Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams can recall the exact moment he knew he wanted to be an actor.
In a recent interview with the New York Times, the former child star opened up about his career leading up to AbbottElementary, where he plays Gregory Eddie, a first-grade teacher. The popular Hulu TV series, which also stars Quinta Brunson, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James, follows a group of dedicated, passionate elementary school teachers who find themselves thrown together in an underfunded Philadelphia public school system. Despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life.
“Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift” – The Abbott teachers turn their open house into a carwash to help raise money for the school.
Williams was born and raised in Yonkers, a city north of Manhattan. His parents were not in the entertainment industry at all, and he did not know any actors. But at four years old, he saw Will Smith’s 1997 film, Men in Black, which immediately hooked him and sparked his interest in acting.
Starring Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, Men in Black follows two secret agents who monitor and police extraterrestrials. The film is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and is based on a script written by Ed Solomon, which was adapted from the Marvel Comics series The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham. In the movie, Agent K (Jones) and Agent J (Smith) investigate a series of seemingly unrelated criminal incidents related to the extraterrestrials who live in secret on Earth.
“I can’t even really fully explain it,” Williams told the New York Times. “It’s one of the biggest moments of clarity I’ve ever had, and it’s at 4.”
Soon after, Williams was on Sesame Street from 2000 to 2005. He was surrounded by other child actors and adults who were experts in what children needed on a set, which he wishes “every child actor could start there.”
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones aiming their weapons towards the sky in a scene from the film ‘Men In Black’, 1997.
Then, when he was 12 years old, Williams starred in the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, a show that originally aired on UPN and was based on the early life of the comedian Chris Rock. Afterthe series ended in 2009, the 33-year-old successfully appeared in a range of television roles, including guest spots on House, Go On and Criminal Minds, before landing a major role as Noah on The Walking Dead. Williams also showcased his musical talent in the Disney Channel movie Let It Shine, which introduced him to a new generation of fans.
In 2021, he began playing Gregory in ABC’s mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, which skyrocketed his career. The next year, Williams earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the role.
The fifth season of Abbott Elementary premiered earlier this month, and new episodes will be released weekly on ABC. The sitcom can also be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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