William Stanford Davis spoke exclusively to The Knockturnal about Mr. Johnson’s recent love interest on Abbott Elementary, his upcoming film Undercard, and more. You can vote for him now through February 13th for the NAACP Image Awards in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Category.
The Knockturnal:
Congratulations on your recent NAACP Image Awards nomination! Voting is open now. Want to start off with a pitch on why everyone should vote for you?
William Stanford Davis:
I’m on the greatest show on television and I’m having a lot of fun. And we give a positive message. We try to shine a serious light in a comedic way about the inequities in the public school system. And I think teachers should be paid like doctors. The show sheds a positive light on something that needs a lot of work.
The Knockturnal:
And I think through all the comedy, you never lose the importance of that message. It’s always so clear throughout every season, every storyline.
William Stanford Davis:
Yeah. These teachers remind me a lot of the teachers that I grew up with. Even when I was in grade school, there’s not much difference in the way it was than what Abbott Elementary portrays today. And so we do it in a positive way. It’s not political in any kind of way, but we try to bring some joy to people.
The Knockturnal:
Of course we’re here to talk about a really amazing storyline this season where Mr. Johnson got a love interest, which we were all so excited to see.
William Stanford Davis:
I was excited when they told me about it. He deserves that. All the other characters on the show have love interests, so why not? This guy’s been all over the world. I’m sure he’s met somebody. Little did we know she was gonna be a janitor.
The Knockturnal:
I was wondering, is this his first relationship in a while or has he just kept the other ones out of the school building? Because he’s so mysterious.
William Stanford Davis:
That’s for me to know and you to find out. We never know what’s gonna happen with this guy.
The Knockturnal:
Ms. Carrol, your love interest, was played by the amazing Khandi Alexander. How was it creating that relationship and chemistry when you have maybe only one episode versus the other relationships that you’ve been able to build over the course of the show?
William Stanford Davis:
Well first of all, I’m a big fan of her work, from Scandal to when she did The Corner. She’s such a talented actor and very generous. She’s like, let’s jump in and have some fun. And I think because we were both able to relax, that’s the chemistry that everyone enjoyed.
The Knockturnal:
I was reading that she was a choreographer for Whitney Houston and I wonder if there was a world where Mr. Johnson was a bouncer for Whitney Houston on tour on the road.
William Stanford Davis:
You never know. You never know. I’m gonna let Quinta know about that!
The Knockturnal:
Can you tease anything at all about if we might see her again in the future?
William Stanford Davis:
There’s a possibility, but they haven’t let me know about it yet. But I’m hoping so. Let me put it like that.
The Knockturnal:
One of my other favorite things about the show over the years is how each of the kids are able to shine, and so many of these young actors have grown up on the show. What has your experience been like as a mentor working alongside these children?
William Stanford Davis:
These kids are amazing. They’re hungry. They ask questions. Even the background kids want to know every little thing. They want to know about the camera and directing, not just the acting aspects of it. And they act like they’re in school. They’ll raise their hand to ask questions, which is amazing. And they all really take it seriously.
The Knockturnal:
And I always hear consistently across the board what a joyful set it is at Abbott and how much everyone loves coming to work. What is your favorite part of coming to work every day?
William Stanford Davis:
I don’t like getting up and being there at six in the morning. But other than that, I love it. We’ve created such great relationships, it’s more like a family than a cast. We laugh and joke with one another. We hang out away from the set whether at someone’s home or going out to dinner or an event. And I think that’s one of the blessings of the show that has created this type of relationship with these seven people and also the crew and the writers and the producers. I’ve gotten to know people that I hope that I will be in touch with for the rest of my life.
The Knockturnal:
One of my favorite things about your career is that you pop up everywhere in episodes of so many things. I was watching Desperate Housewives and spotted you just recently. When you were doing all of these shows over the years with an episode or two arc, what kept you motivated and what was the picture you had in your mind of the ideal show that you hoped to land in one day?
William Stanford Davis:
It’s never what you think it’s gonna be. I was blessed for the last 20 plus years to have had work. Ray Donovan, Desperate Housewives, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. They were all great experiences that were leading to this. I’m hoping this is just another part of the journey. I have this saying that I stole from Duke Ellington. Rule number one, don’t quit. Rule number two, don’t forget rule number one. It’s just that simple. Keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t worry about the results, and learn your craft. That’s all I’ve ever done was just really try to explore my craft, become the best actor that I can be, and I still try to do that. I want to be the best actor that I can possibly be. I want to be a generous actor because I work with so many generous people.
The Knockturnal:
You have a movie being released very soon, Undercard featuring Wanda Sykes. What was that project like and what attracted you to that role?
William Stanford Davis:
First of all, to work with Wanda. You’re gonna see her in a totally different light. She’s not funny in this at all. It’s like Creed meets Rocky meets Wanda. It’s a hardcore movie about boxing. She was an ex champion who hit on hard times and she and her son reunite after a long estrangement. Without spoiling it, I think everyone should see it. I think they’re gonna be pleasantly surprised.
The Knockturnal:
Thank you so much for your time. This has been amazing. I enjoy Abbott so much as not only a current show but a rewatch show all throughout the year.
William Stanford Davis:
Thank you, Ashley. Thank you for being such a fan.
