Van Williams - The Actor With a BIG SECRET!
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- Опубликовано: 13 янв 2022
- Van Williams, the star of the classic TV shows, "The Green Hornet" and "Surfside 6" was a very busy actor during the 60s and 70s. However, he had a very big secret that he couldn't tell anyone. Watch this video to find out more!
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The Green Hornet and Bat-Man meeting in the same episode was one of the most thrilling television moments of my childhood.
I remember my friends and I talking at school. EVERYBODY was going to watch that night! My first taste of media-frenzy!
Me too!! I loved crossover episodes! Now that I’m a Doctor Who fan, I wish The Doctor had had an encounter with the USS Enterprise.
I agree!
i remember it well with fond memories. stay healthy and happy
Yeah, I remember that episode. I think that the people in charge of both series were afraid to put the Batman with the Green Hornet because they new that Cato could beat the snot out of everyone without a sweat.
I helped out a friend in the late 90’s at his comic book convention in Maryland. The main guest of honor, was none other than Van Williams himself. I think it might’ve been his first comic convention, if memory serves me. Though he was a nervous, and inexperienced doing that kinda thing, he ended getting into it. And I think he was really blown away by the how many fans were there, and how excited they were to see him. Of course I was a big fan as well. Through it all, he couldn’t have been nicer. He shared some really interesting stories of his life, his Green Hornet days, and working along side Bruce Lee. All in all, it was a very cool experience to be part of it all.
I watched "Batman" but not "The Green Hornet". Thus I didn't follow Williams' career. I did some acting work myself, and like Williams never felt comfortable among the snobbery, priggishness, nepotism, competitiveness, selectivity and "in crowd" atmosphere of Hollywood. But I do give him credit for finding work and being a success in a world beyond the haughty, left-wing, fantasy world hypocrisy and exclusivity of Hollywood where anyone who deviates from the norm is isolated.
Personally, I' m glad that he passed up the cameo on the Green Hornet film... Seth whatisname had the title role, which spoiled it all for me...
@@johnmarcinko2484 don't worry, you didn't miss a thing. It's a terrible movie and Seth Rogan was horrifically miscast.
AKA I failed to make it big in Hollywood so I will blame the 'left wing' nature of the place and other things beyond my control. Hmmmm......
@@brendapayne6603 bruh...
I grew up in the 60s and 70s best of times no smart phones no computers miss those days
I love my smartphone...but I also love the innocence of those days gone by!
@@jdsundstrom yep I know what you mean but I would go back in an instant if I could
The C.I.A. could not have pick a better man! Thank you Van Williams for your service to our country. RIP
I always thought the lyrics to the song SECRET AGENT MAN actually sounded like secret Asian man, which applied to Bruce Lee.
Ha! Yeah, me too!!
Loved the Green Hornet, loved Van and Bruce and still do even at 61. We grew up with incredible TV programs my friend, cheers and have a great weekend!
You inspired me to check his bio and his filmography. Evidently he and Adam West were not simply friends but neighbors. Williams would also do voice work, and I was greatly surprised to learn that in the movie In Like Flint, perhaps my favorite of all the movies to spoof the whole James Bond superspy genre, towards the end you can hear him imitating President Lyndon Johnson. Van Williams has got to be one of the LAST people I would imagine tackling that assignment, but he did great. (My father is named Van and so I like to keep tabs on Vans: Williams, Johnson, Heflin, Cliburn, Morrison, whoever.) Great story, Dave, thanks for sharing.
At I convention I went to once...Van mentioned his friendship with Adam West and mentioned that the two went out hunting for time to time. The crowd rumbled and kind collectively reacted....he paused , wondering why....and then realized that we ALL thought the same thing. They went out together to hunt criminals. He chuckled when he realized it.
Your Father taking time to read you books is priceless !
Those are memories that I'll cherish forever WTF 52. 🙂
As a baby/kid sitter, I used to read to my young chargers. As some heroic book characters, I would occasionally substitute their names for the book characters. It was fun to see their eyes light up.
Cool secret, and he had the perfect cover. He could have told people they were looking for an exotic location to do a shoot, and nobody would have known any better. Who knows, maybe he even had a Gong Show sidekick.
Van and Chuck...that would have been cool. But, Van and Bruce would have been even cooler!
Al Hirt's rendition of The Green Hornet theme song was the best! I have it on my computer and smartphone to this day.
There's a CD out there for those interested, Superhero Theme Music, or Superhero Themes. Hirt's "Flight of the Bumblebee" from GH is included. Its about fifteen years old I should note.
