Evan Williams (actor)

Evan Martin Williams (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, but raised in Calgary, Alberta. He is a graduate of Henry Wise Wood Senior High School, and studied theatre at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). 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.

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. From 2010 to 2011 he starred as Baxter McNab in the teen sitcom Baxter. Later in 2011, Williams played the leading role in the comedy film, Lloyd the Conqueror. He later appeared in films Ride (2014), Fishing Naked (2015), Farhope Tower (2015) and played the lead in the Escape Room (2017). On television, Williams had a recurring role as Luke in the MTV series Awkward (2014–16)

From 2015 to 2018, Williams starred as Philippe, Chevalier de Lorraine in the historical drama series, Versailles 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. 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. In 2021 he starred opposite Katie Lowes in the made-for-television movie, Christmas Takes Flight. The following year, Williams played Edward "Eddy" G. Robinson Jr. in the biographical film, Blonde. Also in 2022 he played Meriwether Lewis in Mysterious Circumstance: The Death of Meriwether Lewis. In 2023 he began starring as Elliot Augustine in the Hallmark Channel drama series, The Way Home.

Personal life
Williams has worked with the charity buildOn to help build schools in impoverished areas, as well as with Free the Children in Ecuador and India.