Billy Dee Williams with Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.Photo:Lucasfilm/Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Lucasfilm/Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
When it comes to fandoms likeStar Wars, not even Hollywood’s most beloved stars are safe from backlash if their characters behave in nefarious ways. ActorBilly Dee Williams, 86, knows that all too well.
He recalls running afoul of fans in his new memoir,What Have We Here?, out Feb. 13 from Knopf. His role asLando CalrissianinStar Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Backhad such an impact on Williams, he named his book after a related experience. “When I got the cape [Lando wears in the film], I said, ‘This is fantastic!’ ” Williams told PEOPLE. “That’s the kind of stuff I like to fool around with. I don’t take myself too seriously.”
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford in Star Wars.Lucasfilm/Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
In an exclusive excerpt from his new memoir, Williams recalls how, for a time, he fell out of favor for appearing to kill Han Solo at the end of the 1980’s Star Wars film. Read—or listen—below.
Listen to Billy Dee Williams Read an Excerpt
Nearly everywhere I went, fans harangued me for betraying Han Solo. I got dirty looks on airplanes. “How could you?” A flight attendant scolded. At the grocery store, a man shopping with his teenage son looked at me with disgust. “I should put you in the deep freeze,” he said, as his son nodded in agreement. The harshest reaction came on the playground at my daughter’s school. In the afternoon, as I waited in the courtyard to pick her [up], parents scowled at me. Then, after the bell rang, I got the same treatment from [my daughter] Hanako’s friends. “Mr. Williams, you sold out Han Solo. Why’d you do that? Now Han Solo is dead.”
It was laughable until it wasn’t—until I sensed a Black-White thing might be brewing. That’s when I took a step back, put up my hands, and told people to wait a minute before they criticized me any further. I guess I had done a good job playing Lando as a dubious character. But Lando wasn’t a bad guy, I explained. Although it looked like he’d betrayed his best friend, the truth was that Lando was caught in the middle of a situation between Han Solo and Darth Vader. He had to hold onto his own situation and buy time without contributing to the complete demise of his friend.
Lando (Billy Dee Williams) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford).Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox
Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox
For more on Billy Dee Williams, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
source: people.com
