Baltimore native Montel Williams clocked in as one of the frontrunners of sensationalistic daytime talk during the late '80s and '90s. At the time of his ascent to celebrity, Williams had previously essayed careers as a naval intelligence officer and a motivational speaker for adolescents. His talk program, The Montel Williams Show, debuted in 1991 to stellar ratings and continually escalating audiences -- a run that extended unabated through the late 2000s. The format of the program bore an identical resemblance to those of such forerunners as Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey, and others; it entailed honing in on guests with troubled pasts and help them resolve issues on the air. Williams' resumé also includes acting roles in such films as The Peacekeeper (1997) and Noon Blue Apples (2002).
Montel Williams
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- Enlisted in the Marines in 1974 and later joined the Navy; served in the military for 15 years.
- Started giving motivational speeches around the U.S. in 1988.
- Received Daytime Emmy nominations in 1996 and 2001, and two in 2002. He won the award for Outstanding Talk Show Host in 1996.
- Was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and has since established the Montel Williams Foundation, which raises awareness for the disease and provides money for research.
- Has written a number of best-selling books, including 1996's Mountain, Get Out of My Way: Life Lessons and Learned Truths.
- Supports the legalization of medical marijuana.
- In 2006, he became the national spokesperson for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which works to extend prescription-drug help to all Americans.