You’ve probably seen the name floating around. Maybe you were scrolling through a niche forum or saw a confusing social media thread and thought, wait, does Chidi from The Good Place actually own an electrical contracting firm? It sounds like the kind of quirky side-hustle a cerebral actor might pick up to stay grounded. But if you're looking for the William Jackson Harper Electric Company to come fix a blown fuse in your kitchen, you’re going to be waiting a very long time.
He isn't an electrician.
It’s one of those weird internet phenomena where a name gets attached to a service, and suddenly SEO bots and scrapers start treating it like a physical brick-and-mortar business. There is no registered "William Jackson Harper Electric Company" in the way fans might imagine. The Emmy-nominated actor is busy filming prestige dramas and Marvel movies, not wiring circuit breakers in a van.
Why people keep searching for William Jackson Harper Electric Company
The internet is a giant game of telephone. Sometimes, these specific search terms pop up because of a mismanaged database or a very specific, forgotten joke. In the case of the William Jackson Harper Electric Company, it’s a classic example of "digital ghosting."
Think about how Google works. It sees "William Jackson Harper" (the famous actor) and "Electric Company" (the iconic PBS children's show). Harper actually appeared in the 2009-2011 reboot of The Electric Company. He played Danny Rebus.
That's the connection.
People remember him from the show, or they see it on his IMDB page, and their brains—or more likely, a confused algorithm—mash the two together. Suddenly, the "Electric Company" isn't a TV show anymore; it's a business. This is how digital myths are born. One person types "William Jackson Harper Electric Company" into a search bar trying to find old clips of Danny Rebus, and a month later, there are auto-generated "business directory" pages trying to claim he’s an electrical contractor in Brooklyn or Cincinnati.
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It’s hilarious when you think about it. Imagine calling for an emergency repair and the guy who played the literal personification of moral philosophy anxiety shows up with a multimeter. You’d spend four hours debating the ethics of using non-copper wiring while your house burns down.
The Electric Company: Where the name actually comes from
To understand the confusion, you have to look back at the 2009 revival of the classic 70s show. This wasn't just some gig for Harper; it was a foundational part of his early career. He was Danny Rebus, the resident "rhyme master" and occasional antagonist of the group.
He was young. He had the energy.
The show focused on literacy and grammar, using "powers" to manipulate words. If you were a kid during that era, or a parent watching with your kids, William Jackson Harper was a staple of your morning routine long before he was a household name for his role as Chidi Anagonye.
- He worked alongside other future stars.
- The show won multiple Emmys.
- It used hip-hop and urban culture to teach phonics.
When fans search for the William Jackson Harper Electric Company, they are inadvertently searching for a piece of television history. The "Company" in the title referred to a group of friends with superpowers, not a commercial enterprise that installs ceiling fans.
Breaking down the actor's real-world business interests
Actors do have production companies. It's the standard move once you hit a certain level of fame. But they usually name them something abstract. Harper hasn't been vocal about running a massive conglomerate. He seems more focused on the craft—theater, indie films, and high-concept television.
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If there were a real William Jackson Harper Electric Company, it would likely be a loan-out corporation used for his acting contracts. Many actors set up LLCs to manage their earnings and expenses. However, these are almost never public-facing service businesses. They exist on paper in Delaware or California to handle taxes and legal liabilities.
The danger of "Scraper" content and fake business listings
We live in an era where AI and scrapers create "shell" information. You might find a website that looks like a legitimate business directory listing a phone number for the William Jackson Harper Electric Company.
Don't call it.
Usually, these sites pull a celebrity name and a past project title to create "fake" relevance. They want your clicks to serve you ads. It’s a messy part of the modern web. If you actually need an electrician, you’re better off looking at verified local tradespeople rather than chasing a nostalgic link to a PBS show.
- Check the source: If the website looks like it was designed in 2004, it’s a scraper.
- Verify the address: Most of these "celebrity businesses" list addresses that turn out to be post office boxes or random parking lots.
- Look for a license: Real electrical companies have to display a state license number. You won't find one for a fictional entity.
What William Jackson Harper is actually doing now
Instead of fixing wires, Harper is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. His trajectory from The Electric Company to The Good Place to The Underground Railroad is a masterclass in range.
He’s moved far beyond the "Danny Rebus" days. Recently, his involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Quaz in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania showed he can handle the big-budget spectacle just as well as the quiet, intellectual roles.
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There's a certain irony in people searching for him as a blue-collar service provider. He often plays characters who are overwhelmed by the physical world—men who would probably be terrified of a live wire.
How to find the real "Electric Company" episodes
If you're here because you actually wanted to see William Jackson Harper’s work on the show, you're in luck. Much of the 2009-2011 run is archived.
- Check PBS Kids' digital archives. They sometimes rotate old episodes of their legacy programming.
- Look on YouTube. There are massive repositories of "Danny Rebus" clips where you can see a young Harper performing educational rap songs.
- Streaming services. Occasionally, the show pops up on platforms like Amazon Prime or Apple TV for purchase.
It’s worth the watch. Not because of the electrical advice (there isn't any), but because you get to see the comedic timing of a brilliant actor before he became a global star.
Actionable steps for the confused consumer
If you ended up here because you were genuinely trying to hire an electrician and thought this was a quirky local business, here is how you actually find a pro:
- Use the search term "Licensed Electrician Near Me" instead of a celebrity name.
- Verify through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to ensure the company has a track record.
- Ask for a quote in writing. No legitimate company will give you a firm price over a celebrity fan forum.
- Check local trade boards. Every state has a database where you can look up a contractor's license by their name or business entity.
The William Jackson Harper Electric Company is a phantom of the internet—a mix of nostalgia, algorithmic confusion, and the lingering digital footprint of a great kid's show. It’s a funny story to tell at a party, but it won’t help you get your lights back on. Stick to the professionals for your home repairs and stick to Netflix or HBO if you want to see what Harper is actually building these days.
By understanding the difference between a TV credits list and a business registry, you save yourself a lot of time and a very confusing phone call. The next time you see a weirdly specific celebrity business name pop up, ask yourself if it sounds like a real job or a high-concept sitcom plot. Usually, it's the latter.
Next Steps for Research:
If you are interested in the actual history of the show, research the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) and their 2009 initiative to revitalize literacy through the Electric Company brand. For those looking for the actor's current projects, check the latest casting announcements for The Resort or his upcoming theater performances in New York, as he frequently returns to the stage. Verify any local business through your State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors to ensure you are hiring a licensed professional.