The Untold Story Of Van Williams And Wife Vicki: 7 Decades Of Hollywood Love And Their Quiet Life After The Green Hornet

The legendary love story of actor Van Williams and his wife, Vicki Flaxman Williams, remains a poignant example of enduring partnership in the often-turbulent world of Hollywood. While Van Williams is best known to fans today, on this Friday, December 12, 2025, as the dashing crime-fighter Britt Reid in the 1960s television series *The Green Hornet*, his most significant role was that of a devoted husband and father. Their marriage spanned an incredible 57 years, lasting until his peaceful passing in 2016, a testament to a bond that began far from the glare of the television cameras and continued in quiet, private life. The actor, who also starred in detective shows like *Bourbon Street Beat* and *Surfside 6*, intentionally stepped away from the spotlight to focus on his family and a new career in business. His life with Vicki was characterized by stability and a large, loving blended family, a narrative that often gets overlooked by fans focusing solely on his superhero persona. This article delves into the details of their decades-long partnership, the family they built together, and the quiet legacy they left behind.

Van Williams: A Comprehensive Biography and Family Profile

Van Zandt Jarvis Williams was an American actor whose career, though relatively brief in the public eye, cemented his place in television history, particularly for his role alongside a young Bruce Lee.

• Full Name: Van Zandt Jarvis Williams
• Date of Birth: February 27, 1934
• Place of Birth: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
• Date of Death: November 28, 2016
• Age at Death: 82
• Cause of Death: Kidney Failure
• Spouse (1): Drucilla Greenhaw (m. 1954; div. 1958)
• Spouse (2): Vicki Lenore Flaxman Richards (m. 1959 – 2016)
• Children: Five daughters in total (twin daughters Lisa and Lynne from first marriage; daughters Nina and Tia, and son Britt with Vicki, including a child from Vicki's prior marriage)
• Notable Roles: Kenny Madison in *Bourbon Street Beat* and *Surfside 6*; Britt Reid / The Green Hornet in *The Green Hornet* (1966–1967)
• Later Career: Owned a communications company in Santa Monica

The Enduring 57-Year Marriage to Vicki Flaxman Williams

Van Williams and Vicki Flaxman’s relationship is a remarkable Hollywood anomaly, spanning nearly six decades until the actor’s death in 2016. Their story began after Williams’ first marriage to Drucilla Greenhaw ended in divorce, and he found a lasting partner in Vicki Lenore Flaxman Richards. They married in 1959, just as Williams’ career was taking off with his role as Kenny Madison. Vicki was more than just a supportive wife; she was the anchor for their large, blended family. The couple’s decision to blend their lives and families was a testament to their commitment to each other. They welcomed children together, and Williams embraced Vicki’s child from her previous marriage, creating a cohesive family unit that would grow to include five daughters and five grandchildren. The stability of their home life provided Williams with the foundation to navigate the pressures of his acting career, which peaked with his iconic role in *The Green Hornet*. This stability was a conscious choice. After his time as the masked hero, Williams pivoted away from the relentless demands of Hollywood to pursue a quieter, more financially stable life. He chose to run a communications company in Santa Monica, a move that prioritized his family and personal well-being over celebrity status.

A Quiet Life in Arizona and a Lasting Legacy

In the later years of their marriage, Van and Vicki Williams settled in Scottsdale, Arizona, trading the buzz of Los Angeles for a tranquil, private existence. This chapter of their lives was deliberately low-profile, allowing Williams to enjoy his retirement and his family away from the public eye. He was known to enjoy the peace of his ranch life, a nod to his Texas roots, and his passion for communications technology. When Van Williams passed away in November 2016 at the age of 82 due to kidney failure, it was Vicki Flaxman Williams who shared the sad news with close friends and the media. Her email to friends, including actress Pat Priest, confirmed his passing, demonstrating her role as the guardian of his privacy and the main source of information for his final moments. This act underscored her enduring presence in his life, right up to the very end. The longevity of their marriage—57 years—is a powerful part of his legacy, often cited by fans and biographers as a rare success story in show business.

The Green Hornet and the Bruce Lee Connection

While the focus of their life together was family, no discussion of Van Williams is complete without mentioning his most famous role as Britt Reid. The short-lived 1966–1967 series *The Green Hornet* is now a cult classic, largely due to its groundbreaking casting of martial arts legend Bruce Lee as Kato, Reid’s sidekick. Williams and Lee developed a strong friendship on set, with Williams often joking that Lee’s incredible popularity threatened to overshadow his own leading role. This partnership was pivotal for Lee’s career, launching him into American consciousness and cementing Williams’ place as an actor who helped introduce a global icon to a Western audience. The show’s influence, and the chemistry between Williams and Lee, remains a key element of the actor's topical authority.

The Blended Family and Children

The structure of the Williams family is a significant part of the couple's history. Van Williams had two daughters, Lisa and Lynne, from his first marriage. With Vicki, he had three additional children: Nina, Tia, and Britt. This large, blended family speaks volumes about the commitment and love that defined the Williams household. They successfully navigated the complexities of co-parenting and blended family life, creating a supportive environment that lasted for decades. In a world where celebrity marriages often falter, the 57-year union of Van Williams and Vicki Flaxman Williams stands as a beacon of dedication. Their story is a reminder that for the man who played a superhero, his most heroic achievement was building a quiet, loving, and stable life with his wife and family, a legacy that continues to resonate today.