Lando Calrissian is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' universe. He is portrayed by Billy Dee Williams in ''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi''. He also appears frequently in the ''Star Wars'' "Expanded Universe" of novels, comic books and video games, including a series of novels in which he is the primary protagonist.

Appearances

''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back''

Lando Calrissian first appears in ''The Empire Strikes Back'', in which Darth Vader threatens Lando into giving his old friend Han Solo over to the bounty hunter Boba Fett. In the ensuing evacuation of Cloud City, he helps Chewbacca, Princess Leia Organa, R2-D2 and C-3PO escape. He assists Leia in rescuing the maimed Luke Skywalker from the underside of Cloud City. He then joins the Rebel Alliance and promises Leia he will find Han.

''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi''

In ''Return of the Jedi'', Calrissian goes undercover to help Luke Skywalker rescue Solo from Jabba the Hutt. He is named a General for his efforts during the battle of Taanab. He then takes the pilot chair in the ''Millennium Falcon'' (with an entirely new crew onboard) and leads the second attack into the new Death Star. Wedge Antilles' X-Wing fighter and The ''Falcon'' destroy the gigantic battle station. His mission brings on the final downfall of the Galactic Empire.

Expanded Universe

Pre-''Empire Strikes Back''

Calrissian's life prior to ''The Empire Strikes Back'' is chronicled in ''The Adventures of Lando Calrissian'' series of novels. Early in his career, Lando is a prodigious gambler and wins the ''Millennium Falcon'' in a game of sabacc. He also wins a strange star-shaped droid named Vuffi Raa, who would be his friend and ally on many occasions. After acquiring the ''Falcon'', and under the tutelage of his friend Han Solo, Calrissian begins to develop his skills as a pilot.

In ''Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu'', he is conned by the Sorcerer of Tund, Rokur Gepta, into hunting down the titular object in the Rafa system. When he arrives, he finds it totally covered in sand and plastic pyramids, and inhabited by a dull and slow-witted society, the Toka. Lando eventually finds the mindharp, but the human governor of Rafa IV activates it. Majestically, the pyramids crumble and the Toka are revealed as the Sharu, an ancient civilization that had drained their intelligence away for safety. Once the Sharu are resurrected, they drive out all the humans. Lando is forced to return to Rokur empty-handed.

In ''Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka'', Lando tries to save a space-borne species called the Oswaft. During the mission, strange spherical droids appear and take Vuffi Raa away, for he is actually a scout for this strange culture. Then, he enters the sabacc championships, and loses to Han Solo. Han makes off with the ''Millennium Falcon''.

In ''Rebel Dawn'', Calrissian helps Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Solo's old flame Bria Tharen (then a Commander in the Rebel Alliance) in a raid against the Hutt-controlled slave world of Ylesia. During the raid which promises generous rewards to Han and his compatriots, Tharen's Red Hand Squadron double crosses Lando and the rest of Han's friends. In the ensuing chaos, Han is branded an accomplice and a traitor. Back on Nar Shaddaa (then Solo's home) word soon spreads, and Calrissian punches him out. The two do not see each other again until ''The Empire Strikes Back'', set three years later.

Later, he wins the mining facility of Cloud City from its current ruler, Baron Raynor. He becomes a responsible leader, keeping his operations out of the eyes of the Galactic Empire. These events are chronicled in the comic book story "Lady Luck," written by Rich Handley and Darko Macan, and its sequel, "Lando Calrissian: Idiot's Array," by Rich Handley.

Pre-''Return of the Jedi''

The ''Star Wars'' comic book series released by Marvel Comics featured Calrissian as a prominent character following ''The Empire Strikes Back''. In the comic series, he has a crime lord arch nemesis named Drebble, and Calrissian will frequently make use of his foil's name as a cover identity so that any animosity he generates while using the alias will be brought against the real Drebble, not Calrissian himself. Drebble features in the comic story "Lady Luck," in which he receives a first name, Barpotomous. Calrissian's use of Drebble's name backfires when the alliance hears how much trouble "Drebble" has been causing the Empire, and orders Calrissian to find and decorate him.

Post-''Return of the Jedi''

Following the events of ''Return of the Jedi'', he builds a mining complex on the Nkllon called Nomad City. The city consists of an old Dreadnaught carried across the landscape on the night side of the planet.

