Most people know Jesse Williams as the insanely sexy Dr. Jackson Avery on the show Grey’s Anatomy. Sure, Avery’s character is compelling and Williams brings a lot to the role, but at the end of the day, many people will just recognize the crazy hot doctor from the show featuring tons of hot doctors – and Williams has been featured in countless photo shoots that showcase his incredible physique and piercing blue eyes.
However, recently, people have been getting a look at an entirely different side of Jesse Williams. He’s been a passionate activist throughout his entire life, but the star power that comes with snagging a leading role on a hugely popular show means that his voice is a lot louder nowadays – and rather than staying quiet in fear of jeopardizing his spot at the top, he’s speaking out and sharing his thoughts with the world. Some love how outspoken he is, some absolutely hate it, but at the end of the day, Jesse Williams is all about speaking his truth – and you’ve got to respect that.
Despite the fact that he’s on a hit show and has received a fair bit of controversy over the past while because of his decisions to speak out about certain racial issues in Hollywood, many people really don’t know too much about Jesse Williams – and that’s why we’re here.
Here are 15 things you may not have known about the insanely hot, intelligent, passionate Jesse Williams.
15 He was a high school teacher for six years
In Hollywood, youth is a big deal, so the majority of starlets head to Los Angeles straight after graduating high school and start hustling and trying to get their name out there and snag small roles in whatever they can. Jesse Williams took a bit of a different approach. After he graduated with his B.A., he became a teacher in the Philadelphia school system. Although he briefly taught kindergarten and seventh grade, he primarily brought his wisdom to high-risk high school students (I mean, could we love him any more?” And it certainly wasn’t just a diversion while he figured out how to pursue his true passion of acting – Williams has said that “I loved being a teacher. It’s the best thing I have ever done. My favorite job ever. I miss it every day.” Perhaps one day if he’s sick of the Hollywood scene he’ll just return to the classroom – that’s a pretty impressive fallback plan!
14 He’s a committed activist
Based on their fame, celebrities have a larger voice and higher platform than most when it comes to speaking out about issues. Most try to use their fame to draw attention to worthy causes, but let’s be serious – the majority of celebrities are just trying to do a little bit of good in general. Jesse Williams’ activism is on a whole different level. As he shared with BET’s Chris Spencer, he’s been an activist since his teenage years; his actions are just getting more attention nowadays since he’s become a recognizable celebrity. And he’s not just supporting things with his television salary from afar – he was out there marching at Ferguson, he’s using any opportunity he gets on stage to speak out about his beliefs, and he’s gotten involved in a ton of projects that highlight his passions and have nothing to do with his role as an actor whatsoever.
13 He’s married - but not to a celebrity
Pretty much the second any woman sees Jesse Williams, she gets one question in her mind – is he single? I mean, when you look at him, it’s hard not to wonder – he’s absolutely gorgeous! Bad news, ladies, you’re out of luck – Williams has been with his wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, for many years. They actually met back when Jesse was just a teacher, and she’s been by his side through it all – visiting him at work is just a little bit more glitzy now. The duo married in 2012 after having been together for many years. And, unlike some Hollywood wives who essentially just become housewives supported by their famous husband’s Hollywood salaries, Drake-Lee is all about being an independent woman – she’s a real estate broker who slays it every day in her own industry, and Williams wouldn’t have it any other way. And honestly, we dig the fact that he’s not intimidated by a strong, independent woman.
12 He’s biracial
Williams’ activism comes from a bit of a unique place, as he’s admitted – he’s biracial. His father, Reginald Williams, is African-American, and his mother, Johanna Chase, is actually Swedish. That combination is part of what has given Jesse his uniquely sexy appearance, but it also informs his perspective on the world. As he told The Guardian, “I have access to rooms and information. I am white and I am also black. I know how white people talk about black people. I know how black people talk about white folks. I know I am there and everyone speaks honestly around me.” His identity is a combination of two ethnicities, and that gives him an interesting perspective to bring to the table, and it’s one that he openly discusses. While it would have been easier to just lean towards one side of his identity in his activism, he’s opted to take the more challenging route of standing up for what he believes in while also acknowledging where he is in the conversation.
