Jesse Williams (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jesse Williams
Williams in 2025
Born	Jesse Wesley Williams (1981-08-05) August 5, 1981 (age 44) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Temple University
Occupation	Actor director producer activist
Years active	2006–present
Spouse(s)	Aryn Drake-Lee ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2020)​
Children	2

Jesse Wesley Williams, born on August 5, 1981, is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is widely known for playing Dr. Jackson Avery on the popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. He was on the show from 2009 to 2022 and returned for guest appearances in 2024.

Besides his TV work, Jesse Williams has also acted in movies like The Cabin in the Woods (2012) and The Butler (2013). He also lent his voice and movements to the character Markus in the video game Detroit: Become Human (2018).

He helped produce the short film Two Distant Strangers (2020), which won an Academy Award. He also produced and acted in the Broadway play Take Me Out (2022), earning a nomination for a Tony Award.

Early Life and Education

Jesse Williams was born in Chicago on August 5, 1981. His mother, Johanna Chase, was a professional potter, and his father, Reginald Williams, was a history teacher. Jesse has said his mother has Swedish and Polish roots, and his father is African American from Georgia.

He graduated from Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1998. After high school, his parents continued their careers. Jesse has two younger brothers who work in visual arts.

Williams went to Temple University. He studied African American Studies and Film and Media Arts. Before becoming an actor, he taught high school for six years in Philadelphia. He taught subjects like American Studies, African Studies, and English.

Acting Career Highlights

Jesse Williams started studying acting in 2005. He was one of only 14 actors chosen from over 800 people to participate in a special showcase by ABC Television. Since 2006, he has appeared in many TV shows, movies, and plays. In 2012, he even started his own production company called farWord Inc.

Television Roles

Williams first appeared on TV in 2006 in an episode of Law & Order. He also had a role in the ABC Family series Greek.

Williams in 2008

On October 15, 2009, Jesse Williams joined the cast of the ABC show Grey's Anatomy as surgical resident Jackson Avery. By June 2010, he became a regular cast member. He worked on the series for 12 seasons. His departure was announced in May 2021, with his final episode airing on May 20. Williams mentioned that leaving the show was a shared decision with the show's creator. He returned for guest appearances in May and October 2022, and again in 2024.

In 2011, Williams was named TV Actor of the Year at the Young Hollywood Awards.

More recently, Williams had a recurring role on Hulu's Only Murders in the Building in 2023. He played a character named Tobert. He and the rest of the cast were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for their performance.

Film Appearances

Jesse Williams made his film debut in 2008 in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. He then appeared in Brooklyn's Finest (2009). He played the main role of Holden McCrea in the horror film The Cabin in the Woods, which was released in 2012.

In 2013, he wrote an article for CNN discussing the film Django Unchained. He also narrated an audio book called The Bane Chronicles: What Really Happened In Peru.

In 2015, Williams joined the cast of the thriller film Money. He also served as an executive producer for the documentary film Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement in 2016. In 2021, he produced the short film Two Distant Strangers, which won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

Broadway Debut

In March 2022, Jesse Williams made his first appearance on Broadway in a play called Take Me Out. He played the lead character, Darren Lemming. For this role, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

Activism and Advocacy

Jesse Williams is a dedicated activist. He is the youngest member on the board of directors for The Advancement Project. This group works to protect civil rights and promote justice.

He is also an executive producer for "Question Bridge: Black Males." This project uses media, art, and education to explore the identity and diversity of black men.

Williams has written articles for news outlets like CNN and The Huffington Post. He has also been a guest on TV shows to discuss important issues.

In June 2016, Williams received the humanitarian award at the 2016 BET Awards. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about racial injustice and police brutality. His powerful speech led to many discussions and petitions.

Other Projects

While in college, Williams sometimes worked as a model for brands like Kenneth Cole Productions, Levi's, and Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.

He has appeared in several music videos. He was the love interest in Rihanna's 2009 music video for "Russian Roulette". He also appeared in Estelle's song "Fall In Love" and Demi Lovato's "Tell Me You Love Me" in 2017.

Williams also does voice acting and performance capture for video games. He played Markus in Detroit: Become Human (2018) and Duke in NBA 2K21 (2020).

Personal Life

Jesse Williams married Aryn Drake-Lee on September 1, 2012, after dating for five years. They have two children together: a daughter named Sadie (born December 2013) and a son named Maceo (born October 2015). The couple divorced in October 2020.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Video games

Stage