Daily Inspiration: Meet Roy Williams, Jr.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roy Williams, Jr.

Hi Roy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
While working at the Nike outlet store as a late teenager in Sandestin, FL, I was approached by a producer to audition for a play called Hollywood Comes to the Emerald Coast. The audition went well and I booked a small role in the play, and at that point, I learned this is what I was supposed to do.

A few years later, I moved to Orlando to study film and television at Full Sail. After graduation, I continued my acting regionally, booking independent films, television, commercials, and print work.

I landed representation in Los Angeles in October 2012 and was asked to move to LA within the year. My wife and I decided to move cross-country so I could pursue my passion and relocated to the area a year later in October 2013, almost to the date of my manager’s request.

Since then, I’ve been worked on various network, streaming, and cable TV shows like Black-ish (ABC), The Act (Hulu), The Bold and The Beautiful (CBS), Dad Stop Embarrassing Me (Netflix), and Being Mary Jane (BET).

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think a smooth road in this industry is the exception, not the rule. I think we all have bumps in the road and some potholes too. The same with most actors, the development of thick skin to all of the rejections we receive is painful but if you can push through, there is a reward on the other end. Acting, along with many other jobs in entertainment, is a marathon – not a sprint. When it gets tough, I remember an interview with Sterling K. Brown where he describes himself as a “journeyman actor,” meaning he continued to work on his craft day after day, honing his skills, believing that his time would come.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a working actor in Los Angeles, CA, specializing in film & television.

While I am proud of the projects I’ve had the opportunity to work on so far in my career, I’m most proud of my family. Being a father and a husband are truly my greatest achievements and the source of my daily motivation not just for my career but for my life. And I feel like that’s what sets me apart from others, having my family to lean on and support me helps me get through the tough times I experience in this profession.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, and I think all of us have at some level.

I learned how to make fun at home for weeks at a time so my girls didn’t feel like they were missing out. I learned to balance work/home with my wife as she started to work from home due to the pandemic. It was the most time we had spent together as we typically have juggling schedules, so while it was tough, it was amazing at the same time. And, I am grateful my family is safe, healthy and now my wife and I are fully vaccinated.

When it comes to my profession, when the jobs stopped due to the pandemic, it was an opportunity for me to push myself and develop my own content. I filmed a short film based on the James Baldwin poem, I Too, after the murder of George Floyd that is very personal to me. The film has been selected to screen at five film festivals internationally. I also threw myself into filming timely monologues that are very personal to me. I also hosted a LIVE where actors could come and share monologues or scenes they prepared to continue to practice and perform for others. Like water, we find a different path forward when something is blocking the way.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.roywilliamsjr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamroywilliamsjr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actorroywilliamsjr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/roywilliamsjr

Image Credits:
Headshots/Editorial: Matt Kallish Roy Williams Jr. with Anthony Mackie (Solos) Roy Williams Jr. with Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) Roy Williams Jr. with Porscha Coleman (Dad Stop Embarrassing Me)