Most Famous Williams in the World

Plenty of stars go by their given name is William. Across film, television, and music, the name shows up on award ballots, blockbuster posters, and platinum records, tying together artists from different generations and scenes.

Below is a friendly tour through some of the most widely known entertainers named William. For each person, you’ll see concrete highlights—major roles, hallmark projects, awards, and career milestones—so you can quickly place exactly why they’re a household name.

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English playwright and actor whose works have been staged continuously for centuries. He belonged to the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later the King’s Men, and many of his plays premiered at the Globe Theatre in London. His writing spans tragedies, comedies, and histories, and his lines, characters, and plots have been adapted repeatedly for film and television.

Shakespeare also acted, acquired shares in his company’s theaters, and left a substantial published legacy, including narrative poems and a sonnet sequence. His stories underpin countless screen adaptations, with modern films and TV shows reworking his plots and dialogue for new audiences.

William Shatner

William Shatner is a Canadian actor best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in ‘Star Trek’ across television and film. He later earned major recognition for the role of Denny Crane on ‘Boston Legal’ and ‘The Practice’, winning multiple Emmys and a Golden Globe for his television work.

Beyond acting, Shatner has released spoken-word and musical albums and written books connected to his roles and interests. He has also maintained an active presence on stage and at conventions tied to ‘Star Trek’, helping keep the franchise’s fan community engaged for decades.

Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe (born William James Dafoe) has accumulated multiple Academy Award nominations for performances in ‘Platoon’, ‘Shadow of the Vampire’, ‘The Florida Project’, and ‘At Eternity’s Gate’. His range covers independent cinema and global blockbusters, including portraying Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in the ‘Spider-Man’ films.

Dafoe works extensively with international auteurs and in experimental theater. His filmography includes collaborations with directors like Martin Scorsese, Lars von Trier, and Abel Ferrara, contributing to a body of work studied in film schools and celebrated at festivals worldwide.

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson (born William Robinson Jr.) co-founded The Miracles and helped define the Motown sound as a singer, songwriter, and producer. He wrote and produced hits for The Miracles and for other Motown acts, and later built a successful solo career.

Robinson served as a Motown executive while maintaining his recording schedule, and he has received top honors including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His compositions remain widely covered and sampled, keeping his work present in contemporary music.

will.i.am

will.i.am (born William James Adams Jr.) is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur who rose to global prominence with the Black Eyed Peas. He has produced and written for a range of artists across pop and hip-hop and has earned multiple Grammy Awards for performance and production.

On television, he has served as a coach on ‘The Voice UK’ and ‘The Voice Australia’, mentoring new talent on prime-time series. He also founded tech ventures focused on consumer electronics and AI-driven products, pairing music industry experience with product design and branding.

William H. Macy

William H. Macy (born William Hall Macy Jr.) received an Academy Award nomination for his role in ‘Fargo’. He is known for his stage and screen work, including collaborations with playwright and director David Mamet and appearances in films such as ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Magnolia’.

On television, Macy starred as Frank Gallagher in ‘Shameless’ for multiple seasons, gathering award nominations and wins along the way. He also directs episodic television and remains active in theater, reflecting a career that bridges independent film, prestige TV, and stage productions.

William Hurt

William Hurt earned the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ and followed with acclaimed performances in ‘Children of a Lesser God’ and ‘Broadcast News’. His film work spans mainstream releases and character-driven dramas.

Hurt also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Thaddeus Ross in films including ‘The Incredible Hulk’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War’. He worked in theater and television throughout his career, receiving honors across mediums for both leading and supporting roles.

William Friedkin

William Friedkin directed ‘The French Connection’, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Director, and ‘The Exorcist’, a landmark in horror that became a cultural phenomenon. His filmography also includes ‘Sorcerer’ and ‘To Live and Die in L.A.’, noted for their technical craft and tension.

Friedkin directed documentaries and operas in addition to narrative features, and he wrote about filmmaking and his own productions. He influenced several generations of directors, with his approach to pacing, location shooting, and sound design cited in film courses and retrospectives.

William Wyler

William Wyler won three Academy Awards for Best Director, for ‘Mrs. Miniver’, ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’, and ‘Ben-Hur’. His films earned a record number of Oscar nominations for performers, reflecting his reputation for guiding actors to acclaimed work.

Wyler’s filmography ranges from intimate dramas to large-scale epics, including ‘Roman Holiday’. He contributed to wartime documentaries and industry organizations, leaving a legacy studied in both directing technique and studio-era production history.

William Holden

William Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘Stalag 17’ and starred in classics including ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’. He became one of the top-billed leading men of his era, working with major directors across genres.

Holden also supported wildlife conservation through the William Holden Wildlife Foundation. His later work included television films and international productions, extending a screen career that spanned decades.

Share your picks for other famous Williams in entertainment in the comments!