Star Wars star Billy Dee Williams has gotten real about his infidelity.
The 86-year-old actor – who is releasing a memoir which covers his near eight-decade career – talked honestly and openly about being a ladies’ man and the role that cheating has played in his life.
He told People magazine on Wednesday that it all began at an early age as he grew up a hopeless romantic as he said: ‘I’m always falling in love.’
Billy told the publication that though he struggled with school he excelled in both art and romantically, however, he truly hit his stride when he starred opposite Diana Ross in a 1972 biographical drama film.
He said: ‘Lady Sings the Blues [the 1972 Billie Holliday biopic] and Mahogany [1975] really turned my whole world around, as far as being a romantic figure is concerned.
Star Wars star Billy Dee Williams has gotten real about his infidelity as he talked honestly and openly about being a ladies’ man and the role that cheating has played in his life
Billy told the publication that though he struggled with school he excelled in both art and romantically, however, he truly hit his stride when he starred opposite Diana Ross in a 1972 Billie Holiday biographical drama film Lady Sings the Blues
Through those roles, the veteran actor became one of the first Black heartthrobs in Hollywood.
Billy said: ‘I think I’m the first little brown boy to really come along and project that kind of persona. Which has been a lot of fun for me.’
However, because of this it has been hard for him to maintain a monogamous relationship without infidelity.
The actor who played Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back explained: ‘I’m intrigued with strong women. Obviously that gets me in trouble.’
He has been married three times including with Audrey Sellers from 1959 to 1963, Marlene Clark from 1968 to 1971, and Teruko Nakagami whom he has been married to since 1972 but separated from in 1993.
Billy also shares 64-year-old son Corey with Audrey Sellers and 51-year-old daughter Hanako with Teruko Nakagami.
The actor was asked by People how he would characterize himself as husband to which he replied: ‘A philanderer! I’ve been philandering my whole life.’
Billy was candid about the role that infidelity had played in the failure of all three of his marriages and that even fatherhood couldn’t stop him.
Through those roles, the veteran actor (pictured with Bernadette Peters in 1981) became one of the first Black heartthrobs in Hollywood. Billy said: ‘I think I’m the first little brown boy to really come along and project that kind of persona. Which has been a lot of fun for me’
Billy famously played Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The actor (who is pictured with Harrison Ford) was asked by People how he would characterize himself as husband to which he replied: ‘A philanderer! I’ve been philandering my whole life’
He is seen as Harvey Dent in Batman from 1989
His memoir What Have We Here?: Portraits of A Life – which covers his nearly eight-decade career – is set for release on February 13
He said: ‘I think I used to be a good husband, once upon a time. I value family.
‘When my son [Corey, 63, with Sellers] was born, I thought that was the greatest thing in the whole world. And my daughter [Hanako, 50] from my third marriage was a gift.’
Billy then sweetly commented on all of his ex wives saying: ‘They’re all very wonderful people that I’ve married.
‘How I got into those situations, I will never know.’
His memoir What Have We Here?: Portraits of A Life – which covers his nearly eight-decade career – is set for release on February 13.