13th....hey Dave.....ahh yes..the Green Hornet..Loved this show too growing up ..him and Kato ... he was handsome
Yep. Great show for sure!
Handsome hero, great show - aided in no small part by Bruce Lee! I’m sorry that “The Green Hornet” lasted only one season. Thank you, Van Williams!
Hong Kong was so proud of Bruce Lee that the show was known as the Kato show.
I remember the Green Hornet on TV first run! Boy am I old! 😂
Thank you for featuring Van Williams as I always enjoyed anything he appeared in. Never in a million years would I have guessed the secret about secretly working for the CIA.
He was so handsome ♥️
good day tracy. have a wonderful weekend my wonderful friend.
@@kennethwilkinson8244 Thank you 😎. I hope that your weekend is great too.
Everyone talks about Bruce making it notable, but Van had the acting chops, the looks and also solid boxing fisticuffs in their fights with the villains.
I'm very surprised. I did meet Van at a convention, he hated the Green Hornet movie.
Oh yah. I had heard that. It's not very faithful to the tone of the TV or radio version.
Whoa,chuck barris ,eat your heart out,Ben Alfleck should direct and produced the Van Williams story!!!
Didn't surprise me at all. The fact that Julia Childs worked for Brit Intelligence shocked the hell outta me though.
I was sure you were going to talk about Van being gay, which I always figured he was, because all meticulously groomed, ridiculously handsome guys are inevitably gay.
Glad you mentioned the Black Beauty, though Dave, because I have never mentioned something to you, which I'm sure you'd like. Realizing several years back I'd never be rich enough to buy real copies of my favorite cars, I started collecting 1/64 diecast copies of them. I have an entire collection of TV and movie cars, including the Black Beauty, of course. As well as a huge Batman collection, which includes a black Lincoln Futura, a 40's era Batmobile, and the pre-Batmobile Bat Gyro. Lot's of other cars, too.
That's CRAP!!!
Whenever I see Mr. Williams on screen, it blows me away at how handsome he was.
The Green Hornet and Kato were the brainchildren of George Trendle and Fran Striker, the same people that gave us The Lone Ranger.
Not only that, but The Green Hornet and The Lone Ranger were relatives. Britt Reid was the great-nephew ofThe Lone Ranger.
@@michaeltuz608 Not only that, but Britt's father, Daniel, appeared on the Lone Ranger as a boy. In the Green Hornet radio series, when Britt reveals his Hornet identity to his father and Daniel is thrilled by the news recalling those thrilling days of yesteryear when he rode with his uncle, the Lone Ranger.
I watched Surfside 6 in the early 60's, great suspense series with Van Williams, Troy Donahue, Lee Patterson, Diane McBain & Margarita Sierra.
One of the very best opening TV theme songs all time!
Always liked the westerns the best. I know Van Williams from his appearances on "Cheyenne" and many other TV westerns. Thank you for revealing he grew up on a ranch from Texas. He made a great cowboy.
That was a pretty interesting secret. I watched "The Green Hornet" and liked it but like you was a bigger "Batman" fan. I had forgotten how back in the day they would announce a TV show as being in color! Groovy!
Green Hornet played it too straight. Batman had the perfect blend of humor, action and great villains. Green Hornet had great action, Bruce Lee, but the bad guys were hardly memorable, can't remember any.
I always thought this show was ahead of its time, this would be an excellent show to reboot on the CW network
As a grown up I like Green Hornet better now.
Very Interesting info. Its wonderful to know that some actors who are known for only one role are still able to live a good life and not fall into despair. What about the fact that Van Villiams also did a voice cameo as the President on "Our Man Flint". I hope if they ever do another Green Hornet movie or series they would at least finally reveal his family connection to the Lone Ranger.
Him an Chuck Barris! I wonder how many more out there that took it to their graves. Great video Dave.
I'm glad you enjoyed it coolnegative!
Fascinating back story on Van Williams. Enjoyed The Green Hornet tv series when it first aired. Took it for what it was...Camp! I do remember him first in Bourbon Street Beat & Surfside 6 which were good shows as I remember. They didn't last long though.
Dave, I think I told you about my encounter with the late great Van Williams at a comic convention in Oakland in 1996, how he was a Raiders fan until he saw how Al Davis treated Marcus Allen and became a Dallas Cowboys fan. I wasn't too thrilled how Al Davis treated Marcus Allen and would've become a Dallas Cowboys fan, but that never happened. I know that Bruce Lee taught Van martial arts as he did with Burt Ward. He told me about his communications company, too, but he was used by the CIA? Nice! I didn't know that!
not surprised but really proud i thank him for his service to keep everyone safe truly legendary always had that vibe about him a kind caring soul who would do his best to truly defend all from anything wrong a true legend.
