Former Oakland Raiders/Kansas City Chiefs football star who rose to prominence as one of the first African-American male action stars of the "blaxploitation" genre of the early 1970s, who has since gone on to a long and illustrious career as an actor, director, writer, and producer! Burly, yet handsome 6' 3" Williamson first came to attention in the TV series "Julia" (1968) playing love interest, Steve Bruce. However, his rugged, athletic physique made him a natural for energetic roles and he quic - www.imdb.com

Fred Williamson, nicknamed "The Hammer," played professional football in 1961 for the Oakland Raiders, then was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1965. A flamboyant self-promoter, Williamson led the media hype into Super Bowl I in 1967. After football he was an architect for a brief time, but then jumped into acting. He had early success in small parts, but his real fame came as an action hero in the movies, in low-budget films such as Black Caesar and Mr. Mean. He produced, wrote and directed m - www.answers.com

Fred Williamson, nicknamed "The Hammer," played professional football in 1961 for the Oakland Raiders, then was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1965. A flamboyant self-promoter, Williamson led the media hype into Super Bowl I in 1967. After football he was an architect for a brief time, but then jumped into acting. He had early success in small parts, but his real fame came as an action hero in the movies, in low-budget films such as Black Caesar and Mr. Mean. He produced, wrote and directed many of the - www.infoplease.com