Anson Williams

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Anson Williams

Born	Anson William Heimlich September 25, 1949 (1949-09-25) (age 58) Los Angeles, California, US
Spouse(s)	Lorrie Mahaffey (5 May 1978 - 1986 divorced), Jackie Gerken (1988 - present)

Anson Williams (b. September 25, 1949 (1949-09-25) (age 58) is an actor and director. Born as Anson William Heimlick - his father Haskell legally changed the original spelling of the family name from "Heimlich" - he is best known for his role as gullible but well intentioned singer Warren "Potsie" Weber on the long-running hit television series Happy Days. His character was one of the few to remain through the entire run of the series, although his appearances became less frequent in later seasons.

In 1986, Williams directed the ABC after-school special The Drug Knot. This dealt with the problem of teenage drug abuse and was highly acclaimed. Many critics praised it as the best anti-drug show ever made. He has gone on to direct many episodes of popular television shows, including episodes of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, seaQuest DSV, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Star Trek Voyager, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Charmed.

In 2005, Anson Williams and the rest of the cast of Happy Days appeared in Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion on ABC.

Anson Williams is the second cousin of Dr. Henry Heimlich, known for the Heimlich Maneuver for treating choking victims.

He guest starred as himself in an episode of Boy Meets World in its third season as a nod to Happy Days and also guest starred on Sabrina, which he was also directing at the time, reprising the role of Potsie in a fantasy sequence.

The USPTO's National Trademark Expo kicked off on April 10, 2008 with Commissioner for Trademarks Lynne Beresford, exhibitor and “Happy Days” star Anson Williams, Mayor William Euille of Alexandria and USPTO Director Jon Dudas, along with a cast of trademarked characters ^[1]