Montel Williams Biography - QVC.com

Montel Williams
Biography
Press Contact
Melanie McLaughlin
melanie@montelmedia.com
888-976-6665
Montel Williams, is the name behind one of the longest running talk shows in the
history of television. An Emmy Award ® winning host and the Executive Producer
of the Montel Williams Show, Williams reached households across America
presenting them with challenging social issues for 17 years. In September of 2009,
the show completed its final season, but can still be seen around the world in a
Best of Montel series. Although bittersweet, the finale of the Montel Williams Show
marked an important juncture for Williams. It concluded one of the best chapters in
his life and opened a door to exciting new opportunities.
Williams has signed a multi-year deal with radio syndicator Air America for a daily
3-hour talk radio program entitle Montel Across America slated to begin on April
6th, 2009. This marks Williams debut as a radio personality tackling social, political
and economic issues daily along with providing health and wellness information for
his listeners.
Battling Multiple Sclerosis and depression daily, Williams has built the Living Well
with Montel brand, by incorporating life experience and the information he has
accumulated through personal account and professional opinions. Living Well is
focused on products that can help consumers live better physically, emotionally,
financially and spiritually. In addition to the products available under the brand
name, a series of Living Well Conferences will launch with an inaugural event on
May 12, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV at the Venetian Hotel. Williams has also founded
the Living Well with Montel Health Association, which will provide medical
discount benefit cards for members for a monthly fee and free pharmacy discount
cards.
In January 2006, Williams became the national spokesman for the Partnership for
Prescription Assistance, PPA, (www.pparx.org) a patient assistance clearinghouse
program that has matched over 5.5 million Americans to public and private patient
assistance programs providing them with more than $13 billion dollars of free or
nearly free prescriptions.
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An accomplished author, Williams has published eight books to date, four of which
were NY Times Bestsellers. His latest release “Living Well Emotionally” hit
bookstores on January 6th, 2009 and has received critical acclaim.
Williams enjoys acting and performs whenever his schedule permits. Over the past
few years, viewers may have seen him on hit television programs including "All My
Children," "American Dreams" and "JAG.” Most recently Williams contributed to
the long running dramatic series “Guiding Light” playing “Clayton Boudreau”,
which landed him a nomination in 2009 for a NAACP Image Award for
Outstanding Actor In A Television Series.
With a list of interests as vast as the eye can see, in April of 2008 Williams saw one
of his early passions, Poker, in a whole new light. With a solid plan and an
ingenious business model, he created the International Team Poker League
(ITPL). Adding yet another prestigious title to his name, Williams will launch the
ITPL internationally in the spring of 2009 as its Commissioner. The ITPL will bring
an exciting new format to terrestrial and online poker tournaments culminating in a
truly original and engaging TV show.
A true entrepreneur Williams! accomplishments go beyond media and publishing,
he is also a successful Fatburger franchisee. He owns the exclusive franchise
rights to Colorado and presently operates 5 storefronts with additional stores in
development.
Shortly after being diagnosed with MS in 1999, Williams established the Montel
Williams MS Foundation (www.montelms.org) to further the scientific study of MS,
provide financial assistance to select organizations and institutions conducting
research, raise national awareness, and educate the public. The MWMSF has
granted over $1.5 million dollars to research and has supported a study done at the
Karolinska Institute in Sweden, which discovered an MS gene.
Williams began his professional career in the US Marine Corps in 1974 when he
enlisted in his hometown of Baltimore after graduating high school. After six
months, he was meritoriously promoted twice, and in 1975, became the first black
Marine selected to the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island.
Upon graduation from prep school, Williams received a Presidential Appointment to
the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where he studied Mandarin
Chinese, and graduated with a degree in general engineering and a minor in
international security affairs. He was then selected as special duty intelligence
officer, specializing in cryptology.
Williams is the proud father of four children and resides in New York with his wife
Tara.
Montel Williams / Biography 2