Wendy O. Williams

**Wendy Orlean Williams** (May 28, 1949-April 6, 1998) was an American actress and vocalist best known for her work with American punk rock band Plasmatics.

## Wendy O. Williams

### Death

April 6, 1998 (age 48)Storrs, Connecticut, USA

## Early Life

Wendy was born on May 28, 1949 to chemist Robert F. Williams and Audrey Williams (née Stauber, died 2008) in Webster, New York. Her first hint of acting came at the age of 6, when she was a tap-dancer on the Howdy Doody Show's "Peanut Gallery". She would later attend R.L. Thomas High School in Webster and would be a clarinetist at the school's concert band before dropping out at the age of 15. She would also have her first run-in with the law at that age, being arrested for public indecency after sunbathing while nude.

Wendy would leave home at the age of 16 and hitchhiked to the state of Colorado, making money selling crocheted bikinis. She would later head to Florida and worked as a lifeguard before working as a macrobiotics cook in London as well as a dancer in a travelling troupe in Europe. Wendy would continue to have run-ins with the law in Europe for shoplifting and possession of counterfeit money before arriving in New York City in 1976. She would go into sex work soon after, performing at Captain Kink's Theatre, owned by future husband Rod Swenson, and would begin starring in adult films.

## Career

### Plasmatics

In 1977, Rod would become Wendy's manager and asked her to be the lead singer of punk rock band Plasmatics. The band would make their debut at the CBGB club in Manhattan in July 1978 and would become known for Wendy's stage antics, including partial nudity, firing shotguns into the air, and chainsawing guitars. This reputation would almost cause a scheduled 1981 performance on SCTV to be cancelled as the showrunners refused to have her on air while topless, with the show going forth as planned after she agreed to body paint. Further run-ins with the law would occur during her time with the Plasmatics, being arrested in Milwaukee in January 1981 for simulating masturbation, battery, and obscene conduct; another arrest in 1981 for public indecency in Cleveland for showing up to a performance only having covered her genitalia with shaving cream; and another arrest for attacking a freelance photographer while jogging in Chicago. She would be acquitted on all charges in the Cleveland and Milwaukee arrests, but would be sentenced to a year supervision and a $35 fine in the Chicago arrest. Plasmatics would break up in 1983 before reforming in 1987 and another breakup in 1988.

### Solo Work

In 1982, Wendy would record a cover of Tammy Wynnette's *Stand by Your Man* with Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. Wendy would release her first solo album, *W.O.W.*, in June 1984 to a lukewarm response and another album, *Kommander of Kaos*, on February 21, 1986 to another lukewarm response. Wendy would release a split album with Plasmatics, *Maggots: The Record*, on February 18, 1987 before releasing a 4th and final album, *Deffest! and Baddest!*, in 1988 under the name Ultrafly and the Hometown Girls before retiring from both acting and music in 1991.

## Personal Life

Wendy married Rod Swenson in 1976. After retiring in 1991, the couple moved to a custom-built home in Storrs, Connecticut with Wendy working as an animal rehabilitator as well as at a food co-op in nearby Willimatic. Wendy became a vegetarian in 1966 and remained so until her death. Williams attempted suicide twice before her death, stabbing herself in the chest in 1993 and overdosing on ephedrine in 1997.

## Death

On April 6, 1998, Wendy committed suicide at the age of 48 in a wooded area outside her home by placing a bag over her head and shooting herself. Rod would arrive home to a package of noodles, a packet of seeds for the couple's garden, massage balm, and letters detailing instructions on what the next steps were as well as love letters. Rod would begin searching for Wendy until finding her body an hour later. A memorial would be held at CBGB on May 18, 1998.

## Filmography

* *Candy Goes to Hollywood* (1979)
* *Plasmatics: The Damned* (1982, short film)
* *Reform School Girls* (1985, Charlie)
* *The New Adventures of Beans Baxter* (1986, Episode: *Beans' First Adventure*)
* *Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog* (1989, Butch)
* *MacGyver* (1990, Episode: *Harry's Will*)

## Discography

### With Plasmatics

* *Butcher Baby* (EP, 1978)
* *Dream Lover* (EP, 1979)
* *Monkey Suit* (EP, 1980)
* *New Hope for the Wretched* (Album, 1980)
* *Beyond the Valley of 1984* (Album, 1981)
* *Metal Priestess* (EP, 1981)
* *Coup d'Etat* (Album, 1982)
* *Coup de Grace* (Album, 2000)

### Solo

* *Stand by Your Man* (Single, 1982)
* *W.O.W.* (Album, 1984)
* *It's My Life* (Single, 1984)
* *The Legend of Billie Jean* (Soundtrack, 1985)
* *Reform School Girls* (Soundtrack, 1986)
* *Kommander of Kaos* (Album, 1986)
* *Song for Song* (Soundtrack, 1986)
* *Deffest! and Baddest!* (Album, 1990)