I loved everything about that show. Van as Britt Reid was debonair and sophisticated. Kato was BRUCE LEE for crying out loud! And Lenore (Wende Wagner) was simply beautiful. My final recollection of Van Williams was on a brief Saturday morning adventure show called "Westwind", where he was the father of a family that lived on a sailboat in Hawaii. (Of course, I may be remembering that show more for the teenage daughter...) Another nice video, Dave.
I have never seen the show, but also, I have never heard of him. He is very good looking, I need to find an episode or two and check him, I mean check it out!!! 🌼
Here's a link to the very first episode right here on YT: ruclips.net/video/aGlb1eHTeUU/видео.html
Thank you, Dave!
Dave, I love the way you presents your video. There is so much joy and good vibes on them. It always bring a smile to my lip. I also like the way to relate to your childhood in your videos. Keep up the good work and keep them coming. The Green Hornet was one of my favorite shows. It was also my favorite DC comic.
Sounds like shades of Chuck Barris, host of The Gong Show! By day, and actor who plays a spy - and by night, a spy who plays an actor! Something like that.
Van Williams had said that he was glad that the Green Hornet lasted just one season. He described it as a very tiring show to do physically and mentally. The show had to be made on a very tight budget and on a very strict timeline to get out the shows every week (a show's season in those days had more episodes than they do now). Mr. Williams became very good friends with Bruce Lee during the run of the show and came to realize that more people tuned in to see Bruce Lee than him so he tried to get more of the show's storylines/dialogue directed to Mr. Lee.
I was in my late teens when this came out... I'm a big Green Hornet.. thanks for the memories... I heard it before.
Whoa! 😲 I had no idea of his secret! I loved The Green Hornet. It was a shame it didn't last long.
That was awesomely cool on EVERY level!!!
Kinda has Chuck Barris vibes to me, Dave.
I thought the same thing!
great video buddy. i wish i could go back in time, and watch theses great shows.
He was a great actor and not bad on looks. Lots of good shows back in the day and Green Hornet right up there. Thanks for the video.
WOW THANK YOU FOR SHARING 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Van was also in a live action Saturday morning show called "Westwind" which I am sure you remember Dave. I wasn't a faithful viewer, but I did tune in from time to time. And what a revelation about Mr. Williams! Shades of Chuck Barris! Thanks for another great video Dave.
Lends credence to Chuck Barris’ memoir.
I remember hearing about Chuck's exploits as well.
Chucks were fantasies and lies . To write a book. Lol
Dave, you always have such cool videos!
Really appreciate your channel!👍 Full of member berries!💜
I recall it, but only from reruns years later. My parents must not have watched it. I know they did view McHale's Navy, Time Tunnel, Star Trek, Adam 12, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and the Seaview Submarine. Just more examples of great times.
Very interesting. You learn something new every day!
As a kid growing up in Manila in the 70’s Filipinos we’re quite taken with Bruce Lee! It was nice to see an Asian man break through and so well received not only by the world but by America. Next to my Raquel Welch and Clint Eastwood poster was my Bruce Lee poster! Rip Mr Bruce and Brandon Lee-gone too soon
That's rather amazing that he worked for the CIA in the Spy business. The Green Hornet was a favorite series of mine. As you've mentioned I've seen him appear on Mannix and 77 Sunset Strip. 77 Sunset Strip I didn't grow-up watching that show my Mom was the one that watched that show. I didn't start watching it till 6 or 7 Yrs ago when it was shown on METV. I always knew Van Williams was pretty cool and everyone on the planet has their dark secrets that aren't shared with others.
Thanks for sharing your memories Joe!
Became a C.H.P"
Gosh He was so handsome and had elegance and grace as well great actor✨👏👏💘🥂✨
Well said yvonne7715 🙂
I love your videos Dave. They're always interesting and uplifting. I love your positive attitude.
Really interesting! Mr. William's was also on a Saturday morning series titled westwind.Tha ABC promo was nice to see also.!
My 2 favorite shows as a kid! Batman & Green Hornet. Loved the scene when Batman and Robin are climbing the building and Robin says-"Gosh Batman, why are they dressed like that?" I'm paraphrasing here....that KILLED me!
Thanks Dave, another great video...subbed for life, but you already knew that!!!
Thanks for being part of my YT community Brian!
I remember as a kid at the end of every concluded Batman episode, they would announce the next guest star villain. When the narrator announced: Next week, Batman meets "The Green Hornet and Kato", me, my brothers and all the neighborhood kid's heads all exploded with excitement. We all ran outside about the same exact moment doing Kato kicks! Now that's baby boom TV excitement!
