John Williams was a huge star who appeared in everything from award-winning films like “Dial M for Murder,” “To Catch a Thief” to TV shows such as “Family Affair” and various performances on Broadway.

But he also has a connection to La Jolla where he died on May 5, 1983, at age 80, and a place where he lived after retiring from the world of entertainment.

Charlotte St. Martin, president of The Broadway League in NY said, “We recognize the remarkable Tony Award-winning actor John Williams whose talents brought him to New York City to star in several successful Broadway productions in an impressive career that lasted more than four decades and resulted in some rather memorable roles.”

Scott Paulson, a UC San Diego alumnus and outreach coordinator of the Arts Library said, “I did not know about his La Jolla connection, but I certainly recognize him from his movies.”

So, who was this English-born gent who appeared in so many forms of entertainment for the masses? Keep reading.

EARLY DAYS

Williams was born on April 15, 1903, in Chalfont St Giles in Buckinghamshire, England. He first became acquainted with the stage as a teenager in his debut on the London stage in 1916 as young John in a production of “Peter Pan,” by J.M. Barrie.

He would go on and make his debut on the Broadway stage eight years later, in 1924, as Clifford Hope, in “The Fake,” by Frederick Lonsdale. Many other performances followed the English-born Williams in his early days.

SCHOOLING

Williams attended Lancing College, an independent day and boarding high school, educating students aged 13-18, and located at Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW, England, United Kingdom. At the time that Williams attended Lancing, it was a boys-only school, it became co-ed in 1970, according to various websites.

However, when contacted by email the school said, “Our archivist has confirmed that we don’t have a John Williams who came to Lancing at this time,” wrote Catherine Reeve BA, foundation director, Lancing College, Lancing, West Sussex.

He also served with the British Royal Air Force during World War II.

Williams moved to America in the mid-1920s and stayed employed as a stage actor for three decades.

HOLLYWOOD

Williams’ first appearance in a Hollywood film was in director Mack Sennett’s short “The Chumps” (1930). He would go on to be in more than 40 films, including two other Hitchcock films: “The Paradine Case” (1947)

starring Gregory Peck, in which Williams held a minor role as a barrister, and “To Catch a Thief” (1955) with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, in which Williams portrayed a major character — a Lloyd’s of London insurance representative. In the 1960 thriller “Midnight Lace,” starring Doris Day, Williams played a London police inspector much like his character in “Dial M for Murder.”

The tall English gent was of course best known for his role as Chief Inspector Hubbard in “Dial M for Murder,” a role he played on Broadway, in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1954 film, and on television in 1958.

TONY AWARDS, MORE

His character Hubbard in the “Great White Way” earned him the 1953 Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play.

Incidentally, “Dial M for Murder” was the 27th Broadway play he had appeared in since making his New York debut in “The Fake” in his native England.

After “Dial M for Murder” in the 1953-54 season, though, he appeared in only four more Broadway plays between 1955 and 1970 as he focused on movies and television.

LATER IN LIFE

In the 1960s, most of his work was on television, including a nine-episode stint on “Family Affair” (1966) stepping in for Sebastian Cabot who was Brian Keith’s butler when Cabot had health problems. Williams portrayed the part of Mr. Giles French’s brother, Nigel (“Niles”) French.

According to IMDb, “Outside of his movie career, he gained fame as the star of a television commercial for a set of records of classical music, 120 Music Masterpieces. This became the longest-running nationally broadcast commercial in U.S. television history, running for almost 14 years, from 1971-1984 …”

The commercial was phased out as CDs replaced vinyl records, still airing more than one year after William’s death on May 5, 1983.

FINAL SCENE

Williams retired in the late 1970s, and his last acting appearance was in the popular “Battlestar Galactica.”

Williams was married to his wife Helen, and they had no kids and would pass away soon after their 49th anniversary in La Jolla from heart disease. At his request, his remains were cremated with no funeral per request it was reported.