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The real reason Van Williams retired from the entertainment industry
"I was proud of what I did in it."
Though a talented actor, Van Williams wasn’t interested in the life of a celebrity. Williams had previously starred in Bourbon Street Beat and Surfside 6. In fact, Williams confessed that he had grown tired of the industry just before he had been offered the role of Britt Reid.
“By the time The Green Hornet came along, I had pretty well decided to get out of the television business,” Williams said during an interview with The Toronto Star. “About the only thing I enjoyed about those years was the location work.”
Williams enjoyed performing. However, a life in the limelight was incongruent with his personality. “Basically I’m a shy person,” said Williams. “I know that public appearances and autographs and all that are a necessary part of the business, but it wasn’t for me.”
Years later, Williams retired from the industry. Though he expressed interest in “I might be interested if it was a one-shot deal, but what I’m usually offered is series work. I wouldn’t get involved in that - the time involved is too much. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my business.”
“I’m not sorry I did it,” said Williams during an interview with the Asbury Park Press. “I was proud of what I did in it. Got a lot of criticism for it. But I still stand by the way that I did it.”
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