Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by Successful Black Parenting Staff
Key Takeaways for Black Parents
- Support Positive Representation: Seek out films and series that feature Black fathers in multidimensional roles that reflect real family dynamics.
- Model Perseverance: Share stories like Williams’s move from corporate roles to creative entrepreneurship to demonstrate persistence.
- Celebrate Blended Families: Recognize the value of co-parenting and blended-home unity by supporting media that portrays these family structures authentically.
5-minute read
Authentic Black fatherhood rarely gets the screen time it deserves. This profile of actor, writer, and producer Anthony E. Williams looks at how his work, from the award-winning pilot F.A.M. to his role in Tyler Perry’s Straw, puts loving, present Black dads and blended families at the center of the story.
In an entertainment industry where nuanced portrayals of Black fathers remain uncommon, actor, writer, and producer Anthony E. Williams is forging a new path. Known for his award-winning pilot, F.A.M., and recent film role in Tyler Perry’s Netflix feature Straw, Williams uses his platform to highlight blended families of color and positive images of Black fatherhood. In an upcoming BACKtalk interview for Successful Black Parenting Magazine, he will discuss his journey from corporate America into creative media, share insights about representing Black fathers on screen, and explore how perseverance has shaped his career.
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From Corporate Roles to Creative Visionary
Anthony E. Williams was born and raised in Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from UNC Charlotte and a master’s in business from the University of Houston. During that time, he taught himself electrical engineering while holding high-level sales positions at companies such as PepsiCo, Firestone, and Whirlpool. Despite a stable corporate career, Williams felt drawn to pursue acting. In 2020, he left his corporate roles and fully committed to performance. Over the next sixteen months, he booked eight television and film projects, which is remarkable for someone with no prior screen credits.
Williams’s entry into writing and producing originated with WMZ Entertainment, the production company he founded. Under that banner, he wrote, produced, and starred in the dramedy pilot F.A.M., which centers on a blended Black family navigating fatherhood and relationship dynamics. Inspired by his own experience as a father in a blended home, the series earned fifteen award nominations at festivals, including SeriesFest and Southern Shorts Awards, with Williams winning best actor honors in multiple categories. The success of F.A.M. validated his conviction that authentic stories about Black fathers were overdue in mainstream media.
Elevating Blended Families of Color
Throughout his career, Williams has emphasized the importance of representation, especially when it comes to blended families of color. In F.A.M., he foregrounded co-parenting challenges, step relationships, and everyday moments that Black fathers and their children experience. By focusing on a blended family, F.A.M. addresses realities that are often overlooked or minimized on television. Viewers see characters who work through custody schedules, merge different household routines, and prioritize communication among all caregivers. Williams’s goal is to offer a fuller picture of Black fatherhood, one that reflects both joy and complexity.
A Role in Tyler Perry’s Straw
Anthony’s work with Tyler Perry emerged after numerous auditions. After twenty-six audition attempts, he finally secured a recurring role on the Nickelodeon series Young Dylan. He subsequently appeared in BET’s Sistas, NBC’s The Blacklist, Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and NBC’s New Amsterdam. In 2025, Williams appeared opposite Teyana Taylor and Taraji P. Henson as Officer Dickson in Tyler Perry’s Netflix film Straw, released on June 6, 2025. The storyline places his character at the center of a bank emergency scene, offering a police perspective within an ensemble cast.
With each new credit, Williams has expanded his professional range. His transition from corporate sales to film sets reflects a commitment to resilience and hard work. His continued appearances, most recently on The Equalizer alongside Queen Latifah, demonstrate both versatility and a growing presence in Hollywood.
Preview of the BACKtalk Interview
In the BACKtalk episode with Janice Robinson-Celeste, Williams introduces himself and shares details about his upbringing in Ohio, his academic achievements, and his decision to pivot into entertainment. He addresses why positive images of Black fathers matter, especially for children who rarely see blended families of color represented on screen. Key discussion points included:
- Fatherhood and Family Values: Williams reflects on his role as a father in a blended household, discussing what drives him to create stories that resonate with children and parents alike.
