Judi Dench Once Confessed She Would Probably Never Get Over Her Husband’s Death - All We Know about Michael Williams

Judi Dench is one of the most iconic stars in the entertainment industry. The actress experienced a significant loss in 2001 when she lost her spouse. Judi Dench's husband was British actor Michael Williams.

English actress Judi Dench and her husband, Michael Williams, were married for decades before he died in the early 2000s. Dench has had an impressive acting career and is well-known in the industry.

The Hollywood star has appeared in numerous top-performing stage productions and films over the years. She has earned multiple accolades for her work, including ten BAFTA awards.

The Academy Award-winning actress gained recognition in the 1990s after her appearances in "James Bond." Dench has also acted alongside her late husband Williams in the 1981 comedy series "A Fine Romance." Dench and Williams had a love that lasted for over two decades.

Who Was Judi Dench's Husband, Michael Williams?

Michael Williams was an actor and writer born in Liverpool, England, on July 9, 1935. He attended St. Edward's Christian Brothers School and got a scholarship to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Being an actor wasn't his first profession, though, as Williams first worked in insurance. His first stage appearances were in the 1960s after joining the Nottingham Repertory Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company.

Judi Dench's husband got his first film role when he was 25 in 1962 and appeared in more TV and cinema movies in his career. In 2000, he received a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the stage production "The Forest."

Other roles that he's known for are 1972's "Eagle in a Cage," "A Fine Romance" in 1981, and "Henry V" in 1989. Williams often appeared in comedies and Shakespearean tragedies.

Williams and Dench met in the 1960s at the Royal Shakespeare Company. They remained friends for nearly ten years before tying the knot on February 5, 1971. Before they married, they played lovers in "London Assurance," and Williams followed her to Australia, where he proposed.

The actor adored his wife and didn't have an issue with her being more successful than him. He showed his love for her in so many ways, including having a single rose delivered to Dench every Friday, wherever she was in the world.

What Happened to Judi Dench's Husband?

Michael Williams was a heavy smoker, and he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1999. His wife left her role in "Amy's View" on Broadway to care for him in England. Sadly, Judi Dench's husband died in January 2001 at 65. Williams was appointed a Knight of St. Gregory for his work for the Catholic church a day before his death.

The actress opened up about her husband's death in 2020. During an interview on David Tennant's podcast, "David Tennant Does a Podcast," Dench detailed her grief and said it "changes who you are completely." She stated that she hadn't figured out how to be without Williams and explained:

"I suspect I shall never ever get over Mikey."

Dench said one never gets used to the loss. She often feels Williams's presence at their home as she sometimes thinks it's her husband walking in whenever the door opens. Dench described Williams by saying:

"He was the most unselfish man, and he wouldn't ever attribute that to anything that might be between us... Oh, God, how he used to make me laugh."

Did Michael Williams and Judi Dench Have Children Together?

Michael Williams and Judi Dench had one child, a daughter they named Finty Williams. She was born on September 24, 1972, a year after the actors married. Her birth name was Tara Cressida Williams.

She also pursued a career acting like her parents and has appeared in theatre and on screen. She's also a well-known voice-over artist and starred in the children's show "Angelina Ballerina" and read audiobooks for top authors.

Judi Dench had wanted to step back from acting after her daughter was born to spend more time with her; however, her husband didn't like the idea. She had mixed feelings about her daughter joining the entertainment industry as she was worried about her.