11 He has two children
Williams could easily pass for a 20-something rising star in Hollywood, so it’s a little bit tough to believe that he already has two children – but he does. Williams and wife Aryn Drake-Lee have a son, Maceo, and a daughter, Sadie. His kids are still just toddlers, so we’re betting he’s gotten a good perspective on what his on-screen character Dr. Avery has to go through during a long hospital shift – with two kids that young, we bet there are a lot of sleepless nights. However, he wouldn’t have it any other way – he seems to be as passionate a family man as he is an activist, and loves his little quartet. Plus, with a strong, passionate father like Williams and a strong mother like Drake-Lee, we’re betting those kids will end up doing some pretty incredible things in the world – you know, once they’re old enough to tie their own shoes and all.
10 He’s appeared in several music videos
Before he burst onto the scene on Grey’s Anatomy, Williams didn’t really have a ton of credits to his name, but he does have two music videos under his belt – although you might not remember them. Back in 2009, he was the tattooed bad boy love interest in Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette” video – that’s right, before Drake was RiRi’s main squeeze, it was Jesse (on-screen, at least). Then, in 2010, he was the love interest in Estelle’s “Fall In Love” music video, looking absolutely adorable. Now that he’s become such a voice for activism, and more and more artists are choosing to make statements in their music videos, we wouldn’t be surprised if a few more artists called on Williams to appear in their videos (and look, we’re not saying that we’re hoping for a Beyoncé vid featuring Jesse Williams, but… we totally are. I mean how amazing would that be?)
9 He’s received a humanitarian award
Most people who know anything about Jesse Williams know he isn’t the typical starlet who just shows up, does his job on set, and then goes home. He’s all about using his voice as a celebrity to effect change, and we love him for it. Apparently, so does everyone else, as Williams was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards recently. And, if that wasn’t impressive enough, just consider who some of that award’s previous recipients were – Denzel Washington, Al Sharpton, and Muhammad Ali. That’s right – he’s joined some pretty impressive names in receiving that particular accolade. And Williams certainly didn’t disappoint, accepting the award with a speech that caused considerable controversy. Whether people agreed with him or not, there’s no question that his speech created a lot of buzz and a lot of conversations, which is a pretty big deal in an industry where acceptance speeches are forgotten pretty much the moment the celebrity steps off stage.
8 He has his own production company
Many actors, once they hit a certain level of fame, decide to get on the other side of the camera and set up their own production companies to bring projects they’re passionate about to audiences – and Jesse Williams has done just that. With his wife, Williams founded farWord Inc., a production company that was founded “out of a desire to examine and affect the relationship between historical/cultural comprehension and the ways in which media content influences our health and behaviour.” So.., he’s not exactly bringing rom coms to the screen, is what we’re saying. Instead, he’s using his production company to bring documentary projects like Stay Woke and America Divided to viewers, as well as innovative transmedia art projects like Question Bridge: Black Males. Williams has stated before that he’s not happy with how race is often portrayed in Hollywood in many projects, so he’s bringing his own voice to the table.
7 He made his film debut in a teen flick
Okay, do you remember the teen flick The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which introduced the world to blonde starlet Blake Lively (who has gone on to become a pretty big deal)? Well, the sequel to the film, released in 2008, introduced another face to audiences – a male one this time. Alexis Bledel’s character Lena was taking an art class at the Rhode Island School of Design and was smitten with Leo, the model for her class – who was played by none other than Jesse Williams. He’s gotten a small number of film roles since then, but fortuitously, he snagged the role of Dr. Jackson Avery in 2009 – just a year after making his film debut. So, his time was quickly filled by the demanding television filming schedule, and he’s only been able to return to the film world in his breaks from Grey’s – although we’re quite excited to see him take on more and more projects if the show eventually wraps.
6 He created Ebrojis
Just when you thought Jesse Williams had conquered enough facets of the industry, from acting to directing to activism, he manages to surprise you once again – this time, it’s with his involvement in the tech/app world. Alongside his wife (also, we kind of dig how often he collaborates with her on incredible projects), Williams created the Ebroji app. What, exactly, is the Ebroji app? Well, they’re just gifs and images that you can share like you would any other emojis/gifs, but they’re tailored specifically to include images that have been made popular by African-American culture. See? Williams isn’t limited to only serious, thought-provoking activism – sometimes, his work just involves creating a fun app that allows you to message silly things with your friends, and that’s pretty cool. Who knows, maybe if he gets tired of the entertainment industry, he can start making waves in the tech world – we have absolutely no doubt that he’d be able to do so. Williams, it seems, is a man of many talents.
5 He serves on the board of directors for a civil rights organization
Okay, if you haven’t gotten the message by now that Jesse Williams really, really cares about activism and working hard for a cause, you’ve obviously not been paying attention. This is yet another one of Williams’ passion projects. He brings his expertise and passion to The Advancement Project, a civil rights advocacy group and think tank where he works with civil rights lawyers and other activists to create change. And, if that weren’t impressive enough, he’s also the youngest member of the board of directors for the organization. It just proves that he isn’t just interested in the kind of activism that is captured on camera – he’s totally passionate about all the behind the scenes work that goes into creating change on a greater level and truly making a difference in the world – if that’s not sexy, we don’t know what is. I mean, the more you find out about Jesse Williams, the more you love him.
4 He’s performed off Broadway
Unlike many starlets who head to Los Angeles to make it in the entertainment industry, Jesse Williams went the old school way and got his start in New York City. In between modeling, bartending, and working at a law firm, Williams managed to snag a role in an off-Broadway play entitled “The Sandbox,” which was written and directed by the legendary Edward Albee. That’s not a bad way to get your foot in the door! Being able to master live theatre means that performing in front of cameras for a television show where you can always do a second (or third, or thirtieth) take was probably a huge relief for Williams! Plus, who knows – once his schedule is a little more flexible, he might just opt to take a few roles in meaty, off-Broadway productions like some other A-Listers do, and truly showcase how he’s able to master his craft and bring his talent to the stage.
3 He’s not afraid to call out Hollywood legends
Many actors, no matter how high up the A List they get, are a little bit reluctant to criticize legendary figures – Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino you name it. That’s because they don’t want to risk burning bridges – they don’t want to jeopardize their careers, so they stay neutral on some controversial issues lest they end up on the wrong side. Not Jesse Williams. After seeing Django Unchained, Williams penned an opinion piece on the troubling racial aspects of the film – and he didn’t hold anything back. He analyzed the film, which was nominated for an Oscar, and skewered Tarantino for his hypocrisy and his damaging depiction of slavery, his crassness… the list goes on and on. Most celebrities wouldn’t dare to go toe to toe with a figure who has created a ton of legendary movies, but Williams was absolutely willing to speak up and say that he thought the film was deeply flawed, and deeply offensive – and you’ve got to respect him for that.
2 He’s a Temple University alumnus
As you know, Jesse Williams spent several years teaching in the Philadelphia school system. What brought him to Philly when he was raised in Chicago, and later Massachusetts? Well, he may have started teaching there simply because it was where he was after graduating – he attended Temple University, in Philadelphia, earning himself a double major in African American Studies and Film and Media Arts. While there are quite a few celebrities who manage to earn degrees before heading out into the entertainment industry, the fact is that, in an industry that prizes youth, many opt to head to Hollywood right after high school and take their chances – and you’ve got to admire that Williams led a fairly normal life before eventually deciding to head to the entertainment industry. We bet that Temple University will likely be calling him back to give convocation speeches to inspire the graduating students – he’s proven that he’s an exemplary speech writer, after all.
1 Haters made a petition to get him fired for his BET speech
Ah, the speech that officially catapulted Jesse Williams to an entirely new level of celebrity. When Williams was accepting his humanitarian award at the BET Awards, he opted to use the platform to make a passionate speech about the Black Lives Matter movement, and there were many audience members at the awards (and people listening at home) who absolutely loved what he was saying and praised Williams for standing up and speaking out. However, it’s tough to get everyone’s approval, and there were also many individuals who absolutely hated what Williams did and actually created a petition to get him fired from his incredible role on Grey’s Anatomy – all because he decided to speak out in support of something he believed in. Luckily, Shonda isn’t so easily swayed – and she made it pretty clear that she makes the decision of who stays on the show and who doesn’t, tweeting simply “Um people? Boo don’t need a petition.”
Sources phillytrib.com, people.com, esquire.com, cnn.com
