Katt Williams

Micah Sierra "Katt" Williams[1][2][3] (born September 2, 1971)[1][4] is an American stand-up comedian, actor, rapper,[5] singer, and voice actor. He had a role as Money Mike in Friday After Next, had a stint on Wild 'n Out, portrayed Bobby Shaw in My Wife and Kids, provided the voice of A Pimp Named Slickback in The Boondocks, Seamus in Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, and portrayed Lord Have Mercy in Norbit. In 2008, he voiced himself in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Not to be confused with Kat Williams or William Katt.
Katt Williams
Williams in 2018
Birth nameMicah Sierra Williams
Born (1971-09-02) September 2, 1971
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
MediumStand-up, television, film, music
NationalityAmerican
Years active1991–present
GenresBlack comedy, blue comedy, satire, observational comedy, physical comedy
Subject(s)African-American culture, racism, recreational drug use, politics, celebrities, sex
Children8
Notable works and roles
Websitewww.kattwilliams.com

Early life

Williams was born Micah Sierra Williams on September 2, 1971 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio.[4] Williams emancipated himself from his parents at the age of 13, moved to Florida, and supported himself as a street vendor.[6][7]

Career

Stand-up career

Williams started performing comedy in his Cincinnati neighborhood, Evanston.[8][9]

Williams honed his comic delivery by performing his routine in clubs nationwide, from Oklahoma to Oakland. By 1999, Katt had become an established comic, appearing on stage at the likes of The Improv, The Comedy Club, The Ice House, and The Hollywood Park Casino. Most notably he appeared on BET's Comic View as Katt "In the Hat" Williams.[8][9]

Williams starred in his first comedy special in 2006 entitled Katt Williams: Live: Let a Playa Play. His second & first HBO stand-up special was 2006's The Pimp Chronicles, Pt. 1.[8] In 2007 Williams was offered a movie/standup which he entitled American Hustle. The film had critical success and established Williams as a mainstream comedian.[8][10] In 2008 Williams released his second HBO comedy special entitled It's Pimpin' Pimpin', with Williams doing more political standup.[11] Keeping busy releasing comedy DVDs and touring, Williams had a comedy tour that was named the best of 2008 by Billboard.[12] In 2012, after a four-year hiatus, Williams returned to stand up in his third HBO comedy special, entitled Kattpacalypse.[13]

On December 3, 2012, Williams announced the end of his stand-up comedy career, a day after a bizarre incident in Seattle, Washington that landed him in jail.[14] However, just 3 days later, Williams announced he was coming out of retirement.[15]

During late 2013, Williams was on his "Growth Spurt" Tour.[16]

On August 16, 2014, Williams returned with a new HBO special titled Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife, which was directed by Spike Lee.[17][18]

On September 3, 2015, during an interview, Williams announced and described his upcoming tour entitled "Conspiracy Theory" stating,

The conspiracy conversation is a conversation that we are all familiar with. We know that there are conspiracies out there, but this is a conversation that encompasses a lot of things that aren't being discussed other places. That's the basis for all conspiracy theories: the fact that there is hidden information out there, and how our process changes about things that we thought we used to know. We all, at some point, if we're are at a certain age, we grew up thinking Pluto was a planet. This is probably going to go down as one of my finest works, just because it's a collection of forbidden topics that we can't seem to get answered. I am one of the rare urban public officials. Part of my guarantee in my ticket price is that I'm going to be talking about what we are talking about now, and discussing from now to the next time we see [me] again. This is the open discussion that we've had since 2003. This is what it is about.[19]

In 2018, Katt Williams released a new stand up special on Netflix, shot in Jacksonville, Florida, titled Great America.[20]

Film and television career

In 2002, Williams made his acting debut on NYPD Blue. He gained notoriety on Wild 'n Out, in which he appeared for several seasons.[8][9] Williams also appeared in the official music video for Wild 'n Out colleague Nick Cannon's single 'Gigolo' in 2003.

