Before he was the face of Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey’s Anatomy, before the viral BET Awards speech that basically set the internet on fire, and long before he was a Tony nominee, Jesse Williams was just a guy in Philadelphia trying to figure out how to pay rent.
Most people see the blue eyes and the Hollywood smile and assume he fell into fame. Honestly, it was the opposite. The story of jesse williams young is actually one of a high school teacher who didn't even start professional acting until his mid-20s. It’s a weirdly grounded origin story for a guy who ended up being one of the biggest TV stars of the 2010s.
The Chicago Roots and the Identity "Chasm"
Jesse Wesley Williams was born in 1981 in Chicago. His house wasn't a "showbiz" house. It was a house of educators and artists. His dad, Reginald Williams, was an African American teacher from Georgia, and his mom, Johanna Chase, was a Swedish-American professional potter.
Growing up biracial in Chicago in the 80s and early 90s gave him what he calls a "chasm" of experience. One minute he was in under-funded, overcrowded classrooms in the city; the next, he was in a well-resourced suburban school because of a family move. He saw early on how much a zip code dictated a kid's future.
He wasn't a "theater kid" in high school. He wasn't the lead in the school musical. He was a student at Moses Brown School in Rhode Island, graduating in 1998, focused more on history and social dynamics than headshots.
The Teacher Years Nobody Talks About
This is the part that surprises everyone. After graduating from Temple University with a double major in African American Studies and Film and Media Arts, Jesse didn't go to LA. He stayed in Philly.
He followed the family business. He taught.
For six years, Jesse Williams was a high school teacher in the Philadelphia public school system. He wasn't just "subbing" for a few weeks, either. He was in the trenches teaching American Studies, African Studies, and English. Imagine sitting in 11th-grade history and having a guy who looks like a future movie star explaining the Civil Rights Movement to you.
📖 Related: Why the Jayda Wayda Lash Kit Actually Works for DIY Beginners
He’s talked about this period quite a bit in interviews, mentioning how he had to "trick" his male students into caring about literature by using the social pressure they felt from the girls in class. It was a real-world education in communication and empathy.
Working Six Jobs in New York
By 2005, he decided to give acting a shot. He gave himself a timeline: 18 months to two years. If it didn't work, he was going to law school to become a civil rights attorney. That was the real plan.
He moved to New York and, honestly, struggled. He was waiting tables. He worked at a law firm. He was a production assistant. He even admitted to faking his resume to land a PA job just to see how a film set actually worked.
The break didn't happen overnight. It started with a showcase.
The Audition That Changed Everything
In 2005, ABC held a talent showcase in New York. Out of over 800 people who auditioned, Jesse was one of only 14 chosen. This led to his first real TV gig: a one-off role as "Kwame" in an episode of Law & Order in 2006.
Then came the "Hotness Monster."
If you were watching ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2008, you might remember a show called Greek. Jesse had a two-episode arc as Drew Collins, a character literally nicknamed "The Hotness Monster." It was a silly role, but it proved he had the screen presence to carry a scene.
Around that same time, he landed his first film role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. He played Leo, the love interest for America Ferrera’s character. He’s mentioned that after that movie came out, he started getting recognized on the subway in Brooklyn by teenage girls, which was a "weird" transition from being a guy who used to grade their homework.
👉 See also: Noah Beck and Dixie D'Amelio: What Really Happened
Why the "Young" Jesse Williams Matters Now
When you look back at jesse williams young, you see why he is so outspoken today. He didn't come from a bubble.
He spent his college years at Temple University ignoring the "core" classes and sneaking into graduate-level African American studies courses he wasn't even enrolled in. He was a student activist who spent his weekends at political meetings in his parents' living room.
This background is why his 2016 BET Humanitarian Award speech felt so authentic. He wasn't a celebrity adopting a cause for PR; he was an educator and a student of history who happened to have a massive platform. He once told Essence that he actually lost 30,000 followers and received death threats for supporting Obama's second campaign—long before the #BlackLivesMatter movement became a mainstream talking point. He didn't care. He was used to the "chasm."
Surprising Facts from His Early Career
- He was a model, but he hated it: During college, he did some modeling for brands like Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger just to make extra cash. He never viewed it as a career path and has often joked about how it felt "hollow."
- The Law School backup: He actually began the process of taking the LSAT. If Grey's Anatomy hadn't happened when it did, we might be looking at Jesse Williams, Esq.
- Music Video Cameos: Before he was a household name, he was the love interest in Rihanna’s "Russian Roulette" music video in 2009. It was one of those "Who is THAT guy?" moments for the general public.
Transitioning to Hollywood
The jump to Grey’s Anatomy happened in 2009. He joined in Season 6 as part of the Mercy West merger. Originally, Jackson Avery wasn't supposed to be a permanent fixture. He was just another resident for the main cast to clash with.
But the chemistry was undeniable. By Season 7, he was a series regular. He stayed for 12 seasons, eventually becoming a director and producer on the show.
Actionable Insights from Jesse’s Journey
If you’re looking at Jesse Williams’ early life for inspiration, there are a few real-world takeaways that aren't just "be born with great genes."
- Don't rush the "dream" career: Jesse didn't start acting until he was 24. He spent his early 20s gaining real-world experience as a teacher. That "life experience" is what made his performances feel more grounded later on.
- Have a "Hard Out" timeline: He gave himself two years to make it in acting. Having a deadline forces you to work harder than if you have an open-ended "I’ll make it eventually" attitude.
- Invest in your brain first: His deep knowledge of history and African American studies (his dual degree from Temple) is what has allowed him to transition into producing documentaries like Stay Woke and winning an Oscar for Two Distant Strangers.
Jesse Williams’ path reminds us that your "day job"—even if it's teaching history in a Philly public school—isn't a distraction from your goals. It’s the fuel for them.
To understand Jesse Williams today, you have to look at the guy who was grading papers and riding the Brooklyn L train with a fake resume in his bag. That’s the version of him that built the foundation for everything that came next.