Topzle Topzle

Jesse Williams (actor)

Updated: Wikipedia source

Jesse Williams (actor)

Jesse Wesley Williams (born August 5, 1981) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist best known as Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey's Anatomy (2009–22; 2024-25). He has also appeared in films such as The Cabin in the Woods (2012) and The Butler (2013). He provided voice acting and motion capture for Markus in the video game Detroit: Become Human (2018). He served as an executive producer of the Academy Award-winning short, Two Distant Strangers (2020), and the Tony Award-winning revival of Take Me Out (2022). He also acted in the latter and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.

Infobox

Born
Jesse Wesley Williams (1981-08-05) August 5, 1981 (age 44)Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater
Temple University
Occupations
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Actor director producer activist
Years active
2006–present
Spouse
mw- Aryn Drake-Lee (m. 2012; div. 2020)
Children
2

Tables

· Filmography › Film
2008
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Role(s)
Leo
2009
Brooklyn's Finest
Role(s)
Eddie Quinlain
2010
Dirty Dancing 3: Capoeira Nights
Role(s)
Johnny
Notes
Short film
2011
The Cabin in the Woods
Role(s)
Holden McCrea
2012
Question Bridge: Black Males
Role(s)
—
Notes
Executive producer
2013
The Butler
Role(s)
James Lawson
Snake and Mongoose
Role(s)
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
Notes
Also executive producer
They Die by Dawn
Role(s)
John Taylor
2016
Money
Role(s)
Sean
2017
Band Aid
Role(s)
Skyler
2019
Selah and the Spades
Role(s)
The Headmaster
Jacob's Ladder
Role(s)
Isaac "Ike" Singer
Random Acts of Violence
Role(s)
Todd Walkley
Notes
Also executive producer
2020
Two Distant Strangers
Role(s)
—
Notes
Short filmExecutive producer
2022
Secret Headquarters
Role(s)
Sean Irons
2023
Your Place or Mine
Role(s)
Theo
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2008
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Leo
2009
Brooklyn's Finest
Eddie Quinlain
2010
Dirty Dancing 3: Capoeira Nights
Johnny
Short film
2011
The Cabin in the Woods
Holden McCrea
2012
Question Bridge: Black Males
—
Executive producer
2013
The Butler
James Lawson
2013
Snake and Mongoose
Don "The Snake" Prudhomme
Also executive producer
2013
They Die by Dawn
John Taylor
2016
Money
Sean
2017
Band Aid
Skyler
2019
Selah and the Spades
The Headmaster
2019
Jacob's Ladder
Isaac "Ike" Singer
2019
Random Acts of Violence
Todd Walkley
Also executive producer
2020
Two Distant Strangers
—
Short filmExecutive producer
2022
Secret Headquarters
Sean Irons
2023
Your Place or Mine
Theo
· Filmography › Television
2006
Law & Order
Role(s)
Kwame
Notes
Episode: "America, Inc."
Beyond the Break
Role(s)
Eric Medina
Notes
8 episodes
2008
Greek
Role(s)
Drew "The Hotness Monster" Collins
Notes
2 episodes
2009–2022,2024–2025
Role(s)
Grey's Anatomy
Notes
Dr. Jackson Avery
2010
Seattle Grace: Message of Hope
Role(s)
6 episodes
2013
Sesame Street
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Episode: "4409"
2015
The Spoils Before Dying
Role(s)
Parker
Notes
Episode: "The Trip Trap"
2016
The Eric Andre Show
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Episode: "Jesse Williams; Jillian Michaels"
2018
Most Expensivest
Role(s)
Episode: "Lights Camera Action"
2019
Power
Role(s)
Kadeem
Notes
Episode: "Scorched Earth"
2020
Little Fires Everywhere
Role(s)
Joe Ryan
Notes
3 episodes
Station 19
Role(s)
Dr. Jackson Avery
Notes
7 episodesRecurring role (season 3)
2021
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Role(s)
Isaac
Notes
Episode: "Sister, May I Call You Oshun?"
Saturday Night Live
Role(s)
Jesse W.
Notes
UncreditedEpisode: "Kim Kardashian West/Halsey"
2022
Inside Amy Schumer
Role(s)
Josh
Notes
Episode: "Fart Park"
2023
Only Murders in the Building
Role(s)
Tobert
Notes
Recurring role (Season 3)
2024
The Great Lillian Hall
Role(s)
David
Notes
Television film
2025
Hotel Costiera
Role(s)
Daniel "DD" De Luca
Notes
Main role and also executive producer
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2006
Law & Order
Kwame
Episode: "America, Inc."
2006
Beyond the Break
Eric Medina
8 episodes
2008
Greek
Drew "The Hotness Monster" Collins
2 episodes
2009–2022,2024–2025
Grey's Anatomy
Dr. Jackson Avery
Recurring (Season 6), Main (Seasons 7–17), Guest star (Seasons 18–19, 21–22)
2010
Seattle Grace: Message of Hope
6 episodes
2013
Sesame Street
Himself
Episode: "4409"
2015
The Spoils Before Dying
Parker
Episode: "The Trip Trap"
2016
The Eric Andre Show
Himself
Episode: "Jesse Williams; Jillian Michaels"
2018
Most Expensivest
Episode: "Lights Camera Action"
2019
Power
Kadeem
Episode: "Scorched Earth"
2020
Little Fires Everywhere
Joe Ryan
3 episodes
2020
Station 19
Dr. Jackson Avery
7 episodesRecurring role (season 3)
2021
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Isaac
Episode: "Sister, May I Call You Oshun?"
2021
Saturday Night Live
Jesse W.
UncreditedEpisode: "Kim Kardashian West/Halsey"
2022
Inside Amy Schumer
Josh
Episode: "Fart Park"
2023
Only Murders in the Building
Tobert
Recurring role (Season 3)
2024
The Great Lillian Hall
David
Television film
2025
Hotel Costiera
Daniel "DD" De Luca
Main role and also executive producer
· Filmography › Music videos
2006
"When Your Heart Stops Beating"
Role(s)
+44
2009
"Russian Roulette"
Role(s)
Rihanna
2010
"Fall in Love"
Role(s)
Estelle
2017
"Tell Me You Love Me"
Role(s)
Demi Lovato
"Legacy"
Role(s)
Jay-Z
Year
Title
Artist(s)
2006
"When Your Heart Stops Beating"
+44
2009
"Russian Roulette"
Rihanna
2010
"Fall in Love"
Estelle
2017
"Tell Me You Love Me"
Demi Lovato
2017
"Legacy"
Jay-Z
· Filmography › Video games
2018
Detroit: Become Human
Role(s)
Markus
Notes
Also motion capture
2020
NBA 2K21
Role(s)
Duke
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2018
Detroit: Become Human
Markus
Also motion capture
2020
NBA 2K21
Duke
· Filmography › Stage
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2022–2023
Take Me Out
Darren Lemming
Hayes TheaterGerald Schoenfeld Theatre

