Actor
Billy Dee Williams
Born 6 April 1937 · New York City, New York, USA
Billy Dee Williams (born 1937) is an American actor, artist and singer. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with Brian's Song and Lady Sings the Blues. He is best known as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars, a role he first played in 1980 and reprised in 2019.
Key films
Brian's Song (1971)
Acclaimed TV movie in which he played football player Gale Sayers, giving him his first big break.
Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
Played Louis McKay opposite Diana Ross in the Billie Holiday biopic, establishing him as a leading man.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Introduced Lando Calrissian, his most famous role.
Return of the Jedi (1983)
Reprised Lando, who helps lead the Rebel attack on the second Death Star.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Brought Lando back after nearly four decades, one of the longest gaps between portrayals of a character by one actor.
Key awards
- 1984 Inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame
- 1985 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 104
- 1959The Last Angry Man · as Josh QuincyActor
- 1970The Out-of-Towners · as Clifford Robinson, Lost & Found ClerkActor
- 1970Lost Flight · as Merle BarnabyActor
- 1971Brian's Song · as Gale SayersActor
- 1972Lady Sings the Blues · as Louis McKayActor
- 1972The Glass House · as LennoxActor
- 1972The Final Comedown · as Johnny JohnsonActor
- 1973Hit! · as Nick AllenActor
- 1974The Conversation · as Man in Yellow Hat (uncredited)Actor
- 1974The Take · as SneedActor
- 1975Mahogany · as BrianActor
- 1975Carter's Army · as Pvt. LewisActor
- 1976The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings · as BingoActor
- 1977Scott Joplin · as Scott JoplinActor
- 1979Christmas Lilies of the Field · as Homer SmithActor
- 1980The Empire Strikes Back · as Lando CalrissianActor
- 1980SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back · as Lando Calrissian (archive footage)Actor
- 1980The Hostage Tower · as Clarence WhitlockActor
- 1980Children of Divorce · as Walter WilliamsActor
- 1981Nighthawks · as Matthew FoxActor
- 1983Return of the Jedi · as Lando CalrissianActor
- 1983Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi · as Narrator (voice) / SelfActor
- 1983Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever · as SelfActor
- 1983Shooting Stars · as Douglas HawkActor
- 1984Fear City · as Al WheelerActor
- 1984The Impostor · as Matthew RainesActor
- 1984Time Bomb · as Jake CalahanActor
- 1985Marvin & Tige · as Richard DavisActor
- 1985Night of 100 Stars II · as SelfActor
- 1986Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary · as SelfActor
- 1986Oceans of Fire · as Jim McKinleyActor
- 1986Courage · as Bobby JayActor
- 1986The Right of the People · as Mike TrainorActor
- 1987Number One with a Bullet · as Det. HazeltineActor
- 1987Deadly Illusion · as HambergerActor
- 1987Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues · as SelfActor
- 1988The Return of Desperado · as Daniel LancasterActor
- 1989Batman · as Harvey DentActor
- 1990Dangerous Passion · as LouActor
- 1990Secret Agent 00 Soul · as Secret Agent ZeroActor
- 1991Driving Me Crazy · as MaxActor
- 1991Voices That Care · as Self - Choir MemberActor
- 1992Giant Steps · as Slate ThompsonActor
- 1993Alien Intruder · as Commander SkylerActor
- 1993Message from Nam · as FelixActor
- 1993Marked for Murder · as Capt. Jack ReillyActor
- 1993Percy & Thunder · as Ralph TateActor
- 1995Triplecross · as Agent Oscar PierceActor
- 1995Falling For You · as Lieutenant Frank LazaroActor
- 1996Moving Target · as Detective Don RacineActor
- 1996Mask of Death · as Agent JeffriesActor
- 1996The PrinceActor
- 1997The Fourth King · as GasparreActor
- 1997Steel Sharks · as Adm. Jim PerryActor
- 1997Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery · as SelfActor
- 1997Afro Promo · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 1998Woo · as HimselfActor
- 1998Hard Time · as Leo BarkerActor
- 1999The Contract · as Senator HarmonActor
- 2000The Ladies Man · as LesterActor
- 2000Fear Runs Silent · as Sheriff HammondActor
- 2001The Visit · as HenryActor
- 2001Good Neighbor · as Sgt. Paul DavidsonActor
- 2002Undercover Brother · as Gen. Warren BoutwellActor
- 2002It's Black Entertainment · as SelfActor
- 2002The Last Place on Earth · as Dr. DavisActor
- 2003Epoch: Evolution · as FergusonActor
- 2003Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa · as NarratorActor
- 2004Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy · as SelfActor
- 2004When Star Wars Ruled the World · as SelfActor
- 2004The Maintenance Man · as MelvenActor
- 2005Merry F#%$in' Christmas · as SelfActor
- 2006Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror · as Pastor CharlieActor
- 2006Giraffes Can't DanceActor
- 2007Constellation · as Helms BoxerActor
- 2008Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II · as Lando Calrissian / Man (voice)Actor
- 2008iMurders · as Robert DelgadoActor
- 2008Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight · as SelfActor
- 2009Fanboys · as Judge ReinholdActor
- 2009Diary of a Single Mom · as Uncle BoActor
- 2009Pitching Man: Satchel Paige Defying Time · as NarratorActor
- 2010Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III · as Lando Calrissian / Teacher (voice)Actor
- 2010Barry Munday · as Lonnie GreenActor
- 20103 Ways to Get a Husband · as WilliamActor
- 2011The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll · as Ace MillstoneActor
- 2014The Lego Movie · as Lando (voice)Actor
- 2015Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal · as Lando Calrissian (voice)Actor
- 2015The Man in 3B · as CainActor
- 2017The Lego Batman Movie · as Two-Face (voice)Actor
- 2017I Am Not Your Negro · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2017Dirty Dancing · as TitoActor
- 2017Batman Is Just Not That Into You · as Two-Face (voice)Actor
- 2017Movie Sound Effects: How Do They Do That? · as Two-Face (voice)Actor
- 2018Quincy · as SelfActor
- 2019Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker · as Lando CalrissianActor
- 2019Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Adventure Awaits · as SelfActor
- 2020LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special · as Lando Calrissian (voice)Actor
- 2020The Skywalker Legacy · as SelfActor
- 2021Stallone: Frank, That Is · as SelfActor
- 2022LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation · as Lando Calrissian (voice)Actor
- 2022Is That Black Enough for You?!? · as SelfActor
- 2022In Search of Tomorrow · as SelfActor
- 2023Clear Lines of Sight: Sidney J. Furie at Paramount · as HimselfActor
- 2025STZ · as Broadcaster (voice)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.