Jesse Williams
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 (2022), the latter of which he was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
Known For
Grey's Anatomy
Law & Order
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Daily Show
Saturday Night Live
All Movies (28)
- Montmartre2026 · as Toussaint
- What We Hide2025 · as Sheriff Ben Jeffries
- The Great Lillian Hall2024 · as David Flemming
- Following Harry2024 · as Self
- Your Place or Mine2023 · as Theo
- Secret Headquarters2022 · as Irons
- With Drawn Arms2020 · as Self
- Jacob's Ladder2019 · as Isaac 'Ike' Singer
- Random Acts of Violence2019 · as Todd Walkley
- Selah and the Spades2019 · as Headmaster Banton
- United We Stand: The Ali Summit2018 · as narrator
- Survivor's Guide to Prison2018 · as Self
- Band Aid2017 · as Skyler
- The Obama Years: The Power of Words2017 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- BET Presents Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration2016 · as Self
- Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement2016 · as Self
- Money2016 · as Sean
- They Die by Dawn2013 · as John Taylor
- Snake & Mongoose2013 · as Don "The Snake" Prudomme
- The Butler2013 · as Rev. James Lawson
- Rich Girl Problems2013 · as Peter
- The Cabin in the Woods2012 · as Holden McCrea
- J.A.W.2011 · as Enin
- Dirty Dancing 3: Capoeira Nights2010
- Brooklyn's Finest2010 · as E. Quinlan
- Washingtonienne2009 · as Keya
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 22008 · as Leo
- Legacy— · as Troy
All TV Shows (29)
- Hotel Costiera2025 · as Daniel De Luca
- Shifting Gears2025 · as Andy
- Only Murders in the Building2021 · as Tobert
- Bottomless Brunch at Colman's2020 · as Self
- Little Fires Everywhere2020 · as Joe Ryan
- A Black Lady Sketch Show2019 · as Isaac
- Desus & Mero2019 · as Self - Illustrious Guest
- Black Hollywood: 'They've Gotta Have Us'2018 · as Self
- Station 192018 · as Dr. Jackson Avery
- The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale2018 · as Self - Special Guest
- America Divided2016 · as Self
- To Tell the Truth2016 · as Self - Panelist
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self
- The Spoils Before Dying2015 · as Parker
- Celebrity Name Game2014 · as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers2014 · as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014 · as Self
- The Eric Andre Show2012 · as Self
- Finding Your Roots2012
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
- Greek2007 · as Drew Collins
- Beyond the Break2006 · as Eric Medina
- Grey's Anatomy2005 · as Jackson Avery
- The View1997 · as Self
- The Daily Show1996 · as Self
- Law & Order1990 · as Kwame
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
- Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- The Emmy Awards1949 · as Self