Nomad City is destroyed during Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign against the New Republic, portrayed in ''The Thrawn Trilogy''. When Emperor Palpatine reappears in ''Dark Empire'' and begins his own campaign against the New Republic, Calrissian rejoins the Republic's military at his previous rank. After Palpatine is finally destroyed in ''Empire's End'', Calrissian leaves the military. When Kessel is abandoned following Admiral Daala's attack on the planet in ''Darksaber'', Calrissian takes over the planet, converts its prison into a mining complex, and mines spice from the planet for a number of years.

During ''The Corellian Trilogy'', Calrissian goes on a galaxy-wide hunt for a rich wife. The businessman, reasoning that marriage is partly a financial relationship, meets Tendra Risant, whom he marries. With his inlaws' money and his entrepreneurial abilities, he opens a mining facility on the planet of Dubrillion on the Outer Rim. On the side, he unofficially runs an asteroid training facility for smuggler pilots.

In ''Vector Prime'', Calrissian asks Solo and Chewie to help him with a business transaction on the planet of Sernpidal. During this trip, Chewbacca meets his demise, saving Solo's son Anakin from the moon the Yuuzhan Vong sends crashing onto the planet. Solo, Anakin, and the thousands of people they saved head to Dubrillion, where the first major clash between the biological Vong and the mechanical New Republic occurs. Calrissian's ground defenses, as well as his newly-created shielding technologies, help save Dubrillion from the initial assault. When the Vong retreat, the Skywalker family launch a desperate attack with the Star Destroyer ''Rejuvenator'' and its task force. Calrissian serves as gunner for Solo on the ''Falcon'', but the ''Rejuvenator'' and most of her complement of ships are destroyed.

In ''Dark Tide: Onslaught'', Calrissian helps the Solos organize an escape route for Skywalker's Jedi Academy. He poses as a citizen of the besieged world Talfaglia in order to deliver 17 Jedi "hostages" to the Yuuzhan Vong; this is actually a strike team, which attempts to destroy the cloning facilities on the worldship orbiting Myrkr. He also creates Yuuzhan Vong Hunter Droids, two of which prove crucial in the assault on Myrkr to destroy the voxyn queen, and dozens more are used in assaults on Vong strongholds throughout the war.

In ''Star By Star'', Calrissian's efforts are crucial in delaying the Vong victory in a battle on Coruscant. Instead of using mines to attack the Vong piecemeal, he lets them into the minefield, then turns them on the approaching enemy. Over one thousand of the Vong are destroyed or damaged. He also rescues the kidnapped Ben Skywalker from the clutches of the treacherous Senator Viqi Shesh.

In ''Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream'', Calrissian leads the ground troops to a quick victory, then volunteers to lead a small task force to destroy Vong ambushes of convoys and find out how they tracked said convoys. These efforts are wholly successful, with large Vong capital ships destroyed with minimal effort, time, fuel, and munitions.

Finally, when the newly located Galactic Senate on Mon Calamari sets out to vote for a new Chief of State, Calrissian and Talon Karrde provide "incentives" such as silence, money, and blackmail to convince a group of corrupt senators to vote for Cal Omas, who supports the Jedi. When Omas is elected, Calrissian , Karrde, and Star Destroyer owner Booster Terrik lead the Smuggler's Alliance, with Han Solo commanding, to victory over a massive Yuuzhan Vong force in the rout at Ebaq 9.

Calrissian eventually retires to private life after proving crucial in the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar and creating a new Holonet to replace the one the Vong destroyed.

In the seventh novel of the ''Legacy of the Force'' series, ''Fury'', Calrissian announces to Han Solo and Leia Organa-Solo that he and Tendra are having a child.

Reception

Lando Calrissian was chosen as the 11th top ''Star Wars'' character by IGN and the character was chosen as the 12th top ''Star Wars'' hero by Jesse Schedeen. Schedeen also said that Lando was one of the characters he would most like seeing in ''Star Wars: The Force Unleashed''.

References

External links

Category:Star Wars characters Category:Fictional aviators Category:Fictional businesspeople Category:Fictional gamblers Category:Fictional generals

Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1980

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birth name	William December Williams, Jr.
birth date	April 06, 1937
birth place	New York City, New York, United States
occupation	Actor, artist, singer, writer
years active	1959–present
spouse	}}

William December "Billy Dee" Williams, Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American actor, artist, singer, and writer, best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy.

