EJ Williams

By: Ashley Vitarelli

The remarkable talent of EJ Williams knows no bounds. His sensational ability to electrify screens with compelling performances time and time again speaks for itself. He has leant his voice to countless voiceover projects, appeared in television series and shorts, and is the youngest Black male lead of a network TV show in decades. As if those accolades weren’t impressive enough, when looking at EJ Williams’ career from a numerical perspective, his artistic inclination simply shines even brighter. Indeed, the 12 year old actor has been in the entertainment industry for three years, received two NAACP Image Award Nominations, and stars on one of the biggest shows on television. EJ Williams has already accomplished so much in his career, and he has only just begun. If the previous three years are any indication, EJ Williams is destined to not only dominate the industry, but dazzle the world.

The North Carolina-born actor has fond memories living on the East Coast before venturing to Hollywood. “I was really young when I lived there,” Williams explains. “One thing living in North Carolina taught me was that I don’t like the snow!” More of Williams’ earliest memories also include his passion and future career: acting. “My earliest memory of acting was when I did a school production,” Williams reflects. “It was pretty cool because my role was the host and narrator of the play.” From there, it was only a matter of time before Williams took the industry by storm. “My first break into the industry was an opportunity where I got to do a commercial for an international luxury watch brand,” Williams says. “That opportunity meant a lot to me because it was the first time that I realized how my work in one project could open doors for other projects. Now, it means even more to me personally because it was the start of my love for watches. My dad is a huge watch guy, and doing that commercial gave us another shared interest.”

Well-equipped with his earlier experiences and work, Williams was poised to make his mark on the industry, a feat he achieved while making his television lead debut as Dean Williams in ABC’s hit show The Wonder Years. “The audition process was one that definitely stretched me a little bit more than any other,” Williams says of going out for the show. “Considering how big of a role it is, I now understand why. It is more than just finding someone who can say the lines and who looks good on camera. For me, this audition process taught me the importance of not just embodying the role but also in understanding the context around which it is all written.” His hard work and preparation proved successful when he learned he had booked the role. “It was such a surreal moment,” Williams reflects. “I remember thinking it was another producer session, but I thought it was weird that both my parents were staring at me as I signed into the session. When Fred gave me the news, I was so excited! I was happy and thankful. And it all made sense why my parents had their phones out the whole time!”

EJ Williams brings Dean to life in one compelling and captivating performance after another. “Dean is a very energetic, honorable kid who wants nothing but the best for himself and everyone around him,” Williams says of his character. “These are things that really attracted me to the character. For Dean to be heartbroken — and still feel bad for his friends that betrayed him — is so special and heartwarming.” Of course, Dean being such a compelling character is a testament both to Williams’ portrayal of him, and also the program at large. The hit show features Academy Award-nominee Don Cheadle as the narrator and premiered on ABC in September 2021 to stellar reviews. “The Wonder Years is about the Williams family in Montgomery, Alabama and their experiences on a daily basis,” Williams notes. “The triumph and troubles they deal with are very interesting because they are so relatable. It’s always great to also hear Don’s voice and see how he puts his spin on things. Every time I hear it, it gives me a new perspective.”

Few 12 year old actors are able to say that they have top-billing on a hit ABC show. Indeed, that’s just another day at work for the talented EJ Williams, who, in helming The Wonder Years, is the youngest Black male lead on a network television show in decades. “It means a lot to be the youngest Black male lead in decades,” Williams shares. “I’d say, God has put me in a great position, and it means a lot to be able to see and feel all the love and appreciation that everyone has towards it.” Moreover, Williams has taken his role as a leader in stride, taking it upon himself to make the set for The Wonder Years a happy and exciting place for everyone to work. “A typical day on our set, outside of all the hard work, is me telling jokes,” Williams explains. “Sometimes the morning can be bland, as everyone is trying to get a rhythm for the day, so I like to go around and make them happier.”

WILLIAMS WILLIAMS 13 Williams can also be seen in recurring roles in Henry Danger and Danger Force, opportunities that proved invaluable. “Henry Danger and Danger Force helped me to prepare for live action shows,” Williams explains. “One thing I learned from working on Henry Danger was the process of wearing prosthetics — I had a love/hate relationship with my beard.” Beyond lending his talents to on-screen roles, EJ Williams also shares his skills — or more specifically, his voice — with other projects and programs. In addition to being a talented actor in front of the camera, Williams also shines from the voiceover booth in animation work, starring as Bingo on Disney Junior’s Puppy Dog Pals and voicing Dirk on Nickelodeon’s The Loud House. “It’s different in many ways,” Williams says of how voiceover work differs from on-screen acting. “One way is that I am not on my feet all day. With voiceover, I can get a session done in just 2 hours all while sitting! And also, the faces you get to make when recording makes the job fun. My favorite part of doing voiceover work is the different things that you can do off screen that you can’t do on screen. Some of the faces and expressions we make while getting into character are priceless!” Magnetic, charismatic, hardworking. These are just three words that EJ Williams embodies both on screen and off, whether he is acting in Hollywood, or dedicating his time to charities and organizations that are important to him — such as the Dare2Dream Foundation. “The Dare2Dream Foundation is one that my parents started,” Williams shares. “So supporting it is something that means a lot to me. Supporting it is supporting other kids who, like me, are in search of following their dreams.” Williams’ dedication to supporting foundations is inspiring and empowering to people of all ages. Similarly, Williams notes who he is personally inspired by, citing his parents and their phenomenal advice. “My biggest inspirations are my parents,” he reflects. “To see a little bit of where they started and see how they have grown to where they are now is a great inspiration. Watching them succeed and continue to grow together is motivation for me. My dad always tells me ‘a delay is not a denial,’ with that mindset, you can do anything.”

At just 12 years old, EJ Williams has catapulted himself to high levels of stardom and success — and he is only just getting started. Indeed, the young actor has big plans for the future, goals he hopes to accomplish, and people he aspires to work with. “In the next 3 years, I hope to be executive producing,” Williams says. “Being behind the camera is amazing! I think it’ll help me to grow in many areas within this industry.” As for what he wants to achieve next, hosting SNL ranks highly on that list. “I think it would be a great opportunity,” he shares. “As a person who loves comedy, I think it would be an amazing experience.” Looking to future collaborators, EJ Williams shares one name in particular that jumps out to him. “I would love to one day work with Will Smith,” he explains. “That guy can do it all! I think it would be a great opportunity to work with him because not only do I think it’ll be fun, but I think I can learn a lot from him.”

The star of The Wonder Years is wise well beyond his years, excelling at his craft time and time again, so much so that he received two NAACP Image Award nominations — a feat he cites as a career highlight. “My favorite memory, so far, would be hearing about my NAACP Image Award nominations,” Williams shares. “It’s such an honor to be included. It motivates me to continue to work hard and grow. And to be able to share this experience with the people I love dearly is important because I know I wouldn’t be here without their love and support.” EJ Williams’ talented performances and powerful perspectives on the industry and the world reflect a maturity and magic inherent in his being. Indeed, there is no stopping EJ Williams and what he will achieve next. He is the star of The Wonder Years, and he is quite simply wonderful. “ I enjoy being able to become different people through my characters,” Williams says of acting’s power. “The thing I enjoy the most about being an actor is the smiles I put on people’s faces. The power of acting is storytelling and bringing out the deeper meaning to things.”

Co-Directed: Heather Koepp & Oththan Burnside Photographer: Heather Koepp Wardrobe Stylist: Oththan Burnside Mua: Kelli Corbet