Music

• Paul Williams (The Temptations) (1939–1973), tenor/baritone from the popular Motown act The Temptations
• Paul Williams (songwriter) (born 1940), songwriter for the Carpenters, the Muppets, and others; also film and television actor
• Paul Williams (saxophonist) (1915–2002), rhythm and blues saxophonist
• Paul Williams (stage name for Paul Humphrey), songwriter, mandolinist and tenor singer for bluegrass legend "Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys"
• Paul Williams, birth name of soul musician Billy Paul
• Paul Williams (British singer), vocalist and keyboardist for 1970s bands Tempest and IOU
• Paul Williams (Composer / Pianist) (born 1940), British composer and pianist
• Paul Williams (Luthier / ProFrets) (1943-2005), American guitar luthier, built for John Mellencamp and Hank Williams Jr.

Writing

• Paul Williams (Crawdaddy! creator) (born 1948), American author who created the music magazine Crawdaddy!
• Paul Williams (writer), British writer associated with Doctor Who
• Paul L. Williams, former FBI consultant, journalist and author
• Paul O. Williams (born 1935), American science-fiction author and poet
• Paul Williams (Irish journalist), Irish jounalist and non-fiction crime writer
• Paul Williams (author) (born 1967) is a British author and consultant on ska music.
• Paul Andrew Williams is a British film writer and director.

Athletics

• Paul Williams (athlete), retired Canadian middle-distance runner
• Paul Williams (footballer born 1971), English association football (soccer) player for Derby County F.C.
• Paul Williams (footballer born 1969), English association football (soccer) player
• Paul Williams (footballer born 1965), English association football (soccer) player
• Paul Williams (Northern Irish footballer) (born 1963), Northern Irish association football (soccer) player
• Paul Williams (Australian rules footballer) (born 1973), Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans
• Paul Williams (boxer) (born 1981), American welterweight boxer
• Paul Williams (American football), wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
• Paul Williams (rugby player) (born 1983), New Zealand rugby union footballer

Other

• Paul Williams (architect) (1894–1980), prominent African American architect in Los Angeles, California
• Paul Williams (director) (born 1943), American film and television director

• Paul Williams (politician) (1922–2008), British Member of Parliament
• Paul Williams (professor), professor at American University and director of the Public International Law & Policy Group
• Paul Williams (British professor), professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy at the University of Bristol, UK
• Paul Williams (The Young and the Restless), fictional character on The Young and the Restless