{{short description|Canadian actor (born 1985)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Evan Williams | image = Evan Williams (actor).jpg | caption = Williams at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|03|11}} | birth_place = Swan Hills, Alberta, Canada | occupation = Actor | years_active = 2004–present }}
'''Evan Martin Williams'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Evan Martin Williams' official Soundcloud page|url=https://soundcloud.com/evanmartinwilliams|website=Soundcloud|accessdate=July 3, 2017|date=}}</ref> (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,<ref name=calgary>{{cite web|title=Calgary actor Evan Williams having fun in the debauched court of King Louis XIV|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/television/calgary-actor-evan-williams-having-fun-in-the-debauched-court-of-king-louis-xiv|website=Calgary Herald|accessdate=January 18, 2017|date=September 18, 2016}}</ref> but raised in Calgary, Alberta.<ref name=calgary /> He is a graduate of Henry Wise Wood Senior High School,<ref name=calgary /> and studied theatre at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University).<ref name=calgary /> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Volmers |first=Eric |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Former Calgarian conquering the acting world |pages=70 |work=Calgary Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/488234094/}}</ref>
==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.<ref name=calgary /> From 2010 to 2011 he starred as Baxter McNab in the teen sitcom ''Baxter''.<ref name=calgary /> Later in 2011, Williams played the leading role in the comedy film, ''Lloyd the Conqueror''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lloyd_the_conqueror|title=Lloyd the Conqueror | Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> He later appeared in films ''Ride'' (2014), ''Fishing Naked'' (2015), ''Farhope Tower'' (2015) and played the lead in the ''Escape Room'' (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/escape_room|title=Escape Room | Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> On television, Williams had a recurring role as Luke in the MTV series ''Awkward'' (2014–16)<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Evan Williams Gets In Royal Trouble In 'Versailles'|url=http://hiddenremote.com/2016/09/29/interview-evan-williams-gets-in-royal-trouble-in-versailles/|website=Hidden Remote|accessdate=January 18, 2017|date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>
From 2015 to 2018, Williams starred as Philippe, Chevalier de Lorraine in the historical drama series, ''Versailles''<ref>{{cite web|title=Evan Williams tells us about playing one half of the gay power couple at the centre of Versailles - Gay Times|url=http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/41652/versailles/|website=Gay Times|accessdate=January 18, 2017|date=July 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name=nerdy>{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview with Versailles' Evan Williams|url=http://talknerdywithus.com/2016/11/12/exclusive-interview-with-versailles-evan-williams/|website=TalkNerdyWithUs|accessdate=January 18, 2017|date=November 12, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018012647/http://talknerdywithus.com/2016/11/12/exclusive-interview-with-versailles-evan-williams/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 TV Nominees - Academy.ca|url=http://www.academy.ca/category/2017-tv-nominees/|website=Academy.ca|accessdate=January 18, 2017}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://decider.com/2020/11/05/midnight-at-the-magnolia-netflix-cast/|title=Midnight at the Magnolia Netflix Cast: Meet Natalie Hall and Evan Williams|date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> In 2021 he starred opposite Katie Lowes in the made-for-television movie, ''Christmas Takes Flight''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://parade.com/1294156/klconniewang/christmas-takes-flight-cbs/|title=Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy! Katie Lowes Makes the Skies a Little Friendlier in Christmas Takes Flight|first=K. L. Connie|last=Wang|date=December 17, 2021|website=Parade}}</ref> The following year, Williams played Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr. in the biographical film, ''Blonde''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blonde|title=Blonde | Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> Also in 2022 he played Meriwether Lewis in ''Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mysterious_circumstance_the_death_of_meriwether_lewis|title=Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis | Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> In 2023 he began starring as Elliot Augustine in the Hallmark Channel drama series, ''The Way Home''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/the-way-home-for-hallmark-channel-evan-williams-1235098358/|title='The Way Home': Evan Williams Cast In Hallmark Channel Series|first=Lynette|last=Rice|date=August 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/the-way-home/cast/evan-williams | title=Evan Williams as Elliot Augustine | website=www.hallmarkchannel.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Williams has worked with the charity buildOn to help build schools in impoverished areas,<ref name=calgary /><ref name=nerdy /> as well as with Free the Children in Ecuador and India.<ref name=":0" />
