History of Montel Williams in Timeline
Montel Williams is an American television host and actor best known for hosting "The Montel Williams Show" from 1991 to 2008. He currently hosts "The Balancing Act" and "Military Makeover with Montel." Prior to his television career, Williams served 22 years in both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. He is also the founder of the Montel Williams MS Foundation, established after his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in 1999. Williams is also noted for his advocacy work related to his condition.
July 3, 1956: Montel Williams Born
On July 3, 1956, Montel Brian Anthony Williams was born. He is an American television host and actor.
1974: Enlistment in the Marine Corps
In 1974, Montel Williams enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
1975: Acceptance into Naval Academy
In 1975, Montel Williams was accepted as the first black Marine into the four-year officer training program at the U.S. Naval Academy.
1980: Graduation from Naval Academy
In 1980, Montel Williams graduated with a degree in general engineering and a minor in international security affairs.
1983: Involvement in Operation Urgent Fury
In 1983, Montel Williams was involved in the U.S. invasion of Grenada, known as Operation Urgent Fury, while working for the National Security Agency.
1984: Birth of Ashley Williams
In 1984, Ashley Williams, Montel Williams' daughter with his first wife Rochele See, was born.
1988: Birth of Maressa Williams
In 1988, Maressa Williams, Montel Williams' daughter with his first wife Rochele See, was born.
1991: The Montel Williams Show Begins
In 1991, Montel Williams began hosting "The Montel Williams Show", syndicated by CBS Paramount Television.
1991: Sylvia Browne's first appearance on The Montel Williams Show
In 1991, psychic Sylvia Browne started to appear on The Montel Williams Show.
June 6, 1992: Marriage to Grace Morley
On June 6, 1992, Montel Williams married Grace Morley, an exotic dancer.
1992: Father Becomes Fire Chief
In 1992, Montel Williams' father, Herman Williams, Jr., became Baltimore's first African American fire chief.
1993: Birth of Montel Brian Hank Williams
In 1993, Montel Brian Hank Williams, son of Montel Williams and Grace Morley, was born.
1993: Appearance in Perry Mason Movie
In 1993, Montel Williams appeared in a Perry Mason movie titled The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host as Boomer Kelly.
1993: Leaves the Republican Party
In 1993, Montel Williams left the Republican political party and registered as an independent.
1994: Birth of Wyntergrace Williams
In 1994, Wyntergrace Williams, daughter of Montel Williams and Grace Morley, was born.
1996: Stars in Matt Waters
In 1996, Montel Williams produced and starred in the short-lived CBS television series called Matt Waters, playing an ex-Navy SEAL turned inner-city high school teacher.
1996: Daytime Emmy Award
In 1996, Montel Williams received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host.
1996: Retirement from Naval Reserve
In 1996, Montel Williams retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of lieutenant commander after 22 years of service.
1997: Role in The Peacekeeper
In 1997, Montel Williams played Lt Col Northrop in the fictional movie The Peacekeeper.
1998: Production of 4CHOSEN: The Documentary
In 1998, Montel Williams produced and narrated the Starline Films documentary film 4CHOSEN: The Documentary, which tells the story about the New Jersey Turnpike shooting.
1999: Directing the film Little Pieces
In 1999, Montel Williams directed the film Little Pieces, starring Grace Morley and Amy Acton.
1999: Diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis
In 1999, Montel Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, four months after his guest appearance in an episode of Touched by an Angel.
1999: Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
In 1999, Montel Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which led him to found the Montel Williams MS Foundation.
2000: Divorce from Grace Morley
In 2000, Montel Williams and Grace Morley divorced.
2001: Dates Kamala Harris
In 2001, Montel Williams briefly dated Kamala Harris.
2001: Emmy Nomination for Montel Williams Show
In 2001, The Montel Williams Show was nominated for Outstanding Talk Show.
2002: Appearance on All My Children
In 2002, Montel Williams played the judge presiding over Erica Kane's murder trial on the ABC soap opera All My Children.
2002: Emmy Nomination
In 2002, Montel Williams was again nominated for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Also in 2002, The Montel Williams Show was nominated for Outstanding Talk Show.
