Katt Williams

Early life

Micah Williams was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 2, 1971. He was raised in Dayton, Ohio by Jehovah's Witness parents. He stated that he learned to read at three years old, and was communicating in multiple languages, including French and Creole. During his childhood, he lived in Haiti for a year and a half on religious mission trips with his family.

Williams emancipated himself from his parents at age 13 and moved to Florida. Though homeless and living in a park, he supported himself as a street vendor. He stated that he wanted to remain God's friend.

Since at least 2016, Williams has stated on numerous occasions that he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a minor at the age of 16, attended boot camp, and was subsequently discharged when his age was discovered. However, in a CBS News investigation, the Marine Corps stated that there was no record of Williams having ever served in the military or attended any Marine training facilities.

Career

Stand-up comedy

Williams started performing comedy in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati. He honed his comic delivery by performing his routine in clubs around the country and had become an established comic by 1999, appearing at the likes of The Improv, The Comedy Club, The Ice House, and Hollywood Park Casino. Most notably, he appeared on BET's ComicView as Katt "N da Hatt" Williams. It was later confirmed by Williams that Dr. Seuss sued Williams because of the Katt "n da hatt."

Williams starred in his first comedy special, Let a Playa Play, in 2006. His first HBO stand-up special came in 2006 with The Pimp Chronicles, Pt. 1. In 2007, he co-wrote and starred as himself in the comedy film Katt Williams: American Hustle. The film had critical success and established Williams as a mainstream comedian. In 2008, he released his second HBO comedy special, It's Pimpin' Pimpin'. Keeping busy releasing comedy DVDs and touring, Williams had a comedy tour that was named the best of 2008 by Billboard.

After a four-year hiatus, Williams returned to stand-up in 2012 for his third HBO comedy special, Kattpacalypse. Later that year, he ended up in jail after an incident at a Seattle bar where he reportedly acted threatening and violent, then resisted arrest. The next day, Williams announced the end of his stand-up comedy career. However, three days later, he announced he would not retire.

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 he jumped off the stage to confront a heckler. Williams' November 16 performance at the Oracle Arena in Oakland ended after he engaged in a profanity-laced confrontation with a heckler, and was assisted off stage by his own security team.

During late 2013, Williams was on his Growth Spurt Tour. On August 16, 2014, he returned with a new HBO special titled Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife, which was directed by Spike Lee.

In September 2015, during an interview, Williams announced and described his upcoming Conspiracy Theory Tour: "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."

In 2018, Williams released a new stand-up special on Netflix called Great America and shot in Jacksonville, Florida.

In 2022, he released a new stand-up special on Netflix called World War III.

In January 2024, Williams was featured on retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe's podcast, Club Shay Shay. Williams' comments on the entertainment industry and other comedians including Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Rickey Smiley gained traction on social media.

On May 4, 2024, Katt Williams: Woke Foke streamed live from Los Angeles. Part of Netflix Is a Joke Festival, it was Williams' thirteenth stand-up comedy special (his third for Netflix).

Acting

In 2002, Williams made his acting debut on NYPD Blue on the sixth episode of its tenth season on October 29. Williams is best-known for his character Money Mike in the film Friday After Next (2002), and has played supporting characters in Norbit (2007) and First Sunday (2008).

He appeared in the official music video for Nick Cannon's single "Gigolo" in 2003. He next appeared as a regular on Wild 'n Out on MTV during its first three seasons.

In 2007, Williams provided the voice of A Pimp Named Slickback while, slickback's name and overall persona are modeled after Natalac pimp of the City, a classic BET Uncut video that went viral in the early 2000s. 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. He has appeared in several episodes of My Wife and Kids as character Bobby Shaw. He was the roastmaster of the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav.

In 2018, he played the character Willie in the season 2 premiere of Atlanta, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Music

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

Legal issues

Katt Williams has faced legal issues throughout his career, including 19 felony charges. While he has pleaded no contest and has received senteces of probation and fines, he maintains that he has no felony convictions on his record.

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

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. Police later charged him with burglary and criminal trespass.

