Terry Crews Recalls ‘Superstar’ TV Son Tyler James Williams’ ‘Beautiful Smile’ Years Before ‘Abbott Elementary’

Terry Crews is the proud father of former small screen son Tyler James Williams.

In a tribute written about Williams, who is one of this year’s TIME 100 Next honorees, American talent The host, 55, recalled working with Williams, now 30, when he starred Everyone hates Chris at the age of 13.

The former NFL pro recalled feeling “nervous” about his first television appearance in an early 2000s sitcom loosely based on Chris Rock’s youth in New York. According to Crews, he was warned that “the biggest obstacles on set are the kids and the animals,” so he knew whoever was cast to play the version Saturday night live alum “should be a superstar.”

Tyler James Williams on his star-studded childhood, from parents supporting Patti LaBelle to trashing studios

Jaimie Trueblood/CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

Future Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Crews also admitted in his essay that he, a father himself, is “concerned about the pressures kids face in Hollywood.”

“That’s when we had our first scenes together,” Crews wrote. “Tyler delivered his lines effortlessly and his comedic instincts were razor sharp. And when he finished his work, he flashed a big, beautiful smile.”

Rich Polk/NBC via Getty; Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

“That Tyler has grown into a brilliant talent is no surprise,” Crews continued. “I met him last year and told him how proud and grateful I was to work with someone who, at such a young age, carried the show. He gave me that smile.”

“There is nothing more difficult than going from a child star to an adult star, but Tyler has always been happy with himself, and that is why he will continue to shine,” he summed up.

Tyler James Williams on the Emmy red carpet recalled being a ‘very serious kid’ at age 4 on set

Crews and Williams starred Everyone hates Chris four seasons from 2005 to 2009. Since taking on the lead role, Williams began starring in the 2014 film Dear Whites and parts of the book in The walking dead and Criminal minds.

He consolidated his status as a leading man in 2021 whenAbbott Elementary School debuted and fans were introduced to his character Gregory Eddie. (Williams won a Golden Globe in 2023 and earned two Emmy nominations for the role).

Tyler James Williams. Frazer Harrison/Getty ‘Abbott Elementary’ star Tyler James Williams says he’s in the ‘F— It’ phase of his career

Back in March, Williams recalled how the producer on Everyone hates Chris he once told him, “I’ll never see you as anything else, and you’ll probably never work again.”

He said GQ“I was like, ‘Shit, you really just looked at me and said that.'” While Williams admitted the comment could have been a joke, he still took it to heart.

The actor added that he “realized pretty freaking quick” that young celebrities could be forced to play teenage roles all the time – an epiphany that allowed Williams to change his career path after Everyone hates Chris completed.

At 17, I realized that I didn’t like the path I was on, he explained. “So I decided to stop and turn around. I got a really good acting coach and I turned down everything that was offered to me.”

Even so, Williams said his time on the sitcom taught him an important lesson: “I learned how to run a show within two or three months. It’s the most useful information I’ve ever received in my life.”

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America’s Got Talent airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. Abbott Elementary School can be streamed on Hulu, Brooklyn Nine-Nine on the Peacock and Everyone hates Chris on Prime Video.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education