2003: Guest appearance on All My Children
In 2003, Montel Williams made a guest appearance on the soap opera All My Children as himself to promote an episode of his own show.
2004: Hosting American Candidate
In 2004, Montel Williams hosted American Candidate, a political reality show on Showtime.
July 2006: Proposes to Tara Fowler
In July 2006, Montel Williams proposed to girlfriend Tara Fowler, an American Airlines flight attendant.
2006: Speaks out about the port security bill
In 2006, Montel Williams spoke out about the port security bill signed that banned online gaming sites from accepting money transactions from the U.S.
October 6, 2007: Marriage to Tara Fowler
On October 6, 2007, Montel Williams married Tara Fowler in Bermuda.
November 30, 2007: Threatens Reporter
On November 30, 2007, while promoting PPA in Savannah, Georgia, Montel Williams threatened a high school intern reporter after she asked him a question about pharmaceutical profits.
2007: Participates in World Series of Poker
In 2007, Montel Williams participated in the World Series of Poker main event, planning to donate any winnings. He was eliminated on Day 2.
January 30, 2008: Termination of The Montel Williams Show
On January 30, 2008, Variety reported that CBS TV Distribution had terminated The Montel Williams Show after key Fox-owned stations decided not to renew it.
May 16, 2008: Last Episode of The Montel Williams Show
On May 16, 2008, the final episode of The Montel Williams Show was broadcast.
2008: Navy Superior Public Service Award
In 2008, Montel Williams received a Navy Superior Public Service Award for his support of Sailors, Marines, and their families.
2008: Voice Acting in War, Inc.
In 2008, Montel Williams was a voice actor in the political satire film War, Inc., providing the voice of the main character's GPS tracking device/counselor.
2008: The Montel Williams Show Ends
In 2008, The Montel Williams Show concluded its run in syndication.
2008: Sylvia Browne's last appearance on The Montel Williams Show
In 2008, self-declared psychic Sylvia Browne made her last appearance on The Montel Williams Show.
April 6, 2009: Hosting Montel Across America
On April 6, 2009, Montel Williams began hosting a daily radio show, Montel Across America, on Air America Media.
May 2009: Hosting Healthmaster Infomercial
As of May 2009, Montel Williams began hosting an infomercial for the Living Well Healthmaster blender.
January 21, 2010: Air America Ceases Broadcasting
On January 21, 2010, Air America ceased broadcasting, leaving Montel Williams without a radio outlet.
June 2010: Infomercials for LifeLock
In June 2010, Montel Williams began doing infomercials for LifeLock, a security fraud company.
November 10, 2010: Guest Appearance on Oprah
On November 10, 2010, Oprah Winfrey invited Montel Williams, along with other former talk show hosts, as guests on her show.
2010: Spokesman for Poker Training Network
In 2010, Montel Williams became chief spokesman for the Poker Training Network, now Card Geniuses.
October 1, 2014: Speaks in Front of Congressional Committee
On October 1, 2014, Montel Williams spoke in front of a Congressional committee in support of Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.
2015: Controversy over MoneyMutual Spokesperson Role
In early 2015, Montel Williams faced controversy for being a spokesperson for MoneyMutual, with allegations of supporting predatory lending practices. The New York State Department of Financial Services investigated the claims and ultimately fined the parent company SellingSource.
May 30, 2018: Hospitalization due to Stroke
On May 30, 2018, Montel Williams was hospitalized after suffering a cerebellar hemorrhagic stroke while working out at a gym.
February 2019: Criticism on Last Week Tonight
In February 2019, an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver featured a segment on television psychics, and Montel Williams' association with Sylvia Browne was criticized.
October 1, 2019: Appears in The Resident
On October 1, 2019, Montel Williams appeared as himself in an episode of the Fox drama The Resident, entitled "Flesh of My Flesh."
2020: Tweets about Kamala Harris
In 2020, Montel Williams tweeted that he had "'great respect'" for Kamala Harris.
September 2, 2021: Appointment to Board of Directors
On September 2, 2021, Montel Williams was appointed as a director on the board of Better for You Wellness, Inc.
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