Chris Pratt, Scott Wolf, and Fellow 'Everwood' Costars Honor Treat Williams After His Death

Stars from the cast, including Pratt and Emily Vancamp, have shared memories with the late actor in the drama series — which ran from 2002 to 2006

Scott Wolf Treat Williams Chris Pratt
Photo:

Michael Bezjian/Getty; Walter McBride/Getty; Gotham/WireImage

Treat Williams' former costars in the drama series Everwood are paying tribute to the actor following his unexpected death at age 71.

The late actor was confirmed to PEOPLE to have died in a motorcycle accident on Monday evening by his agent of 15 years, Barry McPherson.

Everwood ran for four seasons, from 2002 to 2006. The series followed widowed brain surgeon Dr. Andy Brown (played by Williams) who moved from Manhattan to the small town of Everwood, Colorado with his two children.

Actor Gregory Smith, who played Williams’ son Ephram, tells PEOPLE in a statement, “This news is devastating. Treat was a wonderful man and a brilliant actor. Above all, he loved his family so much.”

EVERWOOD, Gregory Smith
Gregory Smith.

WB /Courtesy Everett Collection

Smith, 39, continued, “I’m very grateful for the time I got to spend as part of his extended tv family. He made an indelible impression on me during my most formative years. I will always cherish my time with Treat and think fondly of his stories, his laugh and his passion for adventure. 

“I’m sending love to his family, Pam, Gil and Elinor. He will be deeply missed.”

Grey’s Anatomy star Sarah Drew, who joined as Hannah Rogers in season three, says she’s “utterly heartbroken at the news.” She tells PEOPLE in a statement, “My experience working with Treat on Everwood was formative in my life and career. 

“We had a beautiful and extremely close knit family during our years in Salt Lake City. I learned so much from Treat’s talent and leadership and we have lost a bright light today. My heart goes out to his family.”

EVERWOOD, Sarah Drew, 'Best Laid Plans', (Season 3, epis. #307), 2002-2006
Sarah Drew.

Ron Jaffe/WB /Courtesy Everett Collection

Chris Pratt, who appeared as Bright Abbott for all four seasons of the beloved series, expressed that it is a "sad season for the cast and crew of Everwood " in an Instagram post dedicated to Williams and John Beasley, who died at the age of 79 in May.

"Both men were exceptional actors, wonderful husbands, fathers and friends. They will be missed tremendously," he wrote. "I learned a great deal from working with each of them."

Noting that the Beasley family and Williams family will be in his prayers, he reminded his followers that  "life is fragile, precious and finite. Embrace it and one another." In their honor, the actor recommended for his fans to take a moment to watch some of Williams' most notable projects that include Prince in the City, Hair, and Ten Things To Do in Denver When You’re Dead.

Emily VanCamp, who played Amy Abbott on the show, described working with Williams as “always wonderful” as she penned a tribute to the late star beside a black-and-white photo of him as a younger man on Instagram.

“💔 The many times we worked together — always wonderful and I was always excited for the next time. Sending all my love to your family Treat. Fly high my friend ✨,” VanCamp, 37, wrote. 

She added on Instagram Story, “Beyond heartbreaking to hear of this. Love you Treat and all my love to his family in this difficult time.”

Scott Wolf, who appeared as Dr. Jake Hartman on the series, shared his shock at Williams' death as he paid tribute to the actor on Instagram Story. “I love him and his beautiful family. Broken-hearted,” he wrote as he reposted a tribute post to Williams made by the Hallmark channel.

In a tribute post of his own, series creator Greg Berlanti reflected on Williams' "warmth" while recalling the pair's very first lunch together.

"I remember our first lunch like it was yesterday. Myself and my fellow producer were meeting you about playing Doctor Andy Brown. I was only 29 and had never worked with a star of your stature, let alone had lunch about anything I had written," Berlanti wrote via Instagram. "I was shaking (it was only months after September 11th and the whole world was still shaking). The assignment by the studio was to somehow vibe and see if 'you were Andy.' The lunch lasted hours and at the end you gave me a hug that made me feel like everything would be okay. My answer to the network after was that if we were able to capture half of Treat’s warmth, humor, wisdom and heart we would have a tv show."

"I can still feel the warmth of your presence back then. People could feel it through the screen when watching Everwood. That was the secret magic of the show, every week you were giving the world a much needed hug," he continued. "The kindness you showed me from that lunch through our time working together changed the course of my life and my own heart. Your loss from this world, especially only weeks after the loss of the beloved John Beasley, is heartbreaking and inconceivable to me. My love and prayers for you and your beautiful family who you loved so dearly and always reminded me nothing was worth anything without."

Berlanti concluded his post, adding, "I have many photos from that joyful time. This is the one I keep by my writing desk. It's from our lunch after the Everwood pick up at upfronts, of you and my sister. I've always loved it because it reminds me of the best about this business. As it, and you, always will."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Full publicity shot of cast: (back row, left to right) Chris Pratt as Bright, Debra Mooney as Edna, John Beasley as Irv, Merrilyn Gann as Rose, (front row) Stephanie Niznik as Nina, Emily VanCamp as Amy Abbott, Treat Williams as Dr. Andrew Brown, Gregory Smith as Ephram, Vivien Cardone as Delia and Tom Amandes as Dr. Harold Abbott
The cast of 'Everwood'.

Warner Bros./Getty Images

Williams earned himself a SAG Award nomination for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series in 2003-04, for his leading role in Everwood. His death comes two weeks after his co-star John Beasley, who played Irv Harper in the series, died on May 30. He was 79.

With more than 120 credits to his name, Williams' career extended over four decades with appearances in films like Steven Spielberg's 1941 and Heart of Dixie, and television shows like Blue Bloods, The Late Shift, Chicago Fire and Chesapeake Shores.

Williams also appeared in several Hallmark projects, like The Christmas House, Beyond the Blackboard, Safe Harbor and Chasing a Dream.

The actor is survived by his wife, actress Pam Van Sant, and their two children, Gill and Ellie.

Related Articles