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Wendy Williams' father died in South Florida. What we know

Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald on

Published in Entertainment News

MIAMI — As Wendy Williams continues to grapple with a neurological condition and court-ordered guardianship, she received another blow.

Her father, Thomas D. Williams Jr., died in the Miami area at age 94, as first reported Sunday by the talk show star’s niece, TV reporter Alex Finnie.

”My grandfather was truly a man of great intellect — an author, educator and keeper of historical facts. Papa poured into both family and community,” read the Local 10 News anchor’s tribute, accompanied by throwback clips set to Stevie Wonder’s “As.” I miss him tremendously.”

The reporter noted he was with “Nana” now; the widower lost his wife Shirley Williams in 2020 at age 85. The fellow teacher’s obituary says the parents of three retired to South Florida in 1995. Their last known address was in Sunny Isles Beach.

In a subsequent post, Finnie — whose mother is Wanda, Wendy’s older sister — reshared an MLK Day segment she did last month about his experience walking alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the March on Washington civil rights demonstration in 1963.

“It was a momentous day,” said Williams, a longtime teacher and football coach in the Jersey Shore. “I’ll never forget it.”

Funeral services are unclear, or if his beleaguered celebrity daughter will be even be able to attend.

Williams, who has been living in a NYC assisted living facility after being diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia and other issues in 2023, did manage to make it down to South Florida for her dad’s birthday celebrations in February of last year. She was spotted at Miami International Airport on a motorized scooter before heading to the celebration.

 

As recently as last October, Williams seemed to be in better health, telling New York magazine that there was no reason for her to be at the highly restrictive “dump” anymore. The divorced mother of one reportedly works out at a gym, can use an iPad and even go out on occasion, the story adds.

“She’s vibrant now,” Suzanne Bass, co-executive producer of now defunct “The Wendy Williams Show” told the outlet. “She sounds clear, and she sounds excited for her future. She wants her old life back.”

Which brings up the question: Now that Sherri Shepherd’s nationally syndicated daytime talk show was canceled, will Williams ever take back her old time slot?

An insider gave British gossip columnist Rob Shuter an “exclusive” on his Substack that Williams is eyeing a comeback.

“Wendy misses being on TV more than anything. She still thinks of that hour as hers,” the source said. The show ended after 14 seasons in 2022 after Williams visibly struggled on air, and even fainted during a Halloween segment.

Those familiar with the situation say fans shouldn’t hold their breath. And a network source told Shuter: “There is zero plan to bring Wendy back to daytime TV. That chapter is closed. Permanently.”

According to legal documents acquired by People magazine last August, Williams’ conservatorship is not ending anytime soon. A thorough medical assessment confirmed her dementia diagnosis and kept the status as is.


©2026 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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