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. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officers arrived on the scene and arrested the three women for assault with a deadly weapon, and arrested Williams for felony intimidation of a witness. He was booked into jail and released that same night on $50,000 bail.

On November 15, 2012, Williams was arrested in Oakland, California, on charges of suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon; he had allegedly beaten an 18-year-old with a bottle aboard Williams' tour bus in Berkeley, California.

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

On December 2, 2012, Williams was arrested in Seattle after he allegedly got into a dispute at a bar in the South Lake Union neighborhood. His arrest came after he no-showed the first night of a planned two-night performance at the Paramount Theatre. Five days later, he was arrested in Dunnigan, California, on a bench warrant arising from an incident the previous month in Sacramento, California, during which he allegedly drove a three-wheeled motorbike onto a sidewalk and refused to stop for police. The resulting chase was halted due to safety concerns, and the bench warrant was issued after Williams narrowly missed several bystanders.

On December 28, 2012, Williams was arrested in Los Angeles on child endangerment charges. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail, and four of his adopted children were placed in protective custody. According to reports, the case fell apart and no trial was scheduled.

On January 8, 2013, Williams was arrested at his Los Angeles home after failing to appear in Sacramento to answer the November 25 motorbike charges.

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

On February 29, 2016, Williams was arrested in Gainesville, Georgia, when a clerk at a swimming pool store said Williams had hit him. When police arrived, they found Williams already lying face down with his hands behind his back, waiting to be handcuffed.

On March 23, 2016, a video went viral of the 44-year-old Williams getting into a fight with a 17-year-old boy following a dispute during a soccer game in Gainesville. The authorities planned to review the incident with the DA in addition to his ongoing court cases.

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

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

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 an allegation from February 28, 2016, stating that Williams had thrown a man's cellphone.

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

Personal life

Williams has ten children consisting of three biological and seven adopted children. Williams is a Christian and often wears a cross during his shows as a symbol of his faith, though he briefly joined the Nation of Islam while living in Oakland, California.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stand-up comedy specials

Video games

Documentaries

Discography

Awards and nominations

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

In 2018, he won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance on the show Atlanta.

