Billy Dee Williams Through The Years: Photos Of The ‘Star Wars’ Icon Young & Old

By:

Christina Casiano

April 6, 2022 4:41PM EDT

A Hollywood icon! Celebrate Billy Dee Williams’s 85th birthday with a look at his life in photos.

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Billy Dee Williams: Photos

Billy Dee Williams: Photos — Billy Dee Williams is an American actor, born April 6, 1937. He is best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise but has an impressive acting resume before and beyond that. Billy Dee started his career on Broadway at just 7 but later trained to be a painter. He began acting to fund his art and his career quickly took off. Billy Dee’s film debut was with ‘The Last Angry Man’ in 1959, but his breakout role was in ‘Brian’s Song’ (1971). It earned him an Emmy nomination.

He landed the role of Lando in the 80s, becoming the first person of color to be cast in a major ‘Star Wars’ role. He appeared in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980_ and ‘Return Of The Jedi’ (1983), and reprised his role decades later for ‘The Rise Of The Skywalker’ in 2019.

Check out Billy Dee William’s transformation! From his young acting days to his time as a veteran actor!

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‘Lady Sings The Blues’

‘Lady Sings The Blues’ — Looking good! Billy Dee Williams appears in 1972’s ‘Lady Sings The Blues’.

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Diana Ross & Billy Dee Williams In ‘Mahogany’

Diana Ross & Billy Dee Williams In ‘Mahogany’ — Diana Ross appears with Billy Dee Williams in a scene from 1975’s ‘Mahogany’. The film followed Diana as Tracy, an aspiring designer from the slums of Chicago puts herself through fashion school in the hopes of becoming one of the world’s top designers. Her ambition leads her to Rome spurring a choice between the man she loves or her newfound success.

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‘Star Wars Episode V – Empire Strikes Back’

‘Star Wars Episode V – Empire Strikes Back’ — Billy Dee Williams appears in ‘Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back’, which came out in 1980. The movie made an estimated $538 million at the box office.

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‘Batman’

‘Batman’ — Billy Dee Williams as attorney Harvey Dent AKA Two-Face in Tim Burton’s 1989 rendition of ‘Batman’. He would voice the part again in 2017’s ‘Lego Batman Movie’.

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Billy Dee Williams In 2001

Billy Dee Williams In 2001 — Billy Dee Williams appears at the 2001 VHI Divas LIVE! performance in New York City. It was Apr. 11.

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Billy Dee Williams In 2005

Billy Dee Williams In 2005 — Billy Dee Williams appears at an event honoring ‘Star Wars’ director George Lucas with AFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Jun. 9, 2005. He married a cane and had a handsome red, black, and green pocket square.

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Billy Dee Williams In 2014

Billy Dee Williams In 2014 — Billy Dee Williams arrives at The Humane Society Of The United States 60th Anniversary Benefit Gala, in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Mar. 29, 2014. His black scarf and two-toned shoes were rather stylish.

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Billy Dee Williams At The Premiere Of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Billy Dee Williams At The Premiere Of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ — Billy Dee Williams is the center of attention at the premiere of ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ in LA on May 10, 2018. His black scarf and red jacket matched cool sneakers.

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Billy Dee Williams At The Premiere Of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

Billy Dee Williams At The Premiere Of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ — Billy Dee Williams arrives at the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California on Dec. 16, 2019. His blue jacket was so handsome with a pop of color from his scarf and pocket square.

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Billy Dee Williams At The London Premiere Of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’

Billy Dee Williams At The London Premiere Of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ — Billy Dee Williams poses for photographers upon arrival at the London premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ on Dec. 18, 2019. A velvet jacket and white pants with a dark racing stripe were a cool combination.

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