Barbara Williams announced yesterday (October 23) that her husband, renowned political activist Tom Hayden, had passed away. Here’s everything you need to know about Tom Hayden’s wife.
Barbara Williams announced that her husband, Tom Hayden, passed away on October 23 after battling a “lengthy illness.” Tom Hayden was a famous anti-Vietnam War activist and politician. He is survived by his sons, Troy Garity, and Liam Hayden, and his current spouse, Barbara Williams. Williams is an actress and has appeared in several film and television roles. Here’s the Barbara Williams wiki, including facts to know about the actress.
1) Her High School Teacher Noticed Her Potential
Williams is a Canadian-born American actress. She was born on Vancouver Island, British Columbia to Simone and Jack Williams. Her father worked as a logger and also towed boats as a tugboat skipper.
When she was 16, Williams played guitar in a church basement at Gibson’s Landing, a small town in Western Canada. Her high school teacher noticed her potential for performing, and had her participate in the Tennessee Williams play, Suddenly Last Summer. From there, she earned the opportunity to study theater at Vancouver City College.
2) She Started Out in Theater
At Vancouver City College, Williams met John Gray, noted Canadian playwright, actor, pianist, and broadcaster. He started Tamahnous Theatre in Vancouver, which Williams joined. She studied repertory theater there for five years, before moving to a career in film and television.
Her most noted works include Thief of Hearts (1984), Watchers (1988), and Perfect Pie (2002). She also starred alongside Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in White House Down (2013). She has had television appearances on an episode of CSI, Bones, and Revenge.
3) She Embarked on a Music Career
Williams was not one to let her music skills go to waste, as seen by her CD titled Forgiving Ocean, released in 2000.
She wrote and composed some of her songs, and the album was recorded at Joe’s Garage, the studio of the late Frank Zappa. The album features country singer Paul Lacques, and acclaimed musician Woody Guthrie. Lacques was her band’s main guitarist and her bassist was Marc Doten.
4) She Is an Author and Screenwriter
Williams wrote the story for the 1995 comedy film Jury Duty starring Pauly Shore and Stanley Tucci. She has also written several short stories while she studied under Jack Grapes, the method-writing mentor. You can read samples of her writings on her web site.
In March 2016, she published her memoir The Hope in Leaving. It delves into the time Williams left her parents and home with a heavy heart to pursue her acting career. She talks about her childhood struggles as, resulting from financial troubles, Williams had lived in 27 homes.
5) She Is an Environmental Activist
Being the daughter of a logger, Williams has seen firsthand the damage caused by clearing vast stretches of forest. She has been an activist for environmental causes for a long time. She protested against the poor wages and working conditions of strawberry pickers in California. She also protested against the practices of publications that import pulp made from ancient trees in order to force them into adopting sustainable alternatives. She was among the six environmentalists arrested for the latter.
Williams started the environmental organization Clayoquot Sound, which works to protect the rainforests and marine ecosystems. She is also part of many other environmental and women’s groups. Her activism even earned her an audience with the Dalai Lama.
Sources:
https://goo.gl/jMC8nQ
https://goo.gl/ZZ94W3
