Tom Hollander remembers late 'Feud' co-star Treat Williams: 'We haven't really mourned him'
Treat Williams left an indelible mark on those who knew him.
The late actor, who died in a motorcycle accident last summer, appears posthumously in the FX historical drama "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans." The series, which also stars Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, Demi Moore and Calista Flockhart, premiered Wednesday.
Hollander, who portrays novelist Truman Capote opposite Williams’ media businessman William Paley, opened up about the actor’s death in an interview with People magazine published Wednesday.
"It's very, very tragic, and it's quite difficult for us to talk about because he was right there just now," Hollander said. "We haven't really mourned him. We were just getting to know him. He was a very, very sweet spirit. He was the most positive up, glass-half-full enthusiast."
The eight-episode limited series is the latest installment in Ryan Murphy's "Feud" anthology. The show’s second season, based on the bestselling book "Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era" by Laurence Leamer, focuses on the relationship between Capote and the group of rich, glamorous women he surrounded himself with and nicknamed "the swans."
Watts, who plays Williams’ TV wife Babe Paley, said Williams relished his time on the show.
“He was delighted every day with these incredible scenes,” Watts told People. “He talked about it: ‘I cannot believe I've got such good material.’ And I think we all felt like that, even some of those scenes where he was behaving horribly — the character, not Treat!”
She added: “We're all completely heartbroken by (his death) and devastated that he's not going to see his wonderful, wonderful work up there.”
‘Feud’ creator Ryan Murphy recalls ‘last thing’ Treat Williams told him before death
"Feud" co-creator Ryan Murphy reportedly paid tribute to Williams during the show’s Season 2 premiere in New York City on Jan. 23, according to People magazine.
Murphy, who also serves as an executive producer on "Capote vs. The Swans," recalled the last conversation he had with Williams after filming on the series had wrapped.
"The last thing he said to me was he grabbed my face and said, 'I loved every minute,'" Murphy said.
Treat Williams dies at 71:Actor from 'Everwood' and 'Hair' dead after motorcycle accident, family says
How did Treat Williams die?
Williams died in June 2023 following a motorcycle accident in Dorset, Vermont, according to a family statement. He was 71.
"As you can imagine, we are shocked and greatly bereaved at this time," the actor’s family said. "Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it. It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him."
An investigation of the crash concluded a vehicle pulled in front of Williams, who was riding a motorcycle and was unable to avoid a collision, Vermont State Police said. Driver Ryan Koss was turning left into a parking lot in a Honda SUV when he collided with Williams' oncoming motorcycle, police said.
Koss was subsequently issued a citation on a charge of "grossly negligent operation with death." He pleaded not guilty to the charge in September 2023. Koss could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
More on Treat Williams:Driver in actor's fatal crash pleads not guilty
Contributing: Charles Trepany, Naledi Ushe and Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY; The Associated Press