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2006 | ''Save the Last Dance 2'' | Shane | Direct-to-video |- | 2010 | ''{{sortname|A|Flesh Offering|nolink=1}}'' | Joe | |- | rowspan="2" |2011 | ''Lloyd the Conqueror'' | Lloyd | |- | ''Trust Me'' | Todd | Short film |- | 2013 | ''{{sortname|The|Fortune Theory|nolink=1}}'' | Morris Swann | |- | rowspan="3" |2014 | ''Garden of Eden'' | Ben | |- | ''Fishing Naked'' | Rodney | |- | ''Ride'' | Brad | |- | rowspan="2" |2015 | ''Visitors Parking''<ref>{{cite web|title=Visitors Parking|url=https://vimeo.com/188760019|website=Retina Cam Productions|accessdate=June 18, 2017|date=October 24, 2016}}</ref> | Peter | Short film |- | ''Farhope Tower'' | Andre | |- | 2016 | ''Paradise Club'' | Ben | |- | 2017 | ''Escape Room''<ref>{{Citation|title=Escape Room|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5159414/|access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref> | Tyler | |- | 2020 | ''Midnight at the Magnolia'' | Jack | |- | rowspan=2| 2022 |''Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis'' |Meriwether Lewis |Won - Oniros Film Award for Best Actor |- |''Blonde'' |Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr. |Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor |- |2024 |''1 Million Followers''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/voltage-boards-thriller-1-million-followers-for-tiff-sales-exclusive/5185400.article|title=Voltage boards thriller '1 Million Followers' for TIFF sales (exclusive)|first=Jeremy|last=Kay | website=Screen}}</ref> |Jack | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2006 | data-sort-value="House Next Door, The" | ''The House Next Door'' | Toby | Television film |- | rowspan="2" | 2007 | ''Instant Star'' | Cute boy | Episode: "Like a Virgin" |- | ''Urban Legends'' | {{n/a}} | Episode: "The Dark Side" |- | 2008 | ''{{sortname|The|Border|dab=TV series}}'' | Matt Sharpe | Episode: "Family Values" |- | 2008–2009 | ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' | Kelly Ashoona | 11 episodes |- | rowspan="4" | 2009 | ''Grey Gardens'' | Young banker | Television film |- | ''Degrassi Goes Hollywood'' | Kelly Ashoona | Television film |- | ''{{sortname|The|National Tree}}'' | Rock Burdock | Television film |- | ''Being Erica'' | Robin | Episode: "A River Runs Through It... It Being Egypt" |- | rowspan="2" | 2010 | ''Murdoch Mysteries'' | Jake the Magician | Episode: "Blood and Circuses" |- | ''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<br> Nominated - Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series |- | rowspan="3" | 2019 | data-sort-value="Rookie, The" | ''The Rookie'' | Camel | Episode: "Homefront" |- | ''Fuller House'' | Corey | Episode: "Five Dates with Kimmy Gibbler" |- | data-sort-value="Date By Christmas Eve, A" | ''A Date By Christmas Eve'' | Fisher Dougherty | Television film |- | rowspan="3" | 2021 | ''Into the Dark'' | Grant | Episode: "Tentacles" |- | ''Liza on Demand'' | Sheraton | Episode: "Beach People" |- | ''Christmas Takes Flight'' | Matt Hansen | Television film |- | 2022 | ''Westworld'' | Jack | Episode: "Zhuangzi" |- | 2023–2026 | data-sort-value="Way Home, The" | ''The Way Home'' | Elliot Augustine | Main role |}
==Theatre== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Title ! Author ! Role ! Director ! class="unsortable" | Theatre |- | align="center"| 2004 ! scope="row" | ''Fiddler On the Roof'' | Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Joseph Stein | Rabbi | | Summerstock Conservatory |- | align="center"| 2006 ! scope="row" | ''Escape From Grace'' | | Julian | Beth Helmers | Toronto Fringe Festival |- | align="center"| 2007 ! scope="row" | ''Measure For Measure'' | William Shakespeare | Lucio | Michael Waller | Ryerson Theatre School |- | align="center"| 2009 ! scope="row" | ''Cowboys'' | Sam Shepard | Chet / Clem | Steven McCarthy | Candles Are For Burning Co-op |- | align="center"| 2009 ! scope="row" | ''Cowboys #2'' | Sam Shepard | Chet | Steven McCarthy | Candles Are For Burning Co-op |}
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Award ! scope="col"|Category ! scope="col"|Project ! scope="col"|Result |- | 2004 || Phyllis Pope Award || Best Performance || ''Fiddler On the Roof'' || {{won}} |- | 2017 || Canadian Screen Awards || Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Program or Series || ''Versailles'' || {{nom}} |- | 2021 || International Sound Awards || Best Music Video || ''Bright World: Little Man'' || {{won}} |- | rowspan="2" |2022 || Oniros Film Awards New York || Best Actor || rowspan="2" |''Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis'' || {{won}} |- | RED Movie Awards Spring Edition || Best Actor || {{nom}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Evan}} Category:1985 births Category:21st-century Canadian male actors Category:Canadian male film actors Category:Canadian male television actors Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Alberta Category:Male actors from Calgary Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni