'Mod Squad' Star Clarence Williams III Dies at 81

Clarence Williams III has sadly died at the age of 81.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor passed away after a battle with colon cancer.

Clarence was best known for his role as Lincoln Hayes on The Mod Squad, which aired on ABC from 1968-73, opposite Peggy Lipton (Rashida Jones‘ mom), and Michael Cole.

He also appeared as Prince’s troubled father in Purple Rain and was Wesley Snipes and Michael Wright’s drug-addled dad in Sugar Hill.

Clarence earned a Tony nomination in 1965 for best featured actor in a play for his work in Slow Dance on the Killing Ground.

Unfortunately, he joins these other stars that we’ve lost in 2021.