References

References

1. McNerthney, Casey. (January 21, 2013). "Comedian Katt Williams charged again in Seattle". [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]].
2. (December 14, 2006). "Comedian Katt Williams Sentenced". [[WPVI-TV]].
3. "Bio". Katt Williams.
4. Williams, Katt. (January 3, 2024). "Katt Williams Unleashed CLUB SHAY SHAY". YouTube.
5. (January 8, 2019). "Katt Williams on His Comedic Style, Trump, & His Netflix Special". Larry King.
6. "Katt Williams Biography".
7. Getlen, Larry. (August 9, 2014). "The chaotic life of comedy's greatest mystery". New York Post.
8. James LaPorta. (2024-11-19). "Comedian Katt Williams often brags about passing Marine boot camp. The Marines say they have no record of it.". CBS News.
9. "Biography".
10. "Katt Williams biography".
11. Williams, Kam. "Katt Williams: American Hustle". [[Los Angeles Sentinel]].
12. Glaysher, Scott. (May 5, 2017). "Katt Williams - It's Pimpin' Pimpin'". [[Exclaim!]].
13. Sanneh, Kelefa. (April 6, 2009). "Last Laugh".
14. "DVD Review: Katt Williams – Kattpacalypse". CHUD.com.
15. (December 3, 2012). "Katt Williams: 'I'm kinda done' with stand-up comedy career". CNN.com.
16. (December 6, 2012). "Katt Williams Not Retiring From Stand-Up Comedy, Just Felt Unappreciated". huffingtonpost.com.
17. Wenzel, John. (November 3, 2012). "Katt Williams fans furious after bizarre Denver show". denverpost.com.
18. Jimenez, Daniel. (November 17, 2012). "Comedian Katt Williams' onstage meltdown in Oakland brings angry response from fans". MercuryNews.com.
19. (November 8, 2013). "Katt Williams Presents The Katt is Back Tour in Las Vegas, 11/9 - BWWComedyWorld". Broadwayworld.com.
20. Obenson, Tambay A.. (May 8, 2014). "Spike Lee Will Direct Katt Williams' Return to HBO In New - Shadow and Act". Shadow and Act.
21. (August 16, 2014). "'Katt Williams: Priceless: Afterlife,' TV review". Daily News.
22. (September 3, 2015). "Katt Williams Announces 'Conspiracy Theory' Tour".
23. (January 16, 2018). "What's on TV Tuesday: 'Katt Williams: Great America' and 'Black Lightning'". The New York Times.
24. Price, Joe. "Shannon Sharpe Says It Was Hard Hearing Katt Williams Diss His Friends During Interview".
25. "Katt Williams: Woke Foke". IMDb.
26. Richburg, Chris. (January 30, 2007). "Katt Williams Rap/Comedy Album On The Way, New Films, TV Show In The Works". AllHipHop.com.
27. (November 19, 2013). "New Music: Hell Rell And Katt Williams Diss Trinidad James With 'Lames In The Game'". Vibe.
28. "how-many-arrests-has-comedian-katt-williams-had-over-the-years". grunge.com.
29. "Katt Williams Roasts Wanda Smith (Full Video)".
30. (November 7, 2006). "Katt Williams arrested on gun charge at LAX". USA Today.
31. (November 10, 2009). "Katt Williams released, facing burglary charge". CNN.
32. (December 5, 2009). "Katt Williams Speaks Out On Being Detained At Wal-Mart! "This Is A Witch Hunt" (Cops Damaging $1,000's Of His Equipment For No Reason)". [[WorldStarHipHop]].
33. (June 14, 2011). "Katt Williams Arrested in Assault on Tractor Driver". [[KFSN-TV]].
34. (June 13, 2011). "Katt Williams Arrested -- Let The Tractor Driver Go!". TMZ.com.
35. St. Clair, Katy. (November 15, 2012). "Katt Williams arrested in Oakland after show, accused of hitting man with a bottle". [[San Francisco Examiner]].
36. Hurd, Rick. (November 27, 2012). "Katt Williams' meltdown in Oakland leads to lawsuit from disappointed fan". [[East Bay Times]].
37. Shaw, Linda. (December 2, 2012). "Stand-up comic arrested after dispute". [[The Seattle Times]].
38. (December 9, 2012). "Katt Williams arrested again". komonews.com.
39. (January 27, 2013). "Katt Williams Catches A Break In Felony Child Endangerment Case". tmz.com.
40. (December 28, 2012). "Katt Williams Arrested For Child Endangerment, May Face Felony Charges". inquisitr.com.
41. (January 8, 2013). "Katt Williams arrested in LA on Sacramento bench warrant". Kcra.com.
42. Almasy, Steve. (October 29, 2014). "Suge Knight, Katt Williams arrested in paparazzi camera theft case". [[CNN]].
43. Queally, James. (April 18, 2017). "Comedian Katt Williams ordered to complete anger management classes in Beverly Hills robbery case".
44. "Comedian Katt Williams arrested in Georgia". WHBQ.
45. (March 24, 2016). "KATT WILLIAMS Proof In Video Pudding KATT PUNCHED FIRST". TMZ.
46. (March 26, 2016). "Katt Williams Breaks Down The Reason Behind His Fight With A 17-Year-Old". Vibe.
47. Baker, Soren. (April 28, 2016). "Katt Williams Arrested For Battery After Salt Shaker Incident". HipHopDX.
48. (July 24, 2016). "Katt Williams Arrested for Battery on a Woman". TMZ.com.
49. (September 16, 2016). "Comedian Katt Williams arrested again over cellphone dispute".
50. Njus, Elliot. (October 7, 2018). "Comedian Katt Williams arrested in Portland after argument about dog".
51. (January 3, 2024). "Katt Williams on Club Shay Shay". YouTube.
52. "Biography".
53. "Katt Williams".
54. (September 8, 2018). "Katt Williams ('Atlanta') upsets Bill Hader and Donald Glover to win Best Comedy Guest Actor Emmy". [[Gold Derby]].