williamson was born on 14 september 1938 in hamilton, south lanarkshire, scotland. he studied at the central grammar school for boys, birmingham and at birmingham school of speech &amp; drama. williamson was married to jill townsend from 1971 until they divorced in 1977. they had one son, luke. williamson died on 16 december 2011 in amsterdam, netherlands from esophageal cancer, aged 73.