Naomi Watts is still ‘heartbroken’ over the ‘senseless and tragic’ death of her Feud: Capote vs. The Swans leading man Treat Williams, at age 71, after a motorcycle accident on June 12, 2023.
‘He was filled with gratitude. I feel the gratitude in my 50s to have my hands on that kind of material with such a dynamic woman. He felt it. He had a birthday on set. I think he turned 71, and he just kept saying, “I can’t believe I’ve got this. This is unbelievable,”‘ the 55-year-old executive producer-star recalled to People on Wednesday.
‘So the gratitude and the joy that he felt sinking his teeth into this delicious material… which we had moments where it was big rows that were filled with horrific insults and all kinds of things. But then we would have, when Babe is getting closer to the end of her life, these wonderfully bonding scenes, and he would just break down.’
The late Emmy nominee portrayed CBS founder William S. Paley, the husband of magazine editor Babe Paley, whose extramarital affairs were exposed in 1976 after Esquire published chapters from Truman Capote’s unfinished novel Answered Prayers – specifically a tell-all about his wealthy ‘swan’ gal pals titled La Côte Basque 1965.
‘[Treat] loved his life and it is senseless and tragic that he’s not here, period,’ Naomi said.
Naomi Watts is still ‘heartbroken’ over the ‘senseless and tragic’ death of her Feud: Capote vs. The Swans leading man Treat Williams, at age 71, after a motorcycle accident on June 12, 2023
The 55-year-old executive producer-star recalled to People on Wednesday: ‘He was filled with gratitude. I feel the gratitude in my 50s to have my hands on that kind of material with such a dynamic woman. He felt it. He had a birthday on set. I think he turned 71, and he just kept saying, “I can’t believe I’ve got this. This is unbelievable”‘
‘But also that he’s not here to enjoy the accolades, because I know he felt really good about doing it. So I’m just heartbroken that he’s not able to witness the adoration with what he gave.’
Watts reunited with four of her castmates – Demi Moore, Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, and Chloë Sevigny as well as co-creator Ryan Murphy – at a FYC screening/Q&A event for their FX series at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
They’re all vying for Emmy Awards for their performances showrunner Jon Robin Baitz’s small-screen adaptation of Laurence Leamer’s 2021 book Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era.
Capote vs. The Swans currently has a ‘certified fresh’ 77% critic approval rating (out of 78 reviews), but a 64% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season two of Feud also starred Calista Flockhart, Jessica Lange, Joe Mantello, Molly Ringwald, Russell Tovey Pawel Szajda, Yuval David, Scott Zimmerman, and Jeffrey Grover.
All eight episodes of Capote vs. The Swans were directed by two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant (To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Drugstore Cowboy).
The day after Williams’ passing, the two-time Oscar nominee shared her condolences for the ‘true gentleman’ in a post featuring a behind-the-scenes snap of the pair in costume on set.
‘I had the great privilege of sharing many scenes with him recently shooting Feud. His work is extraordinary. Not only did I get to discover what a remarkable professional he was, but I made a friend, and saw what a devoted husband, and father he was,’ Naomi – who boasts 1.9M Instagram followers – wrote at the time.
The late Emmy nominee portrayed CBS founder William S. Paley, the husband of magazine editor Babe Paley, whose extramarital affairs were exposed in 1976 after Esquire published chapters from Truman Capote’s unfinished novel Answered Prayers – specifically a tell-all about his wealthy ‘swan’ gal pals titled La Côte Basque 1965
![Naomi said: '[Treat] loved his life and it is senseless and tragic that he's not here, period. But also that he's not here to enjoy the accolades, because I know he felt really good about doing it. So I'm just heartbroken that he's not able to witness the adoration with what he gave'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/31/02/85539763-13478581-Naomi_said_Treat_loved_his_life_and_it_is_senseless_and_tragic_t-a-35_1717118919944.jpg "Naomi Watts Grieves Over Treat Williams' Tragic Death 7")
Naomi said: ‘[Treat] loved his life and it is senseless and tragic that he’s not here, period. But also that he’s not here to enjoy the accolades, because I know he felt really good about doing it. So I’m just heartbroken that he’s not able to witness the adoration with what he gave’
Watts reunited with four of her castmates – Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny, and Demi Moore as well as co-creator Ryan Murphy – at a FYC screening/Q&A event for their FX series at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles on Wednesday
They’re all vying for Emmy Awards for their performances showrunner Jon Robin Baitz’s small-screen adaptation of Laurence Leamer’s 2021 book Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era
The day after Williams’ passing, the two-time Oscar nominee shared her condolences for the ‘true gentleman’ in a post featuring a behind-the-scenes snap of the pair in costume on set
At the end of the Feud episode that aired on Valentine’s Day, producers included a title card reading: ‘In Memory of Treat Williams 1951 – 2023’
The three-time Golden Globe nominee’s wife of nearly 35 years – Pam Van Sant (R) – made sure their 32-year-old son Gil Williams (M) and 25-year-old daughter Elinor Williams (L) represented him at the January 23rd premiere of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
On March 8, Ryan Koss – the driver who struck Treat – was given a one-year deferred sentence, had his driving license revoked for a year, and was ordered to complete a community restorative justice program (thereby avoiding a 15-year prison sentence at the request of the family)
Williams’ life and career will be celebrated at his official memorial event scheduled for June 9 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, VT – beginning with a reel of his work being screened at SVAC’s Arkell Theatre at 3:30 p.m.
‘Treat was one of a kind, truly enchanted with life. He was curious about everything and everything had meaning to him, except small talk. He had a gift for telling incredible stories and carried immense gratitude for everything life served him. Treat, I didn’t know you nearly long enough, but it was enough for me to realize that the world has lost someone special.
‘Thank you for being the best scene partner. I absolutely cherished our time playing together. We made so many great friends with everyone on Feud. We danced, laughed, and cried, and I will always hold dear the story of our Bill and Babe. RIP’
At the end of the Feud episode that aired on Valentine’s Day, producers included a title card reading: ‘In Memory of Treat Williams 1951 – 2023.’
The three-time Golden Globe nominee’s wife of nearly 35 years – Pam Van Sant – made sure their 32-year-old son Gil Williams and 25-year-old daughter Elinor Williams represented him at the January 23rd premiere of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
On March 8, Ryan Koss – the driver who struck Treat – was given a one-year deferred sentence, had his driving license revoked for a year, and was ordered to complete a community restorative justice program (thereby avoiding a 15-year prison sentence at the request of the family).
Coincidentally, the 35-year-old Dorset Theatre Festival managing creative director was acquainted with Williams for years before his Honda SUV cut across the northbound lane of a highway in Dorset, VT into his 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle.
The Medical Examiner’s Office in New York determined that the two-time SAG Award nominee died of ‘severe trauma and blood loss’ as a result of being thrown off his bike in the crash despite wearing a helmet.
Treat’s life and career will be celebrated at his official memorial event scheduled for June 9 at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, VT – beginning with a reel of his work being screened at SVAC’s Arkell Theatre at 3:30 p.m.
Williams worked with esteemed filmmakers like Miloš Forman, Steven Spielberg, Sidney Lumet, Sergio Leone, and Danny Boyle.
The Connecticut-born thespian is best known for the Substitute film franchise as well as his work on the small screen in Everwood (2002–2006), White Collar (2012–2013), Chicago Fire (2013–2018), and Blue Bloods (2016–2023).
Treat (born Richard) also performed in Broadway productions of Grease, Over Here!, Once in a Lifetime, The Pirates of Penzance, Love Letters, and Follies.
Last September, the Boston Film Festival honored Williams with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for his final film American Outlaws.
