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Tyler James Williams has grown from a child actor into one of television's most versatile performers.
A former child actor, he has been in the industry for almost two decades. Williams began his career at the age of 4, with projects like Little Bill and Sesame Street. He did not come from a film background; he grew up in Yonkers. Speaking to The New York Times, he revealed that he was only 4 years old when he watched Will Smith's film Men in Black, he noted,
"I can't fully explain it. It's one of the biggest moments of clarity I've ever had and it's at 4."
He bagged his first breakthrough role in 2005 with Everybody Hates Chris. Williams hasn't stuck to one lane. Comedy, drama, and ensemble casts, he navigates each with clarity. In each project, he shows something different.
Continue reading to know more
5 Tyler James Williams movies and TV shows you must watch
Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW series)
Tyler James Williams, as a young Chris Rock, remains iconic to this day. It was Williams' portrayal that made the show feel relatable to the core. Who could forget the nerdy skinny lad struggling to adjust? Nostalgic, isn't it? The series delves into the life of co-creator and comedian Chris Rock and his teenage days in Brooklyn, New York.
Everybody Hates Chris is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
If Everybody Hates Chris made Tyler James Williams a household name, Abbott Elementary took it a notch higher. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory Eddie, a substitute teacher who becomes a steady hand amid the chaos of a Philadelphia public school. Williams gives Gregory quiet confidence. He doesn't need to shout to own a scene. Every small look and pause feels intentional. He also bagged a Golden Globe award in 2023 for his role. Here's what the show's Executive Producer and series writers Justin Halpern revealed about Williams (via The New York Times).
"He took his character from someone who was a little more of a traditional leading man and turned him into this really interesting goofy guy."
Available to stream on Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. New episodes air every Wednesday on ABC at 8:30 pm ET.
The Walking Dead (AMC)
Williams' talent isn't limited to sitcoms. Tyler James Williams plays a kind-hearted survivor, Noah, in AMC's post-apocalyptic horror drama, The Walking Dead. Noah is an optimistic soul who still believes in humanity and dreams of survival when most people have given up. In a show full of chaos and killings, Noah brings fresh energy. His tragic ending remains one of the series' most emotional moments.
Available to stream on AMC+.
Detroit (2017 film)
Kathryn Bigelow's 2017 historical crime drama Detroit is based on the Algiers Motel incident during Detroit's 12th Street riot. Apart from John Boyega, Will Poulter, and Algee Smith, it also stars Tyler James Williams. He plays Leon, one of many caught in the chaos of the riots. His role is small, but his performance carries a haunting stillness that's hard to explain. Williams brings empathy to a film defined by violence and grit.
Available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Amber Alert (2024 thriller film)
In Amber Alert, directed by Kerry Bellessa, Williams plays Shane, an ordinary man pulled into extraordinary danger after spotting a car linked to child abduction. Acting opposite Hayden Panettiere, he carries the story's tension through instinct rather than spectacle. Each moment feels deliberate, each choice weighted.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and available to rent/buy on YouTube TV and Google TV.
Why should you watch these?
Through TV shows and movies, you'll see Tyler James Williams' growth, hard work, and craft in each of these performances. Williams doesn't chase fame; he chooses stories that matter and that prove his range. Williams has mastered the art of subtle transformation. Each role he takes feels deliberate, never random. His choices reveal how he can hop from one genre to another. Each role carries purpose. Comedy, drama, thriller, genre never limits him.
If you have just watched him on Abbott Elementary, it's time for you to expand the list. No matter what your mood is, there's a Tyler James Williams series/movie for it.
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