Years before gaining the coveted role of the younger Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, Tyler James Williams at age 4 appeared on "Sesame Street," as a series regular for several years. Later, he co-starred in Bill Cosby’s animated series "Little Bill," where he voiced the character of Bobby. Lately he was seen alongside Wilmer Valderrama in "Unaccompanied Minors."
Tyler talks to in ChiCity (Chicago) about meeting and working with Chris Rock, giving his all to volunteering and not portraying a negative image.
ICC: How is it working on the set of, ‘Everybody Hates Chris’?
Tyler: It’s great; it has been an amazing four years. We have all gotten to know each other, we are really tight and we know what we are doing now. We’re just pumping these episodes out.
ICC: What’s your favorite thing about playing Chris?
Tyler: The freedom that we have with it, we are not one of those shows that if it’s written you have to say everything that’s there. If we feel something isn’t working we will go to the writer or head writer and we might change something. We are not one of those stressful sets. It’s a laid back chill environment.
ICC: You have worked with Chris Rock personally. How has that experience been for you?
Tyler: It was fun. We had a good time. He knew what he was doing and I was on a solid level with the character. We were able to have a good time and be creative. I think if we had gone too hands on (with collaborating) there would have been no reality in the character.
ICC: Before “Everybody Hates Chris,’ what were some other acting roles that you had?
Tyler: I did quite a bit. I’m from New York, so I did a lot on the East Coast side. Law & Order, SNL, stuff like that. Stuff most people didn’t recognize me from until EHC.
ICC: How has it changed as far as fans and the public reaching out to you after EHC started?
Tyler: At first it was strange. Coming from New York nobody just stares at you and doesn’t say something. At first I had my ‘what you looking at’ face going and then I had to realize why they were looking and it was because they were recognizing the show. It took about a year and a half before I got used to it and now it’s things that just happen commonly during the day.
ICC: You started young on Sesame Street and Lil Bill. How has growing up on screen been for you?
Tyler: It has been interesting that me and the kids on the show (EHC) went through puberty on television. So we have the documents where we can go back and we can see what we were going through. It’s been strange; we let people in our lives to see this interesting stage of our lives. If you go back to the first season and see what everyone looked like and sounded like then and you come to now it’s a big difference. It’s great that we have that record to go back and laugh at ourselves.
ICC: Do you have any upcoming projects?
Tyler: The show is our main priority. There are some things going on but nothing official that I can come out with. Just keep looking.
ICC: Being so young, in ten years where do you want to be as far as your career?
Tyler: Acting is one of my first loves and since being on the show I have noticed that I want to be behind the camera. In ten years, I want to produce work that allows me to help someone’s career who came from a place like I did or even at the age I did.
ICC: How do you separate your job from real life?
Tyler: Sometimes it’s hard because it’s so much a part of it. It’s changed over the course of the past four years. Before the show I could go out and do whatever. Now I have to go out and be mindful that there are people watching and looking. It’s not where it’s crazy that I can’t be normal. This is now my reality; I have to be accountable and consistently reminded that I am a role model for different people. Separating is a small light line. A minute ago I was acting, now five minutes later I am just me. I have put so much of myself into the character it is easy to cross that line.
ICC: Are you involved with any charities?
Tyler: Most of the things I am getting involved in are things that don’t involve the press. A lot of times, they will have you show up to a site to hammer a nail and take a picture. I like to do something where I am hands on and I can help. I work with the Los Angeles Dream Center. I went over to the facility and saw what they were doing and decided how can I be apart of this. When the press is involved it becomes this affair that everyone wants to do so they can get their picture taken. That’s not what I’m here for.
ICC: At the end of the day, who is Tyler?
Tyler: On camera or out on the scene it’s Tyler James Williams. My family and the people who know me, when I’m most myself and laid back its Ty. Ty is laid back; I don’t talk a lot, and I’m a chill kind of guy.