In 2007, he provided the voice of A Pimp Named Slickback in The Boondocks; he plays himself as an on-stage stand-up comedian in Grand Theft Auto IV performing several routines, including an abbreviated version of one of his routines from Katt Williams: American Hustle; and Williams has appeared in several episodes of My Wife and Kids as character Bobby Shaw. He was also the roastmaster of the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.[8][9]

Williams has also played supporting characters in films, such as First Sunday and Norbit, but is more widely recognized for his character Money Mike in Friday After Next.[8][9]

Music career

He has also used the Money Mike stage name when rapping for songs by such artists as Baby Bash, The Game, and Suga Free. In 2006 Williams joined well-known New York rapper Cam'ron's group the Diplomats but was never signed as an official artist for the label.[21] On January 29, 2009 Williams released his debut studio/live album entitled It's Pimpin' Pimpin'. On November 19, 2013 Williams & Hell Rell released a diss song to Atlanta rapper Trinidad James entitled "Lames In The Game" due to comments made by the rapper about the state of current hip hop music.[22]

Incidents at live shows

On August 27, 2011, his performance at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona was marred by an incident during which Williams responded to a heckler, identified as being of Mexican descent, with an angry tirade that included Williams shouting "...so if you love Mexico, bitch, get the fuck over there!"[23] In an interview following the performance, Williams stated that the incident was precipitated by the heckler. "If a person starts their heckling with 'f' America, then that gives me the right to defend my country," Williams said. Williams offered no apology for his remarks during the performance, stating "I don't think I need to apologize for being pro-American."[24]

Two live performances in November 2012 ended early because of Williams' confrontational behavior. A November 1 performance at the Wells Fargo Theatre in Denver ended after Williams jumped off the stage to confront a heckler.[25] A November 16 performance at the Oracle Arena in Oakland ended after Williams again entered into a profanity-laced confrontation with a heckler and was assisted off stage by his own security staff.[26]

On November 13, 2006, Williams was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after a stolen gun was found in his briefcase.[27] On December 14, 2006, Williams pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed firearm and was sentenced to three years' probation, ordered to pay restitution, and was given credit for the three days he spent in jail.[3]

In November 2010, Williams was arrested by police while working on a film in Coweta County, Georgia. He was accused of stealing $3,500 worth of coins and jewelry. He was released the following day on a $40,000 bond.[28] Police later charged Williams with burglary and criminal trespass.[29]

On June 11, 2011, Williams was arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a tractor driver. The alleged victim said three women approached his tractor at around 4:30 p.m. local time and attacked him with rocks and dirt clods, causing him facial injuries.[30] Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officers arrived on the scene and arrested the three women for assault with a deadly weapon and Williams for felony intimidation of a witness.[31] Williams was booked into jail and released that same night on $50,000 bail.[31]

On November 15, 2012, he was arrested in Oakland, California on charges of suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly beating an 18-year-old Berkeley, California man with a bottle aboard Williams' tour bus.[32]

An attendee of Williams' shortened November 16, 2012 performance at the Oracle Arena in Oakland filed a class action lawsuit days after the event, seeking compensation for himself and "all others who paid money for a show and got nothing but Katt Williams' nonperformance."[33]

On December 2, 2012, he was arrested in Seattle after he allegedly got into a dispute at a bar in South Lake Union. Williams' arrest came after his no-show November 29, 2012 for the first night of a planned two-night engagement at the Paramount Theatre.[34] Five days later, Williams was arrested in Dunnigan, California on a bench warrant arising from a November 25, 2012, incident in Sacramento during which he allegedly drove a three-wheeled motorbike on a sidewalk and refused to stop for police. The resulting chase was halted due to safety concerns, and the bench warrant issued, after Williams narrowly missed several bystanders.[35]

On December 28, 2012, Williams was arrested in Los Angeles on child endangerment charges. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail, and his four children were placed in protective custody.[36]

On January 8, 2013, he was arrested at his LA home after failing to appear in Sacramento to answer the November 25 motorbike charges.[37]

On October 29, 2014, Williams and Suge Knight were arrested for the theft of a camera from a female photographer in Beverly Hills on September 5.[38] In April 2017 Williams pled no contest to the charge of robbery and was ordered to undertake a year of anger management charges as well as receiving three years' probation.[39]

On February 29, 2016, Williams was arrested in Gainesville, Georgia when a clerk at a swimming-pool store said Katt hit him. Katt was lying face down with his hands behind his back when police arrived.[40]

On April 27, 2016, Williams was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia and charged with battery after allegedly throwing a salt shaker at the manager of Spondivits, a local restaurant. The manager claimed to have been hit in the mouth with the salt shaker when Williams' group was denied preferential seating.[41]

He was arrested July 24, 2016 on suspicion of battery after an altercation with a woman at the Sportsman's Lodge, a hotel in Sherman Oaks, California.[42]

On September 15, 2016, Williams was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, on a charge of second-degree criminal damage to property, after having turned himself in on a warrant for failing to appear in court for the April 27 incident. This new arrest involved a February 28, 2016, allegation that the comedian threw a man's cellphone.[43]

