Fred Williamson
American football player and actor
- Born
- 5 March 1938, Gary
- Citizenship
- United States
- Occupation
- actor, film director, film actor, American football player, screenwriter
- Films here
- 2 (1 as director, 1 as cast)
Frederick Robert Williamson (born March 5, 1938), nicknamed "the Hammer", is an American actor, filmmaker, and former football player. He played professional football as a defensive back, primarily in the American Football League (AFL) during the 1960s. He was a top sports star during the decade, and became a leading man in blaxploitation and action films beginning in the 1970s.
Williamson played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats, and played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers for one season. In the AFL, Williamson played with the Oakland Raiders for four seasons, becoming a three-time AFL All-Star (1961, '62, '63). He then played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where was a one-time AFL champion ('66). During his football career, he earned the nickname "the Hammer" for his aggressive playing style, which incorporated martial arts techniques.
Filmography (martial arts films)
| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Blind Rage | Cast |
| 1983 | The Last Fight | Director |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q1452569 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.