WE HAD THAT BOOK! I was thinking about it as your video started, and the fact that I couldn't remember the name. And then, there it was! Now I have to find a copy! Thanks! Great video, as always!
So cool!
@@jdsundstrom Found it - It's on it's way! 😄
I did love the green hornet! I was under the impression he hated the Green Hornet! At least according to his wife he thought the Green Hornet ruined his life. This sounds like maybe that wasn't accurate! I sure hope so! I loved the show so much! It is one of my all time favorites! I especially love the opening! it is such a cool intro!
I still miss The Green Hornet and wow what an interesting video. Yes, I am surprised by this news but somehow not surprising -if that makes any sense!
That was a great story! Thanks!
I will tell you this much. I believe Van was an honest cop as well as a loyal agent. He had enough money already and he loved law enforcement. I wish every cop out there was like Van.
Thanks for sharing XV!
Ha! I had that same book as a kid. That publisher also produced two Man From Uncle books. I had them both and also the one for I Spy.
The Green Hornet was on television around the same time as....Secret Agent Man !
What a cool, interesting story
Thanks Tammy!
Awesome video! :)
Great memories Dave your the best
Matt Groenig attempted to lure Van Williams out of retirement for a recurring voice role as the mayor of Shelbyville, rival to Springfield in "The Simpsons." Groenig wanted Williams to be a counterweight to the psychotic mayor in "Family Guy." That mayor was Adam West, played, of course, by Williams' real-life neighbor Adam West. Williams declined the offer because it would have meant spending a lot of time in a studio booth going over dialogue ceaselessly (note: West was known to spend an entire day in studio just to record a few lines and, later, he requested his lines be cut down to avoid wasting entire days on set. This is the main reason why, on a lot of episodes of "Family Guy," he gets either a single line, a single word and just a grunt).
I think The Green Hornet and Batman was the very first TV crossover ever done on television. Loved that show too Dave. Thanks for your great contain. 🍻
There were other, earlier TV crossovers. For instance, characters from the Warner Bros. detective shows _77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye _ and _Surfside 6_ ocassionally made appearances on each other's series. Interestingly, Van Williams was one of the stars of _Surfside 6_ who figured in at least one of these crossovers.
Don't forget that the Green Hornet and Kato features in the Cameo skyscraper windows on bat man as well
Again, Dave. Another excellent video. I am surprised knowing that Van worked for the CIA for a time. This was the 60's and the height of the Cold War and Van had those good looks that you see in fictional spy movies and TV shows, which made him the perfect person to recruit for their purposes whatever they were.
I never watched The Green Hornet. This is why I found this video very informative.
I'm glad you found the video informative Georgia!
Weeelllll....if you know of my comments of the past, Dave, you know I preferred The Green Hornet as a kid over what I felt at the time a disappointing campy Batman series as all the hype made me believe that Batman would be more like they did with the Green Hornet series, but that's a past story. Van William's was a hero for me as GH as much as Robert Conrad's James West was in Wild Wild West. Interesting considering James West was a fictional secret service agent for the government in the old west and Van Williams was a real life secret agent for the government.
You know really, if I was honest, Bruce Lee was the hero for me when I watched how he moved in the series. Between James West taking on bigger bad guys than him and Bruce Lee doing the same, that's my childhood memory, along with the original Star Trek series.
I liked the Green Hornet for the same reasons you did. But Batman was my favorite too!
He was really a "Secret Agent Man" ? Unreal!
Bruce Lee was wonderful in that show BTW!
Totally agree about Bruce!
Love that series
Van Williams was in a film called The Caretakers with Joan Crawford and I think Robert Stack was in the film along with Barbara Barrie. He played a young orderly in the women’s mental institution. Then he had an appearance on the show Nanny And The Professor. That was the last time I saw Van Williams on television until he suddenly appeared on the new FX television network (he climbed out of the Black Beauty and said hello).
It is no real surprise that he would be recruited to work for a government agency. At the beginning of the Cold War, actor Sterling Hayden took part in some clandestine activities with the C.I.A.. Actor Kirk Douglas said that he was worked for the State Department on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Many actors worked for (or on behalf of) the State Department, representing the United States at various international cultural events. It was a valuable job and I'm sure Mr. Douglas represented his country proudly and well. I don't believe Sterling Hayden worked with the C.I.A., but I know that during WWII he was an O.S.S. agent (predecessor to the C.I.A.).
@@bobbell1922 Yes, Sterling Hayden did work on behalf of the O.S.S. before the inception of the C.I.A..
