He wasn't supposed to be the lead. When the casting calls went out for Mike Schur’s high-concept afterlife comedy, the focus was understandably on Ted Danson’s legendary status and Kristen Bell’s established sitcom royalty. Then came Chidi Anagonye. William Jackson Harper, a veteran of the New York theater scene who was legitimately considering quitting acting right before he landed the role, walked in and changed the entire chemistry of the show.
He stayed. He thrived. He became the moral compass of a show about morality.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing a character whose primary trait is "stomach aches caused by ethical dilemmas." Most actors would make Chidi's indecisiveness annoying. Harper made it heartbreakingly human. He turned Kantian philosophy into a punchline without losing the intellectual weight of the subject matter. That’s not just good acting; it’s a specific kind of alchemy that doesn't happen often on network television.
The Good Place Actor Who Almost Wasn't
Before the bowties and the blackboard, Harper was a "working actor" in the most grueling sense of the term. He spent years doing Shakespeare in the park and off-Broadway plays like All the Way. He was talented, respected by peers, and totally broke. He’s been vocal in interviews about how he had set a deadline for himself. If things didn't click soon, he was heading back to Texas or finding a new career path entirely.
Then came the audition for "the good place actor" role that would define his career.
The character of Chidi was a risk. On paper, a guy who can’t decide between two hats for three hours sounds like a secondary character, a bit of color in the background. But Harper played Chidi with such intense, vibrating anxiety that he became the audience surrogate. We weren't just watching Eleanor Shellstrop learn to be good; we were watching Chidi suffer through the responsibility of teaching her.
Why the "Chidi" Archetype Worked
Schur has a knack for finding actors who embody a specific kind of "earnest nerd." Think Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation. But Harper took it further. He brought a physical comedy to the role that was unexpected. The "shirtless Chidi" reveal in Season 3 became a viral moment not just because the actor was surprisingly shredded, but because it subverted everything we thought we knew about the "nerdy professor" trope.
He used his body to convey stress. His posture would tighten. His voice would climb an octave.
It was a masterclass in neuroticism.
Beyond the Afterlife: Breaking the Typecast
A lot of actors get stuck after a show as big as The Good Place. You become the "anxiety guy" forever. Harper, however, navigated the post-sitcom waters with surgical precision. He didn't just stay in the comedy lane. He veered hard into prestige drama and indie film, proving that the range we saw in the afterlife was just the tip of the iceberg.
Look at his work in Midsommar. Ari Aster’s folk-horror nightmare required Harper to play Josh, a doctoral student who is—once again—driven by academic pursuit. But Josh isn't Chidi. Josh is ambitious, slightly arrogant, and ultimately a victim of his own intellectual curiosity. It was a subtle shift, but an important one. It signaled to Hollywood that he wasn't just a sitcom lead.
Then came The Underground Railroad.
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Directed by Barry Jenkins, this limited series was a massive departure. As Royal, Harper brought a quiet, steady strength that felt worlds away from the frantic energy of Chidi Anagonye. He was playing a free man in a world trying to ensnare him, and the stillness he brought to the screen was haunting. It’s the kind of performance that wins awards, or at least should.
The Romantic Lead Era
If you haven't seen Love Life Season 2 on HBO Max (now just Max), you’re missing out on the best version of William Jackson Harper. He stepped into the lead role for the second anthology season, playing Marcus Watkins.
It was revolutionary for a few reasons:
- It allowed a Black man to be the "clumsy, figuring-it-out" romantic lead without falling into tired stereotypes.
- It leaned into his natural charm.
- It dealt with divorce and re-entry into the dating world with a raw, sometimes uncomfortable honesty.
He’s great at being vulnerable.
Most male leads in Hollywood feel like they’re made of granite. Harper feels like he’s made of nerves and empathy. That makes him relatable in a way that’s actually quite rare. When Marcus fumbles a text or says the wrong thing on a date, you feel it in your gut because Harper sells the internal cringe so well.
The Impact on Representation in Comedy
For a long time, the "intellectual lead" in a sitcom was almost exclusively white. Think The Big Bang Theory or Frasier. By casting William Jackson Harper as a Nigerian-Senegalese professor of ethics and moral philosophy, The Good Place did something quietly radical.
They didn't make his race the "point" of the character, but they didn't ignore it either. Chidi was allowed to be a nerd. He was allowed to be indecisive. He was allowed to be the smartest person in the room while also being the most emotionally paralyzed.
This opened doors.
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We’re seeing more diverse casting in roles that are defined by their intellect rather than their trauma or their proximity to "the streets." Harper’s success paved the way for a different kind of leading man—one who is defined by his brain and his heart rather than his swagger.
What’s Next for the Actor?
He’s joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Quaz in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While the movie itself had mixed reviews, Harper’s presence was a highlight for fans. There’s always talk about where he’ll pop up next. Whether it’s returning to the stage or taking on more voice work—his voice is incredibly distinct, after all—he’s become a "must-watch" name.
He also starred in The Resort, a genre-bending mystery that flew under the radar for many but showcased his ability to handle dark comedy mixed with high-stakes drama.
He’s picky. He doesn't just take every script that comes across his desk. That’s why his filmography, though growing, feels curated.
How to Follow His Career Path
If you’re a fan of The Good Place and want to see the full scope of what this actor can do, don't just re-watch the finale (though it's okay to cry at the "wave" speech again).
- Watch The Underground Railroad: To see his dramatic range.
- Check out Love Life Season 2: To see him as a modern romantic lead.
- Look for his theater credits: If he ever returns to the stage in New York, buy a ticket immediately.
The reality is that "the good place actor" is a label that will stick for a while, but William Jackson Harper is rapidly outgrowing it. He’s becoming one of those actors—like a Philip Seymour Hoffman or a Paul Giamatti—who makes every single project better just by standing in the frame.
Actionable Insight for Fans and Aspiring Actors:
The biggest takeaway from Harper’s trajectory is the power of the "slow burn." He didn't find global fame until his late 30s. He stayed in the trenches of theater, honed a very specific craft, and was ready when the "impossible" role appeared. For anyone looking to understand modern television excellence, studying Harper’s timing—both comedic and dramatic—is a requirement. He proves that being "the smart guy" on screen requires a massive amount of emotional intelligence off-screen.
Keep an eye on his upcoming projects with production companies like A24; he tends to gravitate toward scripts that challenge the audience's perception of morality, much like the show that made him a household name.