After leaving Philly to hone his acting chops in New York City, the Temple grad paid the bills by working at law firms and tending bar. His tenacity paid off, landing him roles in off-Broadway plays as well as films such as Brooklyn’s Finest and the upcoming thriller The Cabin in the Woods. But nothing has prepared him for his newest role as Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey’s Anatomy. While he acknowledges that his life is about to change—“I’m a low-profile kind of guy, but it appears that there’s a bit of inevitability about fame with this show,” Williams says—he is determined to keep some perspective. “I don’t know how one prepares for mainstream success,” he muses. “What I care about is not getting stagnant—to be able to constantly tell new stories through my acting.”