Clarence Williams III as Lincoln "Linc" Hayes in a 1969 episode of "The Mod Squad."
CNN  — 

Clarence Williams III, who played Linc Hayes in “The Mod Squad,” died at his home in Los Angeles after battling colon cancer, his manager Peg Donegan told CNN in a statement Sunday.

Williams was 81.

Williams was born in New York City on August 21, 1939, according to the statement.

He began his career in a production of “Dark of the Moon,” and appeared on Broadway in “The Great Outdoors.”

His performance in “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground” won him a Theatre World Award and a Tony nomination, the statement said.

Along with his theatre performances, Williams also starred in several shows and movies, including: “52 Pick-Up,” “Against the Wall,” “Reindeer Games,” “Purple Rain,” “The General’s Daughter,” “American Gangster,” “Half Baked” and “Lee Daniels’ The Butler.”

Correction: Williams is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw and grandniece Azaria Verdin, the statement said.
A previous version of this article misstated the age of Clarence Williams III. He was 81.