Early life

Williams was born in New York City, New York, the son of Loretta Anne, a West Indian-born elevator operator from Montserrat, and William December Williams, Sr., an African-American caretaker from Texas. He has a twin sister, Loretta, and grew up in Harlem, where he was raised by his maternal grandmother while his parents worked at several jobs. Williams graduated from Manhattan's School of Performing Arts, where he was a classmate of Diahann Carroll, who coincidentally played the wife of his character Brady Lloyd on the 1980s prime-time soap ''Dynasty.''

Acting career

Stage

He first appeared on Broadway in 1945 in ''The Firebrand of Florence''. He returned to Broadway as an adult in 1960 in the play version of ''The Cool Word''. He appeared in ''A Taste of Honey'' in 1961. A 1976 Broadway production, ''I Have a Dream,'' was directed by Robert Greenwald and starred Williams as Martin Luther King, Jr. His most recent Broadway appearance was in August Wilson's ''Fences,'' as a replacement for James Earl Jones in the role of Troy Maxson in 1988.

Film

He made his film debut in 1959 in ''The Last Angry Man,'' starring Paul Muni, in which he portrayed a juvenile delinquent. His first big break was in the biographical TV movie, ''Brian's Song'' (1971), in which he played Chicago Bears star football player Gale Sayers, who stood by his friend Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan), during his struggle with terminal cancer. Both Williams and Caan were nominated for Emmy Awards for their performances.

In 1972, he played Billie Holliday's husband Louis McKay in Motown Productions' Holiday biopic ''Lady Sings the Blues''. Diana Ross starred in ''Lady Sings the Blues'' opposite Williams; Motown paired the two of them again three years later in ''Mahogany.''

His most widely recognized role is that of Lando Calrissian, which he played in ''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' and in ''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi''. He reprised this role when he lent his voice for the character in the 2002 video game ''Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast,'' as well as the audio dramatization of ''Dark Empire'', the National Public Radio adaptation of ''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'', and two productions for the Star Wars Battlefront series: ''Star Wars Battlefront II'' and ''Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron''. (However, the appearance in Battlefront II was archive footage and it is unknown whether it was him or another actor in the role of Calrissian in Elite Squadron however he appears through Archive footage for that games full-motion sequences). He appeared in the 1989 ''Batman'' film as district attorney Harvey Dent, a role that was planned to develop into Dent's alter-ego, the villain Two-Face, in sequels (including a pay or play contract that would have guaranteed Williams the chance to play Two-Face). That never came to pass; Williams was set to reprise the role in a more villainous light in the sequel, ''Batman Returns'', but his character was deleted and replaced with original villain Max Shreck. When Joel Schumacher stepped in to direct ''Batman Forever'', where Two-Face was to be a secondary villain, Schumacher decided to pay Williams' penalty fee to hire Tommy Lee Jones for the part.

Television

Williams's television work included a recurring guest-starring role on the short-lived show ''Gideon's Crossing''. He has had a brief cameo in the TV show ''Scrubs'' Season 5, where he plays the godfather of Julie (Mandy Moore). Turk hugs him, calling him "Lando," even though he prefers to be called Billy D. He is also well-known for his appearance in advertisements for Colt 45 (a brand of malt liquor) in the 1980s and early 1990s, for which he received much criticism. Williams responded indifferently to the criticism of his appearances in the liquor commercials. When questioned about his appearances he was quoted as saying, "I drink, you drink. Hell, if marijuana was legal, I'd appear in a commercial for that too."

Williams was paired with actress Marla Gibbs on three different TV shows: ''The Jeffersons'' (Gibbs's character, Florence, had a crush on Williams and challenged him on everything because she thought he was an impostor); ''227'' (her character, Mary, pretending to be royalty, met Williams at a banquet); and ''The Hughleys'' (Gibbs and Williams portrayed Darryl's parents).

In 1992, he portrayed Berry Gordy in ''The Jacksons: An American Dream''.

In 1993, Williams had a guest appearance on the spin off to ''The Cosby Show'', ''A Different World'' as Langston Paige, a grumpy landlord.

Williams made a special guest appearance on the hit sketch comedy show, ''In Living Color,'' in 1990. He portrayed Pastor Dan in an episode of ''That '70s Show.''. In this episode entitled "Baby Don't You Do It" (2004), his character is obsessed with ''Star Wars,'' and uses this to help counsel Eric Forman (himself a major "Star Wars" fan) and Donna Pinciotti about their premarital relationship.

