‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Is Jesse Williams the Only Cast Member Who’s Won an Oscar?
Actor Jesse Williams stars in the popular medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. However, he’s also been involved in many other projects, both in front of and behind the camera. In 2021, a film he worked on won an Oscar. Have any of his fellow main cast members ever won at the Academy Awards?
Jesse Williams stars in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
Williams portrays Jackson Avery in Grey’s Anatomy. He joined the cast in season 6 when Seattle Grace and Mercy West combined into one hospital. Jackson begins the series as a resident, taking an interest in plastic surgery while working under Mark Sloan. The character comes from a wealthy family.
Before Grey’s Anatomy, Williams appeared in a recurring capacity in TV shows like Beyond the Break and Greek. He also appeared in the teen dramedy film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. However, Jackson Avery remains the role he’s best known for due to his many seasons on the show.
He’s also a director and producer
Williams has held down multiple job titles throughout his life. He was a teacher, a model, and, of course, now an actor. However, since entering show business, he’s picked up gigs working behind the camera. Williams even directed a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and one of showrunner Krista Vernoff’s newest ABC show, Rebel.
Additionally, the actor’s been working as a producer for several years. He executive produced documentaries such as Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement, Survivors Guide To Prison, and With Drawn Arms. Williams is also producing and starring in the upcoming crime comedy Team Joy.
Williams produced ‘Two Distant Strangers’
Among Williams’ other producing projects is the short film Two Distant Strangers. Written and directed by Travon Free, the project stars Joey Bada$$ as Carter, a man who finds himself in a time loop that always ends with his death at the hands of a New York City police officer. The film reflects many popularized deaths of Black people by the cops, such as George Floyd.
Two Distant Strangers received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live-Action Short Film. It won, and Free and co-director Martin Desmond Roe accepted the award. Williams celebrated by sharing several stories in his Instagram Stories and attending an afterparty with others who worked on the project.
No other ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ leads have won Oscars
Williams is just one of many lead actors on Grey’s Anatomy. And over the years, several of them have won awards, both for the show and for other projects. Interestingly, only one lead cast member has ever won an Emmy for acting in Grey’s Anatomy: Katherine Heigl. The following year, she famously took her name out of the running for the award.
Other actors from the show have won at the Emmys and the Golden Globes for TV. Sandra Oh won two Golden Globes, one for Grey’s and another for Killing Eve. Ellen Pompeo also won a Golden Globe for Grey’s.
