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Evan Williams (actor)

Evan Williams
Williams at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival
Born (1985-03-11) March 11, 1985 (age 39)
OccupationActor
Years active2006–present

Evan Martin Williams[1] (born March 11, 1985) is a Canadian actor. He made his screen debut playing secondary role in the 2006 dance drama film Save the Last Dance 2 before starring as Kelly Ashoona in the CTV teen drama series, Degrassi: The Next Generation (2008–2009). From 2015 to 2018 he starred as Chevalier de Lorraine in the historical drama series, Versailles. In 2023 he began starring as Elliot Augustine in the Hallmark Channel drama series, The Way Home.

Early life

Williams was born in Swan Hills, Alberta,[2] but raised in Calgary, Alberta.[2] He is a graduate of Henry Wise Wood Senior High School,[2] and studied theatre at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University).[2] He joined the Summerstock Conservatory, where he received the Phyllis Pope Award for Best Performance for playing the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof in 2004, before moving to Toronto to begin his film and television career.[3]

Career

Williams made his screen debut playing a minor role in the 2006 dance drama film Save the Last Dance 2 and later that year appeared in the made-for-television movie The House Next Door. After guest-starring appearances in television series Instant Star, Urban Legends and The Border, he gained his first major role as Kelly Ashoona in the teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2008 to 2009.[2] From 2010 to 2011 he starred as Baxter McNab in the teen sitcom Baxter.[2] Later in 2011, Williams played the leading role in the comedy film, Lloyd the Conqueror.[4] He later appeared in films Ride (2014), Fishing Naked (2015), Farhope Tower (2015) and played the lead in the Escape Room (2017).[5] On television, Williams had a recurring role as Luke in the MTV series Awkward (2014–16)[6]

From 2015 to 2018, Williams starred as Philippe, Chevalier de Lorraine in the historical drama series, Versailles[7][8] a role that gained him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series.[9] He later made guest-starring appearances in The Rookie, Fuller House and Into the Dark. In 2020, Williams starred opposite Natalie Hall in the Netflix romantic comedy film, Midnight at the Magnolia.[10] In 2021 he starred opposite Katie Lowes in the made-for-television movie, Christmas Takes Flight.[11] The following year, Williams played Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr. in the biographical film, Blonde.[12] Also in 2022 he played Meriwether Lewis in Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis.[13] In 2023 he began starring as Elliot Augustine in the Hallmark Channel drama series, The Way Home.[14][15]

Personal life

Williams has worked with the charity buildOn to help build schools in impoverished areas,[2][8] as well as with Free the Children in Ecuador and India.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Save the Last Dance 2 Shane Direct-to-video
2010 A Flesh Offering Joe
2011 Lloyd the Conqueror Lloyd
2011 Trust Me Todd Short film
2013 The Fortune Theory Morris Swann
2014 Garden of Eden Ben
2014 Fishing Naked Rodney
2014 Ride Brad
2015 Visitors Parking[16] Peter Short film
2015 Farhope Tower Andre
2016 Paradise Club Ben
2017 Escape Room[17] Tyler
2020 Midnight at the Magnolia Jack
2022 Blonde Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr. Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
2022 Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis
TBA 1 Million Followers[18] Jack Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 The House Next Door Toby Television film
2007 Instant Star Cute boy Episode: "Like a Virgin"
2007 Urban Legends Episode: "The Dark Side"
2008 The Border Matt Sharpe Episode: "Family Values"
2008–2009 Degrassi: The Next Generation Kelly Ashoona 7 episodes
2009 Grey Gardens Young banker Television film
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood Kelly Ashoona Television film
2009 The National Tree Rock Burdock Television film
2009 Being Erica Robin Episode: "A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt"
2010 Murdoch Mysteries Jake the Magician Episode: "Blood and Circuses"
2010 On Strike for Christmas Mark Robertson Television film
2010–2011 Baxter Baxter McNab Main cast
2011 Victorious Shawn Becker Episode: "Tori Tortures Teacher"
2014–2016 Awkward Luke Recurring role, 19 episodes
2015–2018 Versailles Chevalier de Lorraine Main cast
2019 The Rookie Camel Episode: "Homefront"
2019 Fuller House Corey Episode: "Five Dates with Kimmy Gibbler"
2019 A Date By Christmas Eve Fisher Dougherty Television film
2021 Into the Dark Grant Episode: "Tentacles"
2021 Liza on Demand Sheraton Episode: "Beach People"
2021 Christmas Takes Flight Matt Hansen Television film
2022 Westworld Jack Episode: "Zhuangzi"
2023–present The Way Home Elliot Augustine Main role

References

  1. ^ "Evan Martin Williams' official Soundcloud page". Soundcloud. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Calgary actor Evan Williams having fun in the debauched court of King Louis XIV". Calgary Herald. September 18, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Volmers, Eric (November 4, 2010). "Former Calgarian conquering the acting world". Calgary Herald. p. 70.
  4. ^ "Lloyd the Conqueror | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  5. ^ "Escape Room | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  6. ^ "Interview: Evan Williams Gets In Royal Trouble In 'Versailles'". Hidden Remote. September 29, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Evan Williams tells us about playing one half of the gay power couple at the centre of Versailles - Gay Times". Gay Times. July 6, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Exclusive Interview with Versailles' Evan Williams". TalkNerdyWithUs. November 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "2017 TV Nominees - Academy.ca". Academy.ca. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  10. ^ "Midnight at the Magnolia Netflix Cast: Meet Natalie Hall and Evan Williams". November 5, 2020.
  11. ^ Wang, K. L. Connie (December 17, 2021). "Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy! Katie Lowes Makes the Skies a Little Friendlier in Christmas Takes Flight". Parade.
  12. ^ "Blonde | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  13. ^ "Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  14. ^ Rice, Lynette (August 23, 2022). "'The Way Home': Evan Williams Cast In Hallmark Channel Series".
  15. ^ "Evan Williams as Elliot Augustine". www.hallmarkchannel.com.
  16. ^ "Visitors Parking". Retina Cam Productions. October 24, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Escape Room, retrieved February 4, 2019
  18. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Voltage boards thriller '1 Million Followers' for TIFF sales (exclusive)". Screen.