Billy Sly Williams began his acting career in his native New York, landing his first major role as a guest star on "The Cosby Show". He initially studied with William Hickey, Earl Hyman, and Uta Hagen at HB Studios before joining the New Federal Theater, founded by Woody King Jr. Williams continued his studies with Ron Stetson, delving into the challenging Sanford Meisner technique. He completed his Meisner studies in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Janet Alhanti.
Williams started his career with momentum, appearing in numerous guest roles on hit series such as "Family Matters", "Charles In Charge", "Doogie Howser, M.D.", "Beverly Hills, 90210", "Jag", "Martin", "NYPD Blue", "The Practice", "Living Single", "Moesha", "Walker, Texas Ranger", "The Steve Harvey Show", "Judging Amy", "Wanda at Large", "Dollhouse", "The Cleaner", and "Love That Girl", among others. He also has a long list of commercial appearances, which he enjoys due to the challenge of creating a beginning, middle, and end within a short 15-30 second segment.
Williams transitioned to feature films with a role in "Predator 2" and booked several other studio films subsequently. He then landed an independent film in India, his first time abroad and a significant experience. During filming, he met writer, producer, and director Stephen David Brooks, with whom he collaborated on several projects, including the multi-award-winning film "Heads N' Tailz". Williams was instrumental in getting Brooks' feature film debut off the ground and valued his stylized approach to filmmaking.
Williams's presence in the independent filmmaking realm continued to flourish, with collaborations with Paul D. Hannah, including projects such as "The Marriage Chronicles", "The Last Letter", "The Cheater's Club", "My Sister's Wedding", and "4Play". To date, Williams has been in over 30 feature films and has not abandoned the small screen, with his most recent appearance on the hit series "Californication". He can also be seen in various commercials, television series, feature films, and behind-the-scenes producing.
