Jesse Williams

ActorProducerDirector Aug 5 (age 44) Chicago, Illinois, USA 1988–2025 (37 year career)

6.4 avg rating

Biography

Jesse Wesley Williams is an American actor, director, producer and activist. He played Dr. Jackson Avery on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy (2009–22) and has appeared in films such as The Cabin in the Woods (2012) and The Butler (2013). He has 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 (…

Known For

Film

Grey's Anatomy

Jackson Avery

Film

The Cabin in the Woods

Holden McCrea

Film

The Butler

Rev. James Lawson

Film

Two Distant Strangers

Producer

Film

Brooklyn's Finest

E. Quinlan

Film

Your Place or Mine

Theo

Film

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

Leo

Film

Secret Headquarters

Irons

Filmography

Acting (55)

Movies (27)

What We Hide

2025

as Sheriff Ben Jeffries

6.2

The Great Lillian Hall

2024

as David Flemming

7.0

Following Harry

2024

as Self

Your Place or Mine

as Theo

Secret Headquarters

as Irons

With Drawn Arms

as Self

Jacob's Ladder

as Isaac 'Ike' Singer

4.4

Selah and the Spades

2019

as Headmaster Banton

5.3

Random Acts of Violence

2019

as Todd Walkley

5.4

United We Stand: The Ali Summit

2018

as narrator

Survivor's Guide to Prison

as Self

Band Aid

as Skyler

The Obama Years: The Power of Words

2017

as Self - Narrator (voice)

10.0

Money

2016

as Sean

5.4

BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration

2016

as Self

9.0

Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement

as Self

The Butler

as Rev. James Lawson

They Die by Dawn

as John Taylor

Rich Girl Problems

as Peter

Snake & Mongoose

2013

as Don "The Snake" Prudomme

4.9

The Cabin in the Woods

as Holden McCrea

Brooklyn's Finest

as E. Quinlan

Dirty Dancing 3: Capoeira Nights

2010

6.3

Washingtonienne

2009

as Keya

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

2008

as Leo

6.3

We Are Not Who We Are: Making The Cabin in the Woods

as Self / Holden McCrea

Legacy

as Troy

Television (28)

Shifting Gears

as Andy

Hotel Costiera

as Daniel De Luca

Only Murders in the Building

2021

as Tobert

8.5

Little Fires Everywhere

2020

as Joe Ryan

7.5

Bottomless Brunch at Colman's

2020

as Self

10.0

A Black Lady Sketch Show

2019

as Isaac

7.0

Desus & Mero

2019

as Self - Illustrious Guest

5.1

Station 19

2018

as Dr. Jackson Avery

8.2

The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale

2018

as Self - Special Guest

5.8

Black Hollywood: 'They've Gotta Have Us'

as Self

To Tell the Truth

as Self - Panelist

America Divided

as Self

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015

as Self

6.2

The Spoils Before Dying

2015

as Parker

6.0

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

as Self

Celebrity Name Game

as Self

Finding Your Roots

The Eric Andre Show

as Self

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

as Self - Guest

Greek

as Drew Collins

Beyond the Break

as Eric Medina

Grey's Anatomy

as Jackson Avery

Grey's Anatomy

as Jackson Avery

The Daily Show

as Self

Law & Order

as Kwame

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

1988

as Self - Guest

5.4

Saturday Night Live

1975

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)

7.0

The Emmy Awards

1949

as Self

7.9

Crew (10)

Movies (8)

What We Hide

2025

Executive Producer

6.2

Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story

2025

Executive Producer

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams

2025

Producer

1.0

Two Distant Strangers

Producer

With Drawn Arms

Executive Producer

Random Acts of Violence

2019

Executive Producer

5.4

Survivor's Guide to Prison

2018

Executive Producer

6.3

Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement

2016

Executive Producer

6.0

Television (2)

Hotel Costiera

Producer

Grey's Anatomy

Director