JD Williams

Darnell “J.D.” Williams, born on May 22, 1978, in Newark, New Jersey, is an American actor. He attended Newark Arts High School, a performing arts public school in his hometown. Williams began his acting career with early appearances in television, including a guest role in “New York Undercover” in 1997. His initial work included portraying a biracial 15-year-old in the play “A.M. Sunday” in late 2003, which addressed themes of racism and infidelity.

Williams gained wider recognition for his recurring role as Kenny Wangler in the HBO series “Oz” from 1997 to 2000. He solidified his presence in television with his performance as Bodie Broadus in the critically acclaimed HBO drama “The Wire,” appearing from 2002 to 2006. In preparation for this role, Williams engaged in methods such as walking through Baltimore’s inner city at night to gain insight into his character’s environment. His film credits include “Pootie Tang” (2001) as Froggy, “Surviving Family” (2012) as Bobby, and “Blood Brother” (2018) as Kayvon. He also appeared in a commercial for the American Cancer Association in 2000, focusing on youth smoking prevention.

His career also includes numerous guest and recurring roles in other television series such as “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order,” “Sex and the City,” “The Good Wife,” “Manifest,” and “BMF.” A significant turnaround in his career involved transitioning from frequently playing violent, troubled drug dealers to more diverse roles, seeking to avoid typecasting. He has also made a number of cameos in R&B and hip-hop music videos throughout the 2000s, often portraying characters similar to his on-screen roles or appearing as himself. Furthermore, he played a delivery man in a FedEx commercial.