- Creative Process Behind F.A.M.: He describes how his own experiences informed the pilot’s storyline and the importance of centering Black blended families.
- Resilience and Perseverance: Anthony shares how his corporate background at PepsiCo, Firestone, and Whirlpool instilled a work ethic that supports his life as a creative entrepreneur and father.
- Future Projects: Williams offers a glimpse into upcoming WMZ Entertainment initiatives, including a possible second season of F.A.M. and feature-film concepts exploring multigenerational Black family dynamics.
Listeners will walk away with a clear understanding of Anthony’s journey from the boardroom to the writer’s room and learn why he believes authentic representation can empower Black parents and children. His story exemplifies how passion, persistence, and a commitment to family values can lead to meaningful change both on and off screen.
Why This Matters for Successful Black Parenting
Successful Black Parenting Magazine is dedicated to highlighting role models who uplift Black families through authentic storytelling and practical insights. Anthony E. Williams’s work aligns perfectly with this mission. By creating narratives that reflect real-world challenges and triumphs of blended Black families, Williams provides viewers and parents concrete examples of fatherhood marked by love, accountability, and resilience. His transition from a corporate career to building a production company serves as an inspiration for parents striving to balance professional ambition with family commitment.
By spotlighting Anthony E. Williams’s journey and interview, Successful Black Parenting underscores the importance of visible, positive examples of Black fatherhood, offering encouragement and guidance to families who want to see themselves reflected on screen and in the world.
What Authentic Black Fatherhood Looks Like at Home
Stories like Williams’s matter because children learn what a family can look like from what they see every day, on screen and at home. Authentic Black fatherhood is not one single image. It can be a dad who handles school drop-off, a stepdad who never misses practice, or a father who co-parents from across town with patience and consistency.
Blending a family takes time. The American Psychological Association shares research-based guidance for stepfamilies, including how stepparents can build trust with children gradually. Here are a few ways to support fathers and father figures in a blended home:
- Give each adult a clear, agreed role. Decide together who handles discipline, school communication, and bedtime so children are not caught in the middle.
- Protect one-on-one time. Short, regular moments between a child and each parent or stepparent often build more connection than big outings.
- Keep co-parenting conversations kid-centered. Our guide to what healthy co-parenting looks like after divorce walks through practical boundaries and communication habits.
- Celebrate dads out loud. Thank fathers and father figures in front of your children for the everyday care they give.
- Watch together and talk. When a show portrays a Black father, ask your child what they noticed and how it compares with the dads they know.
Why Positive Images of Black Fathers Matter for Children
Children absorb messages from media about who they are and who they can become. We have written about why Black children need to see positive representations of themselves and about the impact of media representation on Black children. When a series shows a Black dad who is affectionate, accountable, and present, it gives kids another reference point and reminds adults that these fathers already exist in their own communities.
Supporting dads strengthens the whole family, too. Read more about why supporting fathers leads to stronger families and better outcomes for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthony E. Williams
Who does Anthony E. Williams play in Straw?
He plays Officer Dickson in Tyler Perry’s Netflix film Straw, which also stars Taraji P. Henson and Teyana Taylor.
What is F.A.M. about?
F.A.M. is a dramedy pilot that Williams wrote, produced, and starred in through his company, WMZ Entertainment. It follows a blended Black family working through fatherhood, co-parenting, and relationship dynamics.
Where can I hear the BACKtalk interview?
The full conversation with Janice Robinson-Celeste is on the BACKtalk podcast. Click the image near the top of this article to listen.
How can parents talk with children about a blended family?
Keep it simple and honest, reassure children that every adult in the home cares about them, and give them room to share mixed feelings. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has a helpful overview of common stepfamily challenges and when to seek support.
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