Williams made a cameo appearance as himself on the TV series ''Lost'' in the episode "Exposé". He also appears regularly on short clips on the ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'' as a semi-parody of himself.

He played Toussaint Dubois for ''General Hospital: Night Shift'' in 2007 and 2008. Williams reprised his role as Toussaint on ''General Hospital'' itself beginning in June 2009.

In July 2010, Williams appeared in the animated series ''The Boondocks'', where he voiced a fictionalized version of himself in the episode "The Story of Lando Freeman".

In February 2011, Williams appeared as a guest star on USA Network's ''White Collar'' as Ford, an old friend of Neal Caffrey's landlady June, played by Diahann Carroll.

Other ventures

Music

In 1961, Williams recorded a jazz LP produced by Prestige Records entitled ''Let's Misbehave,'' on which he sang several swing standards. The album is currently out of print.

Video games

Williams voiced Lando Calrissian in the video game ''Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast'' and ''Star Wars Battlefront'' as well as the spin-off ''Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron'' (however, the ''Battlefront'' appearances were archive footage and his voice-appearance in ''Elite Squadron'' is left uncredited or unknown). He has recently played a live-action character, GDI Director Redmond Boyle, in the game ''Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars'', making him the second former Star Wars actor to appear in a Command and Conquer game, with the first being James Earl Jones as GDI General James Solomon in ''Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun.''

Internet

In 2008, Williams reprised his role as Lando Calrissian to appear in a video on FunnyOrDie.com in a mock political ad defending himself for leader of the Star Wars galaxy against vicious attack ads from Emperor Palpatine. The video is titled "Vote for Lando Calrissian! w/ BILLY DEE WILLIAMS" Billy Dee is currently a cast member of ''Diary of a Single Mom'', a web based original series directed by award-winning filmmaker Robert Townsend. The series debuted on PIC.tv in 2009.

Art

Even before he began acting, Williams attended the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design in New York. In the late 1980s, he resumed painting. Some of his work can be seen at his online gallery BDW World Art. He has had solo exhibitions in various galleries around the U.S., and his work hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, The Smithsonian Institution, and The Schomburg Museum. The covers of the Thelonious Monk Competition programs since 1990 are by him.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Williams has been married three times:

First to Audrey Sellers, with whom he had a son Corey (b. 1960). They were divorced some years later, after which he apparently became quite depressed. ".... there was a period when I was very despondent, broke, depressed, my first marriage was on the rocks."

Williams was briefly married to actress Marlene Clark in the late 1960s, and divorced in 1971.

He married Teruko Nakagami on December 27, 1972. She brought a daughter, Miyako (b. 1962), from her previous marriage to musician Wayne Shorter. They have a daughter Hanako (b. 1973). They filed for divorce in 1993, but were reported to have reconciled in 1997.

Legal problems

Williams was arrested on January 30, 1996 after allegedly beating his live-in girlfriend, whom the Police did not identify. He was freed from custody the following day after posting a $50,000 bail. Williams stated through his attorney that he expected to be fully exonerated of the charges. The Los Angeles city attorney's office filed misdemeanor charges of spousal battery and dissuading a witness against Williams. The woman, identified only as 'Patricia', later stated the incident was her fault and that she hoped the police would drop the case. In a plea bargain agreement to dismiss the charges, Williams was ordered to undergo 52 counselling sessions.

Filmography

Films

''The Last Angry Man'' (1959)

''The Out-of-Towners'' (1970)

''Black Brigade'' (1970)

''The Final Comedown'' (1972)

''Lady Sings the Blues'' (1972)

''Hit!'' (1973)

''The Take'' (1974)

''Mahogany'' (1975)

''The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings'' (1976)

''Scott Joplin'' (1977)

''Lonesome Dove'' (1994 TV)

''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980)

''Nighthawks'' (1981)

''Marvin & Tige'' (1983)

''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi'' (1983)

''Fear City'' (1984)

''Terror in the Aisles'' (1984)

''Number One with a Bullet'' (1987)

''Deadly Illusion'' (1987)

''Batman'' (1989)

''Secret Agent OO Soul'' (1990)

''Driving Me Crazy'' (1991)

