Billy Dee Williams captured millions of hearts when he appeared as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars. The actor has also had several other incredible roles throughout his long acting career.
These include parts in popular projects like Lady Sings the Blues, Nighthawks, and even General Hospital.
Yet, Billy isn’t the only member of his family to garner the attention of the media. Teruko Nakagami, Williams’ wife, made headlines many times throughout her life.
However, Nakagami’s backstory is still a mystery to many fans. So, if you want to unravel the tale, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the life of Teruko Nakagami.
Teruko Nakagami Profile Summary
| Full Name | Teruko Irene Nakagami |
| Gender | Female |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, USA |
| Year of Birth | 1946 |
| Nationality | Japanese-American |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Height | 5’5” (1.67 m) |
| Partner | Billy Dee Williams |
| Children | Miyako Shorter and Hanako Williams |
| Siblings | Twin sister |
Teruko Nakagami’s Early Life
Teruko Nakagami was born in 1946 in Chicago, Illinois. It’s unclear exactly when or where her mother gave birth.
Besides that, Teruko’s childhood is quite a mystery. The public doesn’t know much about her parents or upbringing.
Yet, Nakagami did share a little about her background. She talked about growing up in a quiet neighborhood in Chicago.
Sadly, matters would take a turn for the worse when Teruko turned six. At the time, Nakagami and her twin sister were taken to a Japanese-American internment camp in California.
While the conditions of the facility are unknown, we can imagine that it wasn’t a pleasant experience.
After leaving the camp, the details of Teruko’s life are a little murky. Some sources report that she went back to Chicago, while others claim she returned to Japan.
Teruko Nakagami’s Education and Career
Teruko never talked publicly about her educational background. The media speculates it’s because the past is too difficult to relive for Nakagami, but she hasn’t confirmed that.
On top of that, it seems like she didn’t have a professional career. Instead, Teruko focused on being the best mother she could be to her kids.
Teruko Nakagami’s First Marriage
Contrary to popular belief, Williams wasn’t Teruko’s first husband. Before she met the acting superstar, Nakagami was married to legendary jazz saxophonist and composer, Wayne Shorter.
The couple met in the early 1960s, and immediately hit it off. They had a whirlwind romance that rivals Romeo and Juliet.
During this period, Shorter’s star was on the rise. He had just joined the band Jazz Messengers and eventually became the group’s primary composer.
This catapulted him to success and solidified his place in the Jazz Hall of Fame. However, this didn’t put a damper on his passionate romance with Teruko.
The two tied the knot in 1961, and you can clearly see how much Shorter loved Nakagami in a few of his songs. The saxophonist wrote several pieces for his then-wife, including Native Dancer and Speak No Evil.
On top of that, he described Nakagami as the Japanese Audrey Hepburn in his 1966 album.
Finally, Wayne and Teruko had a daughter, Miyako. She was born in 1961, a few months after her parent’s marriage.
Shorter also wrote several songs for his baby girl, like Miyako and Infant Eyes.
Teruko Nakagami and Billy Dee Williams
After Teruko and Wayne split up, Nakagami stayed single for a while. She focused on raising Miyako and disappeared from the spotlight.
However, this all changed in 1972. Out of the blue, Billy Dee Williams announced his marriage to Teruko.
The couple had a small wedding, and only invited friends and family. This came as a major surprise to his fans since they didn’t even hear whispers about the couple dating.
Regardless, people were happy that the two finally found each other. A while after news of the marriage broke, Teruko and Billy had their daughter, Hanako Williams.
For about 21 years, the couple seemed to have the perfect life. Yet, in 1993, Nakagami and Williams filed for divorce.
Unfortunately, neither one of them commented on the reasons behind the separation. But, this story has a happy ending.
Around four years after their divorce, Billy and Teruko reconciled and remarried. Now, the two have been together for over five decades, and they’re still going strong.
Wrapping Up
Teruko Nakagami spent a large portion of her life in the spotlight, but many details about her upbringing are still a mystery.
Nakagami first captured the media’s attention when she married jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter. The two had a whirlwind romance that spanned a decade.
Then, Teruko made headlines again when she married Billy Dee Williams in 1972. Nakagami and Williams welcomed a baby girl, Hanako, a few months after they tied the knot.
While Teruko and Billy separated for four years, the couple is back together and stronger than ever.
