Researching Bernard Williams

As Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and Deutsch Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, Williams became known for his efforts to reorient the study of moral philosophy to psychology, history, and in particular to the Greeks. Described by Colin McGinn as an "analytical philosopher with the soul of a general humanist," he was sceptical about attempts to create a foundation for moral philosophy. Martha Nussbaum wrote that he demanded of philosophy that it "come to terms with, and contain, the difficulty and complexity of human life."

Williams was a strong supporter of women in academia; according to Nussbaum, he was "as close to being a feminist as a powerful man of his generation could be." He was also famously sharp in conversation. Gilbert Ryle, one of Williams's mentors at Oxford, said that he "understands what you're going to say better than you understand it yourself, and sees all the possible objections to it, and all the possible answers to all the possible objections, before you've got to the end of your own sentence."

He has broken the 10-second barrier and holds a personal record of 9.94 seconds in the 100 m. Williams was the fastest man in the 200 m at the 2003 season with a personal record of 20.01 seconds. He won the American national title in the 100 m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2001 and 2003. He competed collegiately for the Florida Gators and was NCAA Outdoor champion in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay in 2000.

Williams tested positive for marijuana several times, and he never played in the NFL after his rookie season. After his rookie season, Williams was suspended from the NFL and never applied for reinstatement.

He would later play for the XFL's Memphis Maniax, the AFL's Detroit Fury and the CFL's BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts.

Williams was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge on 4 April 1889 and graduated B.A. 1892 and M.A. 1898.

He was ordained deacon at Exeter in 1899 and priest in 1899. He served curacies at Chittlehampton, Devon (1899-1902) and at Indwe, Diocese of Grahamstown, (1902-6). His further career included:

* Priest Vicar of Grahamstown Cathedral, 1906–8.* Priest-in-charge of St Saviour's, East London, 1908–14.* Rector of East London, 1914–16.* Dean, Archdeacon, and Rector of the Grahamstown Cathedral 1916–27.* Vicar General of Grahamstown, 1920–7.* Provost and Vicar of Portsmouth, 1927–30.* Rural Dean of Portsmouth, 1928–30.* Honorary Canon of Portsmouth, 1928–35.* Rector of Buriton, Hampshire, 1930–5.

He died in Pietermaritzburg in 1943.

Williams was born in London. He began his career in filmmaking by working inside the mailroom of Associated British Pictures when he was a teenager. He later married Valerie Norman Dannels, the daughter of the film director Leslie Norman, with whom he had three children, Dana, Vanessa and Howard. He and his family moved from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles, California, in 1981 to pursue his production career. Williams' marriage to Valerie Norman Dannels ended in divorce.

Williams served as the second and third director for two films in the early 1960s: the science fiction film, The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), and Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) directed by Otto Preminger. Williams also worked as a production manager for the British television series, The Prisoner (1967–68), a project associated with actor Patrick McGoohan. Additionally, he served as a production manager for the film, Battle of Britain (1969), which was directed by Guy Hamilton.

Williams was an associate producer on Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Barry Lyndon (1975). He was producer or associate producer on six films with director Frank Oz, beginning with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988). His other collaborations with Oz were What About Bob? (1991), Housesitter (1992), The Indian in the Cupboard (1995), Bowfinger (1999), and The Score (2001).

Williams also produced The Big Sleep (1978), a remake of the 1946 film; Flash Gordon (1980); Ragtime (1981); The Bounty (1984), starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins; Manhunter (1986), which was directed by Michael Mann; and Daredevil (2003), a superhero film starring Ben Affleck. With Rosilyn Heller, Williams co-produced Who's That Girl (1987), starring Madonna.

His additional production credits included The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977); So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993); and Blood and Wine (1996). His last film was Charlotte's Web (2006).

Bernard Williams died from stomach cancer in Burbank, California, on 4 January 2015, at the age of 72. He was survived by his former wife and his three children.