References

  1. People
    https://people.com/tv/jesse-williams-aryn-drake-lee-finalize-divorce/
  2. "The Betty Interview: Jesse Williams"
    http://www.bettyconfidential.com/ar/ld/a/The-Betty-Interview-Jesse-Williams.html
  3. southcoasttoday.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181203061314/http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051113/NEWS/311139924
  4. "Jesse Williams learns and plays history – Daily Press"
    https://www.dailypress.com/2010/09/18/jesse-williams-learns-and-plays-history/
  5. "Jesse Williams Is Not Just a Pretty Face"
    http://globalgrind.com/entertainment/jesse-williams-not-just-pretty-face-interview
  6. Today
    https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/jesse-williams-finding-your-roots-revelations-rcna137365
  7. CNN
    http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/opinion/williams-django-still-chained/
  8. "Jackson Avery: Played by Jesse Williams)"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130515135632/http://abc.go.com/shows/greys-anatomy/bio/jackson-avery/568571
  9. "Jesse Williams' Official Website: Filmography"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110727042912/http://www.jessewilliamsonline.com/filmography.php
  10. "Jesse Williams cast in 'Grey's Anatomy' – Live Feed"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100114010109/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i8a16efbe1212c66b7937807625f4f83e
  11. Entertainment Weekly
    https://ew.com/article/2010/06/08/greys-anatomy-jesse-williams-series-regular/
  12. "Jesse Williams Leaving 'Grey's Anatomy' After 12 Seasons"
    https://deadline.com/2021/05/jesse-williams-leaving-greys-anatomy-jackson-avery-12-seasons-1234750666/
  13. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/greys-anatomy-why-jesse-williams-left-exit-interview-1234957310/
  14. "Jesse Williams Is TV Actor Of The Year"
    http://molempire.com/2011/05/24/jesse-williams-is-tv-actor-of-the-year/
  15. "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2010"
    http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/community/tvs-100-sexiest-men-of-2010-96194.aspx
  16. "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011"
    http://www.buddytv.com/slideshows/white-collar/tvs-100-sexiest-men-of-2011-29104.aspx
  17. "Jesse Williams' Official Website: Bio"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110730083541/http://www.jessewilliamsonline.com/bio.php
  18. "Catching Fire Casting Scoop: Fan Fave Jesse Williams Talks Finnick!"
    http://www.eonline.com/news/the_awful_truth/catching_fire_casting_scoop_fan_fave/313327
  19. "Another Racist Shitstorm Brews Over Casting Hunger Games' Finnick"
    http://jezebel.com/5907900/casting-of-the-hunger-games-finnick-is-stirring-up-another-race-shitstorm
  20. "Django, in chains"
    http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/opinion/williams-django-still-chained
  21. MTV
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160809010249/http://www.mtv.com/news/2559357/jesse-williams-bane-chronicles-what-really-happened-in-peru/
  22. Variety
    https://variety.com/2015/film/news/bamber-lutz-williams-weixler-set-for-money-exclusive-1201515227/
  23. "BET's Award-Winning The Truth Series Returns with the Premiere of an Original Documentary on the Rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement"
    http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160517006438/en/BET%E2%80%99s-Award-Winning-Truth-Series-Returns-Premiere-Original
  24. "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®"
    https://www.sagawards.org/media/news/releases/nominations-announced-30th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awardsr
  25. "Question Bridge"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140622194830/http://beta.questionbridge.com/
  26. CNN
    http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/19/opinion/williams-django-still-chained/
  27. The Huffington Post
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-williams/child-hunger-schools_b_1004971.html
  28. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/arts/television/bet-awards-jesse-williams.html
  29. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/06/arts/television/fire-jesse-williams-for-bet-speech-petition-says-but-hes-not-worried.html
  30. RTÉ News
    https://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1124/williamsj.html
  31. "'Grey's Anatomy' Star Jesse Williams and Wife Divorce"
    https://www.tmz.com/2017/04/24/jesse-williams-greys-anatomy-divorce/
  32. "Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee Finalize Divorce, Agree to Joint Custody of 2 Children"
    https://people.com/tv/jesse-williams-aryn-drake-lee-finalize-divorce/
  33. Variety
    https://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/jesse-williams-prime-video-hotel-costiera-taormina-1236416598/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.