Montel Brian Anthony Williams is a former American television personality, radio talk show host, and actor. He is best known as host of the long-running daytime tabloid talk show The Montel Williams Show, which ran in syndication from 1991 to 2008. Williams is active with the nonprofit MS Foundation, which he founded after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999. Additionally, Williams is noted for his service in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy, from which he was honorably discharged after 15 years of service.