Everything You Need to Know About Actor-Activist Jesse Williams

At the tail end of June, Grey’s Anatomy veteran Jesse Williams was invited to the BET Awards, to accept its annual Humanitarian Award. The high profile human rights activist used his brief time on the stage to drop a rapid series of truth bombs that are still echoing several weeks later. Addressing the recent rash of police brutality cases that seem to have dominated the news of late, Williams addressed the issue with an eloquence and passion that’s been sorely lacking from public figures. The documentarian put simply an issue that has plagued the nation for some time. It was a call to action that was mirrored throughout social media, elevating Williams into the public eye in a way he’s never been viewed before. Here are some things you might not know about the actor/ activist.

1. The BET Awards Wasn’t His First Rodeo

Jesse Williams is active in the battle for human rights for people of every color. Not only is he involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, he’s also got a web site devoted to allowing black men of all ages and backgrounds answer questions about American life. The goal is to allow an exchange of information to help overcome intolerance. In addition, he’s also on the board of the Advancement Project, a multiracial civil rights organization and has recently produced and starred in the documentary Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement.

2. Meet Aryn Drake-Lee

Jesse Williams’ wife is a real estate broker working for prestigious real estate firm Brown Harris Stevens. Williams actually met his wife when he was a teacher in Philadelphia; he takes pride in knowing that his wife has been with him throughout his entire adult life and every “facet of his career”. The happy couple are also parents to two children, Maceo and Sadie.

3. He’s Not a Fan of Tyler Perry

You know, as much as Williams is an activist, he’s also an artist. So, though he’s publicly acknowledged his admiration for Tyler Perry’s independence and the director’s commitment to the black community, he’d also prefer that you not talk to him about the auteur’s rather hackneyed body of creative work.