Montel Williams

Montel Williams is a distinctively bald, mustachioed African-American actor and spokesperson best known for his long-running daytime talk series "The Montel Williams Show" (CBS, 1991-2008). As a host, he brought a variously incisive, dignified, smarty-pants or pompous style to his duties discussing trendy and sometimes trashy topics with his studio audience. While serving in the military, Williams began touring the country, giving motivational speeches to young Americans. He later filmed an introduction to the classroom version of the Civil War epic "Glory" (1989) and within two years the tall, imposing speaker landed "The Montel Williams Show." Something of a vagabond in its search for a home, "The Montel Williams Show" did not challenge the dominance of Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey in the ratings, but Williams's more-than-decent start boded well for his future as a TV personality.