Paul Williams Net Worth, Career, Personal Life

Paul Williams Net Worth, Career, Personal Life

Paul Williams is an Oscar-winning American composer, musician, songwriter, and actor with a net worth of $7 million. He gained prominence in the 1970s as a songwriter for numerous hit songs, including “You and Me Against the World,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “Evergreen.”

His work has been recorded by renowned artists such as Three Dog Night, Helen Reddy, The Carpenters, and Barbra Streisand. Notably, he contributed to the 1979 film The Muppet Movie, earning two Academy Award nominations: Best Music, Original Song for “Rainbow Connection” and **Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score.” Williams won an Academy Award for “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)” and received additional nominations for his work on “Cinderella Liberty,” “Phantom of the Paradise,” and “Bugsy Malone.”

Early Life

Paul Williams was born Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. on September 19, 1940, in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the son of Paul Hamilton Williams and Bertha Mae Williams. His father worked as an architectural engineer, while his mother was primarily a homemaker. Growing up alongside his brothers, including John J. Williams—a NASA rocket scientist who earned the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 1969—Williams was influenced by his older brother, Mentor Williams, who became a songwriter.

Career

Williams began his professional songwriting career in Los Angeles alongside Bill Rose. Their first collaboration was the song “Fill Your Heart,” which was recorded by Rose for his album The Thorn in Mrs. Rose’s Side. The song later gained popularity through covers by Tiny Tim in 1968 and David Bowie on his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Following this initial success, Williams secured a contract with A&M Records and teamed up with songwriter Roger Nichols. Together, they crafted several successful hits throughout the 1970s, including Helen Reddy’s “You and Me Against the World” and The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.

“Williams frequently collaborated with musician Kenneth Ascher, notably penning “Rainbow Connection,” which was performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog in The Muppet Movie (1979). He also contributed to various films during this period, such as writing and performing for Phantom of the Paradise (1974), which earned him an Oscar nomination. In 1976, he co-wrote the song “Where Do I Go from Here” for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and provided lyrics for “You’re So Nice to Be Around” in Cinderella Liberty, which also garnered an Oscar nomination.

That same year, he co-wrote the music and lyrics for A Star is Born with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson; the love ballad “Evergreen” won both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy for Song of the Year. In 1987, Williams wrote songs performed by Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in Ishtar.

He later composed music for a musical adaptation of Happy Days, which premiered in 2007. His collaborations continued with contributions to Richard Barone’s album Glow (2010) and work with Scissor Sisters on their second album Ta-Dah. Additionally, he worked with Daft Punk on their Grammy-winning album Random Access Memories (2012) and represented them at the 2014 Grammy Awards when they won Album of the Year.

Paul Williams’ Net Worth

Williams has penned numerous pop and country songs that have been recorded by various notable musicians. He is a proud member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and served as president of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

Acting Career

While primarily recognized for his musical achievements, Williams has also appeared in various films and television shows. His notable film roles include appearances in Phantom of the Paradise, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. He made guest appearances on popular shows such as The Muppet Show, Batman: The Animated Series, Walker, Texas Ranger, and Hawaii Five-O, among others. In his later career, he featured in films like Georgia Rule, Valentine’s Day, Baby Driver, and Superman: Red Son. His television credits include roles in Fast N’ Loud, Community, and Goliath.

Personal Life

Williams has been married three times. His first marriage was to Kate Clinton in 1971; they had two children together—Sarah and Cole. He later married Hilda Keenan Wynn but divorced before marrying writer Mariana Williams. An avid skydiver, Paul completed over 100 jumps during the 1970s.

Throughout the late 20th century, Williams faced challenges with alcohol and substance abuse but has been sober since 1990. He actively participates in addiction recovery efforts, becoming a Certified Drug Rehabilitation Counselor through UCLA. In 2014, he co-authored a book titled Gratitude and Trust: Recovery is Not Just for Addicts with Tracy Jackson, sharing insights from his journey through addiction recovery.+