Clarence Williams III, who played Linc Hayes in “The Mod Squad,” passed away at the age of 81 at his home in Los Angeles after battling colon cancer.

He was born in New York City August 21, 1939.

He began his acting career in a production of “Dark of the Moon,” and appeared on Broadway in “The Great Outdoors.” His performance in “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground” won him a Theatre World Award and a Tony nomination.

Williams also starred in several television shows and movies, including: “52 Pick-Up,” “Against the Wall,” “Reindeer Games,” “Purple Rain,” “The General’s Daughter,” “American Gangster,” “Half Baked” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and some episodes of “Tales from the Crypt.”

He had many, many television appearances on everything from “Miami Vice” and “Hill Street Blues” to “Everybody Hates Chris” and “Justified.”