Dick Williams, known as Pretty Tone in the movie “The Mack”, has died

Dick Williams, best known for his role as Pretty Tone in the blaxploitation film, “The Mack,” has died. He was 73.

Chicago native

Williams, a Chicago native, was a Tony Award nominated actor who appeared in several Broadway productions, including The Poison Tree, Ain’t Supposed To Die a Natural Death, Black Picture Show and What the Wine-Sellers Buy, winning the prestigious Drama Desk Award in 1974 for that performance.

Dick Williams as Pretty Tone

Though receiving wide acclaim for those roles, Dick Williams role as Pretty Tone made a mark in the hip-hop culture. The film, starring Richard Pryor & Max Julien, explored the life of pimps and hustlers, in Oakland, CA.

Many songs and scenes have been sampled by hip-hop artists such as Tupac, Ludacris, Jadakiss, Outkast, & Ghostface Killa.
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