Matt Williams - Details

Biography

MATT WILLIAMS made his feature directing debut this past Spring with "Where the Heart Is." Previously he co-wrote and produced "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken." He also executive produced the critically acclaimed "Firelight," the directing debut of writer William Nicholson ("Shadowlands").

The Los Angeles Times named Williams one of "TV's Biggest Power Players" in 1995. He was creator/executive producer of the long-running comedy series "Home Improvement." He also was creator/executive producer of "Roseanne," creator/executive producer of "Thunder Alley," co-creator of "A Different World" and creator/executive producer of "Buddies," "Carol & Company" and "Soul Man."

Born in Evansville, Indiana, Williams received a BFA in theater from the University of Evansville and an MFA from the University of New Orleans. Moving to New York, Williams began acting in commercials before appearing in his first play, "Between Daylight and Boonville." For several years, he supported himself as an actor, performing on stage and television and doing voice-overs while writing plays.
Williams then wrote a series of one-act plays that caught the attention of director Jay Sandrich, who became the principal director on "The Cosby Show" and who recommended Williams as a writer to producers Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner. Williams joined "The Cosby Show" during its premiere season and worked as a writer/producer on the show for three seasons, during which time his work was honored with Emmy and Humanitas Award nominations. He shared a Peabody Award for Outstanding Achievement in Television Writing with the other writers on the series. Williams' subsequent success with "A Different World" and "Roseanne" led to the establishment of Wind Dancer in 1989 with his partners, David McFadzean and Carmen Finestra.

Williams has directed over 20 plays off-Broadway and in regional theater. Recently he commissioned 15 original plays by American playwrights that he and Wind Dancer will produce. He has also obtained the rights to the hit of last summer's O'Neill Festival, the original musical "Bubbly Black Girl," which he plans to produce off-Broadway.