Anson Williams beat out 400 other actors for the role of Potsie
While many spend years struggling to make acting into a career, Anson Williams was lucky enough to fall into the hobby by accident.
During an interview with The Columbia Record, Williams explained that he originally had no interest in acting. He simply took an acting class in an attempt to raise his grade average when he was a student.
"My grades were low and I wanted to improve my average, so I took a basic drama class. I got an A in the class and got hooked on acting and singing...Then I started checking the trade papers for auditions regularly."
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But winning a role on Happy Days would take more than just sheer luck. In order to win the role of Potsie, Williams auditioned against four hundred other actors. "I just came in for the audition off the street after my car had broken down," he said. "I picked up the script and read it like the part was written for me - the rest is history.
Of course, Williams emerged victorious and found that the nostalgic tone of a show like Happy Days only helped it on the road to success. "I think it's terrific," he said. "I feel it's healthy because people are having fun and that's what life is all about."
While the actor may have stumbled into the profession, he found that theatre was a great way to connect with an audience. As both an actor and a singer, this idea appealed greatly to Williams. "I am a communicator, and the best way to reach the people is through television," he said. "It's a terrific vehicle for communicating with the masses."
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