About
Anson Williams (born Anson William Heimlich; September 25, 1949) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as gullible, well-intentioned singer Warren “Potsie” Weber on the television series Happy Days (1974–1984), a role for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
Williams has since become a prominent television director, working on programs such as Melrose Place (1992–1999), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996–2003), Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004), and The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–2013).
Williams was born Anson William Heimlich to a Jewish family. His father, Haskell Heimlich, legally changed the spelling of the family name to “Heimlick”, unlike Williams’s father’s cousin, Dr. Henry Heimlich, namesake of the Heimlich maneuver for treating choking victims. Williams lived in Burbank, California and attended Burbank High School, where he was captain of the track team and acted in multiple school productions.
In 1971, Williams appeared in the Sherman Brothers’ original musical, Victory Canteen, at the Ivar Theater in Los Angeles…
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