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Van Williams said that he and his Green Hornet co-star Bruce Lee became friends behind the scenes
“I was proud of it and what both Bruce and I did on it,” Williams said.
The hours of a television actor are long, and the work required is often difficult. However, a television set was more than just a place to work; it was also a place to forge friendships that would last years after the cameras stopped rolling.
Van Williams and Bruce Lee formed one such friendship while starring on the short-lived series, The Green Hornet. Though the series only lasted for a season, Williams and Lee grew close. Years after the series went off the air, Williams remembered the series and his co-star fondly.
“I was proud of it and what both Bruce and I did on it,” Williams said, according to a 2017 article with Ireland’s Own. “The part I liked best were the action scenes and the stunts that Bruce and I did. It was a very hard show to do and my average day was from 5 a.m. until around 11 p.m. Not very good hours for a married man and father.”
Though the challenges were difficult, Williams and Lee found comfort in each other. Williams didn’t just see Lee as a friend; he respected his co-star as an actor and as an individual.
“Bruce and I became good friends on the set and were constantly together for eight months,” said Williams. “He was a very talented, well-meaning and dedicated person not only to Jeet Kune Do, but also to his family and the acting profession.”
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