Montel Williams

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). - Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide