Clarence Williams III, the actor who played Linc Hayes on The Mod Squad and Prince’s father in Purple Rain , has died. He was 81.

Wiliams passed away in Los Angeles following a battle with colon cancer, Variety confirms.

Born in New York City on August 21st, 1939, Williams cut his teeth acting on stage in a performance of Vinette Carroll’s 1957 production Dark of the Moon. 

Ove a four-decade career he would go on to earn a Tony Nomination for his performance in Slow Dance on the Killing Ground in 1965. Throughout his stage career, Williams acted alongside the likes of Maggie Smith in Tom Stoppard’s Day and Night and played the lead man at the Delcarte Theatre production of King John. 

In 1968, Williams’ starred as Link in the seminal counterculture cop show, The Mod Squad, his breakout role on screen. He also portrayed Prince’s father in 1984’s Purple Rain and had a recurring role as FBI Agent Roger Hardy on David Lynch’s cult TV show Twin Peaks.

Other screen credits include playing Bobby Shy in 1986’s 52 Pick-Up, Chaka in 1994’s Against the Wall, Archie 1997’s George Wallace. Mr. Simms in 1995’s Tales From the Hood and roles in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Hoodlum, Deep Cover, Sugar Hill and American Gangster.

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