Jim Kelly, who portrayed Williams in the martial arts film Enter the Dragon that starring John Saxon and the late Bruce Lee, has died at the age of 67.

Excelling in tennis and martial arts in his younger years, Mr. Kelly took up acting in high school and college. His first film was a non-martial arts movie, Melinda, with Calvin Lockhart and Rosalind Cash.

A mild mannered, quiet man, Mr. Kelly’s martial arts skills caught Fred Weintraub’s eye and he was cast in Enter the Dragon, his second film that became a global classic.

With the beginning of the Blaxploitation films in the ’70s, Mr. Kelly subsequently starred in Black Belt Jones and Three the Hard Way among many other features and television shows. He was also a stunt coordinator on Hot Potato and Golden Needles as well as performing in those films.

Mr. Kelly leaves behind a legacy with his on screen presence and incredible martial arts skills that influenced a generation of audiences around the world.

Starburst sends our thoughts out to his family and friends for their loss.