Jesse Williams
At a glance:
Jesse Williams is an actor, model, and activist. Williams is the youngest member of the board of directors at The Advancement Project, a civil rights think tank and advocacy group.Jesse Williams is an actor, model, and activist, best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on the ABC Television series Grey’s Anatomy. He also appeared in the 2013 film Lee Daniels’ The Butler as civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson. His other roles have included Holden in The Cabin in the Woods (2012); Officer Eddie Quinlan in Brooklyn’s Finest (2009); and Leo, Lena’s boyfriend, in the film sequel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008).
Williams is the youngest member of the board of directors at The Advancement Project, a civil rights think tank and advocacy group. He is also the executive producer of Question Bridge: Black Males, a multifaceted media project, art exhibition, student and teacher curriculum and website, focused on the black male identity and the diversity within the demographic. He has written articles for CNN and The Huffington Post, and has been a guest on Wolf Blitzer’s The Situation Room.
In June 2016, Williams won the humanitarian award at the 2016 BET Awards, delivering a speech highlighting racial injustice and police brutality. As a result of his speech, there are dueling petitions: one to have Williams fired from Grey’s Anatomy and one to keep him on the series.