On October 6, 2018 Williams was arrested in Portland, Oregon on a charge of assault in the fourth degree, after he assaulted a town car driver during an argument about his dog. Williams was additionally arrested on an outstanding warrant from Georgia.[44]

Personal life

Williams briefly joined the Nation of Islam while living in the San Francisco Bay Area. He often wears the cross during his shows as symbol of his Christian faith.[45]

Williams is the father of eight children, including two biological children named Micah and Jessica,[46] and 6 adopted children.[7] His son, Micah Stephen Williams is an actor who is best known for playing "Emmett" from the Disney Channel series, Good Luck Charlie.[47][48][49]

Awards and nominations

In 2007, Williams was nominated for the Teen Choice Awards Choice Comedian Award.[50]

In 2018, Williams was nominated for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Guest Actor. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on the show Atlanta.[51]

Year Work Category Award show Result Ref.
2007N/AChoice ComedianTeen Choice AwardsNominated[50]
2018AtlantaOutstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy SeriesPrimetime Emmy AwardsWon[51]

Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes
2002 Friday After Next Money Mike
2003 Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Neighbor Uncredited
2004 Choices 2 Pimp in Pink
2005 Rebound Preacher Don's sidekick
Ganked Shane Ross
Treasure N Tha Hood Reverend Ike
2006 Repos Mr. Henderson
Let A Playa Play Himself Stand-up
The Pimp Chronicles Himself Stand-up
2007 Roast Of Flavor Flav Himself Host
Norbit Lord Have Mercy
The Perfect Holiday Delicious
American Hustle: The Movie Himself Stand-up
Epic Movie Harry Beaver Voice
2008 Internet Dating Mickey
First Sunday Rickey
Lonely Street Rodent
Katthouse Himself Host
Young American Gangstas Joe Jack Brown Video
Pimpadelic Himself Documentary
The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Voice
It's Pimpin' Pimpin' Himself Stand-up
2010 9 Lives Himself Documentary
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Seamus Voice
2012 Kattpacalypse Himself Stand-up
The Obama Effect MLK
2013 Scary Movie 5 Blaine Fulda
2014 Priceless Afterlife Himself Stand-up
School Dance Darren
2017 Father Figures Hitchhiker (The Universe)
2018 Great America Himself Stand-up
2020 Meet The Blacks 2: The House Next Door
2 Minutes of Fame Marques
Repos 2 Mr. Henderson

Television
Television
Year Show Role Notes
2002 NYPD Blue Martel Cates
2004 The Tracy Morgan Show Freddie
2004–2005 My Wife and Kids Bobby Shaw
2005 Girlfriends Rick Beatty
Cuts Barry
2005–2008 The Boondocks A Pimp Named Slickback (voice)
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Barry
2018 Atlanta Willie Episode: "Alligator Man"
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
2019 Black-ish Perry Episode: "Enough Is Enough"
2020 The Last O.G. Fred Episode: "Family Feud"

Discography
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
 US Heat
The Pimp Chronicles
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Salient Media
  • Formats: CD, LP
 ——
It's Pimpin' Pimpin' 1745
Pimpadelic ——
Kattpacalypse
  • Released: September 18, 2012
  • Label: KattPack / E1 Music
  • Formats: CD, LP
 ——
Live
  • Released: October 15, 2012
  • Label: Three T's Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, LP
 ——

References
  1. "The People of the State of California v Micah Sierra Williams (09/02/1971) a.k.a. Katt Williams, Jr., a.k.a. Katt Williams" (PDF). Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Los Angeles via TMZ.com / DigitalCity.com. November 9, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 9, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  2. McNerthney, Casey (January 21, 2013). "Comedian Katt Williams charged again in Seattle". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016. Comedian Micah 'Katt' Williams....
  3. "Comedian Katt Williams Sentenced". Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: WPVI-TV. Associated Press. December 14, 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2008. ...whose full name is Micah S. Katt Williams....
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  6. "Katt Williams Biography". Biography.com. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  7. Getlen, Larry (August 9, 2014). "The chaotic life of comedy's greatest mystery". New York Post. New York Post. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
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  12. Sanneh, K. (2009). "Last laugh". New Yorker. 85 (9): 26–31.
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  48. 7 Things You Didn't Know About Good Luck Charlie, retrieved 2019-10-10
  49. Disney Good Luck Charlie star Micah Williams "Emmette" Interview at the ONE WARM NIGHT Premiere, retrieved 2019-10-10
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