The Day Zelig Vanished

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Josh Mankiewicz (1:02)

New York City has always had a magnetic pull for young bright-eyed performers looking for their big break, that part in a Broadway show that takes you from obscurity to stardom.

Like the song says, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. The line missing from that anthem of hope is that most of those would-be stars do not make it there. Those are dreams that a lot of people have, but very few people achieve.

Kathy Williams (1:34)

You're right. You're definitely right.

Josh Mankiewicz (1:38)

Zelig Williams was one of those rare success stories.

Caroline Lewis Jones (1:42)

I literally looked at him while he was dancing. I was like, you're going to be a star. I just knew it.

Josh Mankiewicz (1:48)

Zelig was just 19 and attending college when he landed a role in the ensemble of a little musical you may have heard of.

SPEAKER_6 (1:56)

I am not throwing away my shot.

Josh Mankiewicz (2:02)

Hamilton. What was that like seeing him on stage?

Kathy Williams (2:07)

Amazing.

Josh Mankiewicz (2:11)

A legit triple threat.

Caroline Lewis Jones (2:13)

He wanted to perfect his craft, whether it was dance, acting, singing. He truly studied it and wanted to just be the best version of himself.

Josh Mankiewicz (2:26)

By the time he was 28, Zelig was a Broadway veteran and ready to share what he had learned with the next generation.

Zelig Williams (2:36)

What's up, y'all? I've been planning on doing a two-day workshop slash boot camp for dancers on how to audition for a Broadway show.

Josh Mankiewicz (2:44)

He would never get the chance to impart all that wisdom. That's because on October 3rd, 2024, Zelig Williams disappeared.

I'm Josh Mankiewicz, and this is Missing In America, a podcast from Dateline. This episode is The Day Zelig Vanished. Please listen closely because you or someone you know may have some information that could help Zelig's family find the answers they're looking for. ZELIG WILLIAMS Zelig Williams was born in the Palmetto State, South Carolina. He had two older sisters and was raised by his mother, Kathy Williams.

Kathy Williams (3:34)

He was an awesome little boy.

Josh Mankiewicz (3:36)

Zelig's aunt, Christine Barber, saw her nephew blossom.

Christine Barber (3:40)

He was very energetic, loving, caring. He clung to his mom. He loved his family dearly, his cousins, his grandma.

He just loved everybody.

Josh Mankiewicz (3:54)

Family was an anchor in his life. So was the church.

Here's his cousin, Mioka Corbett Jacobs.

Mioka Corbett Jacobs (4:02)

He was full of faith and he was full of belief for his life.

Josh Mankiewicz (4:05)

Zelig spoke about that nexus between faith and career on the podcast, A Time to Live with Amanda Jane Cooper.

Zelig Williams (4:15)

I grew up in the church and I grew up having a, I felt like I had a connection with God. My sister sang at church and so I just followed their lead.

Josh Mankiewicz (4:24)

Looking back, that was probably the start of something. I sort of get the feeling he was a performer from very young.

Kathy Williams (4:32)

Yes, at the, probably at the age of two or three.

My baby girl used to step and she come home and she step in front of him. He just sit and look and he just picked up just like that.

Josh Mankiewicz (4:46)

A born dancer.

Kathy Williams (4:48)

Yes.

Josh Mankiewicz (4:50)

In 2004, the Williams family faced a brutal tragedy. Both of Zelig's sisters were killed in a car accident.

Zelig was just seven years old.

Kathy Williams (5:02)

After my daughter had passed on, I had to find something to keep him focused.