The interesting thing is that because these actors are known throughout the world sort of worked in their favor because people would give them some kind of intelligence to pass on anonymously because these actors were viewed as saviors.
Wow!that's cool what he did!great show back loved it dropped everything to watch it n also batman when they were about to fight the hornet thanks for the info 👍
I loved Van’s green eyes.
Pretty best story Dave. Enjoyed hearing it👍
Glad you enjoyed it Mike!
Great memories. Great video. Surprise yes. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇵🇷🙏.
I liked the Green Hornet. It had a mysterious darkness about the characters, I thought, and it was well acted. Edgy as we say today.
I was so disappointed when ABC cancelled it after just one season. I thought it had a lot more stories to tell.
It was nore adult TV 📺 show than batman : it should been an hour
It was a real thrill to go to the Petersen Auto Museum in 2019 and seeing the Black Beauty vehicle up close.
Cool!
Van also did a cameo in dragon : the Bruce Lee story.. I love the show...
With that revelation, I’m surprised Van Williams didn’t spend a timer or two inside of Quantico
thats my favorite since i was a child and still my favorite show
great show. and omg. the womens fashions! lol.
For sure!
Really young when this was on (so don't recall the episodes), but I remember the car being super cool and of course Bruce Lee. Most likely very few people in the US knew about marital arts at that time.
Very very interesting!!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it Ean!
Batman and the Green Hornet aired on the same network in the 60's when the show itself was so popular and I never thought how much the show itself was so popular in the 60's before my time and I'm not making this up at all
Hi Dave, I'm from Scotland, so I didn't see a lot of the shows you feature (although at 47 I'm certainly old enough). Despite this I love watching your videos. I sometimes find myself watching tv shows from the sixties, seventies and eighties - generally old favourites from my childhood, but thanks to you I discovered the wonderful Petticoat Junction, which was never broadcast over here. You're just so kind and respectful about all of your subjects, and that's refreshing nowadays. I certainly think that UK tv was better prior to the millenium - tv shows nowadays seem to either be high concept thrillers or soaps which have lost all sense of the communities they are set in. By the way did you know that Patrick Duffy and Victoria Principal got together as a couple over lockdown? Isn't that great? As for Van Williams, wow, what a life!
Thanks for the comment Evelyn! I had heard that Patrick had gotten together with Linda Purl. Was this relationship with Victoria before or after that?
@@jdsundstrom I think it' s very recent. My Mum saw him being interviewed on a TV show over here. He said that they reunited during lockdown but I' m not sure when you guys had lockdowns. We' ve had loads over the past two years😐
I loved this show...it was on the Sci-fi channel a few years back.I got 2 full copies of the entire series 👍 now 👏😊 And the Batman episode with The Green Hornet.
Thank you😊
You're welcome 😊
Life imitates art .
Van Williams was so nice looking!!!
One of my favourite shows too! I bet you would be good with trivia games.
I’m okay. 🙂
That's old news, I've known about this for awhile. I believe that I read it in THE GREEN HORNET:A History of Radio,Motion Pictures, Comic, and Television. Or from a friend who knew Mr. Williams.
Sounds like a great book. I'll have to check it out.
I love the green hornet , love the 60s the series but not all fans know about the earlier cinema series along with batman , suggesting a segment on all green hornets , katos, batman and robins from the original 1940s to date , as for Easter eggs the 2011 movie showed the original burgundy beauty in the garage surrounded by the black beauties.. (1947 ford zephyr coupe ) I own a modern Chrysler 300c and fashioned after The Black Beauty I love the show so much.
Thanks for sharing Gary!
A fine look at Van Williams, Dave, and a very interesting reveal about his secret real-life work. I think THE GREEN HORNET TV series helped pave the way for today's superhero TV series, although it's often overlooked by many. Many know this, but I'll mention it anyway; Britt Reid is related to the The Lone Ranger. Wasn't too impressed with the 2011 Seth Rogen film, but no one hits a homerun every time. A pair of serial films featuring the character were made in the 1940's with Gordon Jones as the Hornet in the 1940 film, and Warren Hull as him in the 1941 sequel. Keye Luke as Kato. Serials are definitely an acquired taste, but were big part of pre-television entertainment.
Even though I never watched The Green Hornet that was one of the more fun facts I've ever heard.
He made a good call avoiding the Hornet movie.
It was a very bad 🎬 movies
Great great show but it never got the credit due.they did a spot on Batman once
I loved the Batman crossover!
I lived across the street from him in the Pacific Palisades back in the early 60s.
Very cool!