- His pride in his ethnicity and refusal to knuckle under to the prevalent racism of his era knew no bounds. The following incident is illustrative: While still a star with the Ziegfeld Follies, he walked into a bar and ordered a drink. The bartender, hoping to discourage him, told him that the price was $50.00 a drink. Williams immediately produced a roll of hundred dollar bills from his pocket and proceeded to treat the whole room to drinks.
- In 1915 the American Muroscope and Biograph Company in an unprecedented move gave Bert Williams the authority to produce, write, direct, and star in two Biograph films, A Natural Born Gambler (1916), and Fish (1916), making him the first Black-American to have full control and produce his own films for a general audience. No other film company at that time had done such a thing.
- Joined the Ziegfeld Follies in 1911.
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