Meet Billy Dee Williams' 3rd Wife Teruko Nakagami

Publish date: 2024-05-04

Teruko Nakagami is famously married to the American actor and painter, Billy Dee Williams. He is widely renowned for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian in Star Wars movies, including The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Teruko Nakagami Bio Summary

Full name: Teruko Irene Nakagami

Date of birth: 1946

Birthplace: Chicago, USA

Age: 77 years (as of 2023)

Height: 5’5″

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Asian

Sexuality: Straight

Siblings: 1

Eye color: Dark Brown

Hair color: Black

Marital Status: Married

Husband’s name: Billy Dee Williams

Children: Hanako Williams, Miyako Shorter

Grandchildren: 2

Teruko was born in 1946 to her Japanese parents, initially named ‘Irene Nakagami’, in the city of Chicago, located in the United States. Although her exact birthdate is not currently known, it is assumed that she will be in her late seventies in 2023.

Billy Dee Williams wife

Nakagami was born in her hometown, where she lived with her twin sister until the age of six. Afterward, she was taken to a Japanese-American internment camp in California, where she spent a portion of her childhood. It is believed that the remainder of her upbringing was in Japan.

Personal Life

Teruko Nakagami was previously married to Wayne Shorter before becoming the wife of Billy Dee Williams. Teurko and Wayne Shorter, who is an American jazz saxophonist and composer, first crossed paths in 1961. Wayne achieved fame in the late 1950s, when he joined the Jazz Messengers, eventually becoming its primary composer.

Nakagami and Wayne Shorter tied the knot and in 1962 their daughter, Miyako Shorter, came into the world. However, the pair went their separate ways two years later. Wayne Shorter registered “Miyako Music” as his property. He honored his daughter Miyako Shorter with the songs “Miyako” and “Infant Eyes”.

Teruko Nakagami was featured on the front of her ex-partner Shorter’s 1966 release, “Speak No Evil”. Shorter remembered his encounter with her and he recalled that she was attractive and resembled a Japanese version of Audrey Hepburn.

Teruko Nakagami, Billy Dee Williams

However, she found love again with American actor, Billy Dee Williams. Nakagami and Billy Dee Williams tied the knot on December 27, 1972.

From their marriage, Teruko and Billy are the proud parents of Hanako Williams, born in 1973. These days, Hanako works as the manager of an art gallery in Los Angeles.

Teruko and Billy chose to raise their family in a humble abode located in the Hollywood Hills, even though Billy had achieved great success.

After being married for nearly ten years, Billy progressed to the next stage of his career and paid tribute to his exceptional wife, who he said had been instrumental during this time.

Kids

Teruko Nakagami has a daughter, Miyako Shorter, who was born in 1962 from her initial union to a musician named Wayne. Moreover, Teruko is the mother of Corey Dee William, her husband’s son from his first marriage. Corey is a professional author, fitness lifestyle coach, and producer of Funky.

In April 1973, Billy and his wife had a daughter, Hanako Williams, and in 2023 she will have reached the milestone of 50 years. Hanako Williams and her husband Liam Toohey have two children, Lucie Katsumi and Finnegan Ichiro.

Teruko Nakagami kids

She now has a granddaughter named Lucie Katsumi and a grandson called Finnegan Ichiro, both of whom have reached a mature age due to her daughter’s marriage. On 27th November 2018, Billy posted a picture of their grandkids on his Instagram accompanied by the words,

Hard to put into words the love you feel when holding your grandchildren. #LuckiestGuyInTheWorld

Billy Dee Williams’ Previous Marriages

Billy was previously married twice before marrying Teruko. He was first married to Audrey Sellers in 1959. However, this marriage ended after a few years. His second marriage was to Marlene Clark in 1968, which ended in divorce in 1971. Eventually, Billy and Teruko got married.

Teruko Nakagami’s Net Worth

It looks like Teruko Nakagami’s net worth is estimated to be about $600k, while her husband, the renowned Billy Dee Williams, has an impressive sum of $9 million that he has earned from his entertainment career.