Teruko Nakagami Became Billy Dee Williams' Spouse after Her Marriage to Wayne Shorter

Teruko Nakagami was Billy Dee Williams' wife for over two decades, and she was the one who could "calm [him] down." Although the pair are no longer together, they proved there was no bad blood between them after stepping out together years after their divorce.

In the 1970s, actor Billy Dee Williams took a third trip down the aisle and said "I do" to his former spouse, Teruko Nakagami. Despite being Billy Dee Williams' wife and being formerly married to Wayne Shorter, little is known about Teruko Nakagami.

However, her second ex-husband sang her praises and revealed that her principles, morals, and honor, derived from her Japanese culture, were among the many things that made her a "fantastic" wife.

Teruko Nakagami's Life before Marrying Billy Dee Williams

Teruko is of Japanese origin but was born in Chicago as Irene before changing her name. Her marriage to Billy was not her first, as she was once married to the well-known musician and saxophonist Wayne Shorter.

According to reports, the former couple married on July 28, 1961, and the former couple welcomed a daughter, Miyako. However, after their marriage ended, Teruko found love again with Billy.

Teruko and Billy had been married for 23 years when their marriage ended.

Teruko Nakagami's Former Husband Spoke Very Highly of Her

Billy and Teruko tied the knot in 1972, and their blended family — comprising of Wayne and Terkuko's daughter and Billy's son, Corey, from his marriage to Audrey Sellers — grew following the birth of their daughter, Hanako.

Despite her then-husband's success, Teruko and Billy raised their family in an "unpretentious" home above the Hollywood Hills. Nearly ten years into their marriage, Billy entered a new chapter in his professional life and revealed his "fantastic" wife played a crucial role in the process. He shared:

"My wife is fantastic. She is principled and moral, with this thing the Japanese have about honor. She forces me to deal with things. Otherwise, I'd be running around like a crazy person. I need somebody to sit on me and calm me down."

Billy Dee Williams and His Ex-Wife Appeared to Be On Friendly Terms Following Their Divorce

Teruko and Billy had been married for 23 years when their marriage ended. According to Williams' spokesperson, even though Teruko had been the one who filed for divorce, their separation was "an amicable parting, not a messy Hollywood divorce."

Teruko and her ex-husband kept a low profile during their marriage, with reports stating the former couple preferred to steer clear of "Hollywood gatherings" for a quiet night at home instead.

Like their relationship, the former couple kept their divorce private. Thus, little is known about how they split their assets. However, in 2015, two decades after they had parted ways, Teruko and her second ex-husband appeared on good terms as they made a public appearance together.

Billy and his former spouse were all smiles. They posed for the camera in each other's embrace while at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" — co-starring John Boyega, Lupita Nyong'o, and Harrison Ford — in California with their grandson Finnegan.