouri (Columbia) and Washington University (St. Louis) and

Ted Williams was an American professional baseball player who compiled a lifetime batting average of .344 as an outfielder with the American League Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960. He was the last player to hit .400 in Major League Baseball (.406 in 1941). Williams was an excellent ballplayer as a

Tennessee Williams was an American dramatist whose plays reveal a world of human frustration in which sex and violence underlie an atmosphere of romantic gentility. Williams became interested in playwriting while at the University of Missouri (Columbia) and Washington University (St. Louis) and

Miss America: …Phyllis George, singer and actress Vanessa Williams (the first African American winner), and television journalist Gretchen Carlson.

Venus Williams is an American tennis player who—along with her sister Serena—redefined the sport with her strength and superb athleticism. Like her sister Serena, Venus was introduced to tennis on the public courts in Los Angeles by her father, who early on recognized her talent and oversaw her

Venus Williams is an American tennis player who—along with her sister Serena—redefined the sport with her strength and superb athleticism. Like her sister Serena, Venus was introduced to tennis on the public courts in Los Angeles by her father, who early on recognized her talent and oversaw her

the O’Jays: ) and Walter Williams (b. August 25, 1942, Canton) began performing gospel music together in their hometown of Canton. In 1959 the pair teamed with schoolmates William Powell (b. January 20, 1942, Canton—d. May 26, 1977, Canton), Bill Isles (b. January 4, 1941, McAtenville, North Carolina, U.S.—d.…

Walter Ray Williams, Jr. is an American professional bowler who was the first person to earn more than $2 million, $3 million, and then $4 million in prize money from bowling. He was also a champion horseshoe pitcher. Williams joined the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tour in 1980 after

Wendy Williams is an American talk-show host, producer, and author who began her career in radio and later used the popularity she garnered from her radio show, The Wendy Williams Experience, to segue into daytime television in 2008 with The Wendy Williams Show. She is known in particular for

Western sculpture: Conservative reaction (1920s): Adolph Block, Paul Manship, and Wheeler Williams.

William Williams was a leader of the Methodist revival in Wales and its chief hymn writer. His parents were Nonconformists, and he was educated at a Nonconformist academy at Llwyn-llwyd, near Hay. While there he was converted by the preaching of the religious reformer Howell Harris (1714–73) and in

historiography: Diplomatic history: …controversy when the American historians William Appleman Williams (1921–90) and Gabriel Kolko (1932–2014) challenged the conventional American view that the Soviets intended world conquest and were deterred only by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its nuclear umbrella. Williams and his students, who were influential in the 1960s, produced…