''Giant Steps'' (1992)

''Alien Intruder'' (1993)

''Steel Sharks'' (1996)

''The Prince'' (1996)

''Mask of Death'' (1996)

''Moving Target'' (1997)

''The Contract'' (1998)

''Woo'' (1998)

''Fear Runs Silent'' (1999)

''The Visit'' (2000)

''The Ladies Man'' (2000)

''Good Neighbor'' (2001)

''The Last Place on Earth'' (2002)

''Undercover Brother'' (2002)

''The Maintenance Man'' (2004)

''Constellation'' (2005)

''Hood of Horror'' (2006)

''iMurders'' (2008)

''Fanboys'' (2009)

''Barry Munday'' (2009)

''This Bitter Earth'' (2009)

The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll (2009)

;Short subjects:

''Very Heavy Love'' (2001)

''Oedipus'' (2004) (voice)

Television work

''Guiding Light'' (cast member in 1966)

''Lost Flight'' (1969)

''Carter's Army'' (1970)

''Mission Impossible'' (guest stared in "The Miracle" episode 1971)

''Brian's Song'' (1971)

''The Glass House'' (1972)

''The Jeffersons'' (1978) (1 episode, "Me and Billy Dee", as himself)

''Christmas Lilies of the Field'' (1979)

''The Hostage Tower'' (1980)

''Children of Divorce'' (1980)

''Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' (1983)

''Shooting Stars'' (1983)

''Chiefs'' (1983) (miniseries)

''Time Bomb'' (1984)

''The Imposter'' (1984)

''Dynasty'' (cast member from 1984-1985)

''Double Dare'' (1985) (canceled after 3 episodes)

''Blood, Sweat and Tears'' (1986) (unsold pilot)

''The Right of the People'' (1986)

''Oceans of Fire'' (1986)

''Courage'' (1986)

''Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm & Blues'' (1987)

''The Return of Desperado'' (1988)

''Dangerous Passion'' (1990)

''WISEGUY '' -- "Changing Houses" (1990)

''In Living Color'' (1992)

''The Jacksons: An American Dream'' (1992)

''Marked for Murder'' (1993)

''A Different World (1993)

''Martin'' (1993)

''Percy & Thunder'' (1993)

''Message from Nam'' (1993)

''Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III'' (1994) (miniseries)

''Triplecross'' (1995)

''Falling for You'' (1995)

''The Fourth King'' (1997)

''Hard Time'' (1998)

''18 Wheels of Justice'' (1998)

''Epoch: Evolution'' (2000–2001)

''That 70s Show (2004) (1 episode)

''Half & Half'' (2004) (1 episode)

''Scrubs'' (2006) (1 episode)

''General Hospital: Night Shift'' (cast member in 2007)

''Lost'' (2007) (1 episode)

''Mind of Mencia'' (2008)

''Private Practice'' (2008) (1 episode)

''Robot Chicken'' (2008) (2 episodes)

''Bring Back... Star Wars'' (2008)

''General Hospital'' (2009)

''Titan Maximum'' (2009)

''Jimmy Kimmel Live: Game Night'' (2010)

''The Boondocks'' (2010) (episode 10)

''White Collar'' (2011)

''The Cleveland Show'' (2011)

Recorded musical work

''Let's Misbehave'' LP (1961)

Video game work

''Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast'' (As Lando Calrissian)

''Star Wars Battlefront II'' (Archive Footage) (As Lando Calrissian)

''Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron'' (Possibly Archive Footage) (As Lando Calrissian)

''Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars'' (As GDI Director Redmond Boyle) For his performance as Boyle, Williams himself ranked Game Informer's eighth biggest dork of 2007.

Books

PSI/Net (1999), ISBN 978-0-312-86766-9

JUST/In Time (2001), ISBN 978-0-8125-7240-7

Twilight: A Novel (2002), ISBN 978-0-312-87909-9

Further reading

Nishikawa, Kinohi. "Billy Dee Williams." ''The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Literature''. Ed. Hans Ostrom and J. David Macey, Jr. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2005. 1742-43.

References

External links

Billy Dee Williams at Internet Off-Broadway Database

Category:1937 births Category:African American film actors Category:American novelists Category:African American television actors Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni Category:Living people Category:Actors from New York Category:People from Manhattan Category:Twin people from the United States Category:American people of Montserratian descent

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