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Show ( i Bdunff the Scenes l3 T ri tVI : -0 '. ".V ft Billy Dee Wllliam (left) and Clifton Davit by Doug Mauldin Billy Dee Williams has been compared to one screen giant but prefers to model himself after still another one. He's been called the black Clark Gable and he's a great admirer of 'The King' but his role model is Jimmy Cagney... , "I always keep CagTiey in mind," he says. Whatever meanness he'd show on the screen, audiences still liked him because they knew instinctively that he was a nice guy. I'd like them to have that feeling about me." In his latest role he stars as composer Scott Joplin in the NBC-TV world premiere movie SCOTT JOPLIN: KING OF RAGTIME, to be presented Tuesday, June 20 on 'The Big Event.' Williams says he enjoyed portraying Joplin, whose quiet, reserved manner was much like his own. He credits his study of eastern philosophies with giving him an inner calmness he hasn't always had. Williams read everything he could find about Joplin to prepare for the role. "Joplin was a quiet sort of man but he had a lot of passion and it comes out in his music." Joplin virtually invented ragtime music around the turn of the century. But as a black composer in those days, he struggled vainly for the recognition that would come to him only after death. Joplin's 'The Entertainer' became the Academy Award-winning theme of the 1973 film 'The Sting.' However, the 'Maple Leaf Rag,' written in 1899, is still his most popular and most-played ragtime melody. In 1975, his opera 'Treemonisha' played on Broadway. "He's a tragic historical figure," Williams said. "It's a tragedy that so many black artists were ignored and neglected but it's also true about many artists. So few of the greats were recognized in their own lifetime. "I was embarrassed but I really didn't know anything about him before starting the film. He's part of black American history that has always been overlooked or bypassed or forgotten about. Now I want everybody to know about him." The musical drama traces Joplin's life from childhood music prodigy to honky-tonk piano player and eventually serious composer. As for his own careerjt was going along nicely even before 'Brian's Song' but that TV-movie boosted him to stardom in a hurry. Then came two feature films with Diana Ross, 'Lady Sings the Blues' and 'Mahogany,' and Williams was a full-fieaged matinee idol. "Suddenly there wore women following me everywhere," he says. Williams enjoys being liked by his audiences, as his idol Cagney was. 'Can't heip it," he admits. "A star is what everyone wants to be even Presidents." Please check local station for exact air time. |