William Jackson Harper
Actor
Birth Name: William Fitzgerald Harper
Birth Date: February 8, 1980
Age: 45 years old
Birth Place: Dallas, Texas
Born in Dallas in 1980, William Jackson Harper was a thoughtful child, introduced to theater when his mother signed him up for some drama classes in middle school. He attended Santa Fe University of Art and Design, graduating in 2003, and in 2007 moved to New York City with the goal of being able to support himself as a New York actor. He succeeded. In addition to a number of theater productions, Harper appeared in several supporting roles onscreen in "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), the feature "All Good Things" (2010), and "30 Rock" (NBC, 2006-13), with a series regular role on the reimagined "The Electric Company" (PBS, 2009-11). On the show, he played Danny Rebus, one of the antagonists, causing problems for the literacy-promoting superheroes.
In 2014, Jackson played activist Stokely Carmichael in the original Broadway production of "All the Way," the historical drama starring Bryan Cranston as Lyndon B. Johnson. He had a supporting role in in "True Story" (2015), about the killer Christian Longo, which starred Jonah Hill and James Franco. In 2016 he was set to get his most exposure to date, in a regular role on "The Good Place" (NBC, 2016-), starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. On the show, Harper appeared as Bell's soul mate as she navigates the afterlife.
Credits
A Man in FullStream
Ant-Man and the Wasp: QuantumaniaStream
Landscape with Invisible HandStream
Sherri
The ResortStream
Death to 2021Stream
Dogs in SpaceStream
Love Life 11 FREE
These Days
We Broke Up
The Drew Barrymore ShowStream
GMA3: What You Need to Know
Love LifeStream
Love LifeStream
Famous Cast Words
The Man in the Woods
David
The Paley Center Salutes The Good Place
Midsommar: Extras
The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream
Access Daily
Today With Hoda & Jenna
MidsommarStream
Dark Waters
Lost Holiday
Today 3rd Hour
Busy Tonight
Delikatessen
Couch Surfing
Live with Kelly and Ryan
The Breaks
They Remain
The Good PlaceStream
The Good Place: Extras
How to Tell You're a Douchebag
Paterson
The Late Late Show With James Corden
DeadbeatStream
Late Night With Seth MeyersStream
The Real
High Maintenance Web Series
Person of InterestStream
UnforgettableStream
ConanStream
The Talk
30 RockStream
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream
Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream
Photos
News aboutWilliam Jackson Harper
20 TV Stars Nominated at the 2024 Tony Awards
‘A Man in Full’ Trailer: Everyone Wants to Fight Jeff Daniels in Star-Studded Clips (VIDEO)
‘The Good Place’ Stars D’Arcy Carden, Kristen Bell & William Jackson Harper Reunite
Spoiler Alert
‘The Resort’ Finale: Andy Siara Explains Pasaje & Those Trippy Ink Blot Shots
‘The White Lotus,’ ‘The Resort’ & More Hotel-Set TV Shows to Watch
Maya Rudolph’s 7 Most Memorable TV Roles From ‘Loot’ to ‘Saturday Night Live’
Best Lines of the Week (July 22-28): ‘If You Think You Could Be in Danger, You Are in Danger’
Preview
‘The Resort’ Preview: Cristin Milioti & William Jackson Harper Enter the Twilight Zone
‘The Resort’ Trailer: William Jackson Harper & Cristin Milioti Investigate Missing Persons Mystery (VIDEO)
Peacock Sets Premiere Date for ‘The Resort’ & Releases First Look (PHOTOS)
‘Daria’ Spinoff ‘Jodie’ Now Animated Film as Pamela Adlon, William Jackson Harper & More Join Cast
Nick Offerman Joins William Jackson Harper, Cristin Milioti in Comedic Thriller ‘The Resort’ for Peacock
14 Most Underrated TV Performances of 2021
Exclusive
‘Dogs in Space’ First Look: Pooches Try To Save Humanity (VIDEO)
Spoiler Alert
‘Love Life’ Stars on Addressing Black Lives Matter & Relationships in Final Season 2 Episodes
Best Lines of the Week (October 22-28): ‘I’m Back and I’m Blonde!’
Preview
William Jackson Harper Says ‘Love Life’ Season 2 Is About the Messiness of Adulthood
Preview
How William Jackson Harper Inspired ‘Love Life’ Season 2’s Marcus
‘Love Life’ Season 2: William Jackson Harper’s Marcus Gets Back in the Dating Game (VIDEO)
‘Love Life’ Welcomes William Jackson Harper’s Marcus in a HBO Max First Look (VIDEO)
‘The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper to Lead ‘Love Life’ Season 2
Spoiler Alert
21 ‘Good Place’ Callbacks That Made the Series Finale Special (PHOTOS)
Finale
Manny Jacinto & William Jackson Harper Say Goodbye to ‘The Good Place’ (VIDEO)
Spoiler Alert
‘The Good Place’: A ‘Chillaxing’ Chidi Causes Complications (RECAP)
‘The Good Place’ Season 4 Preview: Architect Eleanor & Final Goodbyes (VIDEO)
‘The Good Place’ Looks Back on the ‘Life-Changing’ Trip in Final Season Portraits (PHOTOS)
Comic-Con
‘The Good Place’ Cast on What’s Next for Eleanor & Chidi and Saying Goodbye (VIDEO)
‘The Good Place’: Behind the Scenes of the Final Season With the Cast (PHOTOS)
Comic-Con
10 Things We Learned at TV Guide Magazine’s Fan Favorites Comic-Con Panel 2019
Exclusive
Eliza Taylor, Clark Gregg, Candice Patton & More Join TV Guide Magazine’s Fan Favorites SDCC 2019 Panel
Q&A
‘The Good Place’s William Jackson Harper Teases ‘Interesting Dynamics’ in Season 4
‘The Good Place’ Preview: Michael Has an Existential Crisis (VIDEO)
Roush Review: A Good ‘Place’, Kevin’s Intolerable ‘Wait’
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services