Born in Fayetteville, GA (a suburb of Atlanta), actor Gary Anthony Williams attended Clayton State College and went on to establish himself as one of the most-sought after character players of the 2000s, maintaining his most frequent presence on television. A classically trained actor, Williams honed his craft via involvement with the Georgia Shakespeare Festival, then performed in various theatrical locales including Agatha's Dinner Theatre, The Shakespeare Tavern, and the Alliance Theatre. Williams moved into television in the late '90s, with a guest spot on the series drama In the Heat of the Night and a small role in the Schwarzenegger thriller End of Days (1999).
The following decade witnessed Williams guesting in series programs including CSI, Joan of Arcadia, and NYPD Blue, appearing in recurring roles on shows such as Malcolm in the Middle, and tackling a small supporting part in the farce Undercover Brother (2002). He signed for two permanent series roles in subsequent years: that of Uncle Ruckus in the racially themed animated sitcom The Boondocks, and that of Clarence Bell, a shy lawyer who develops a drag queen alter ego, Clarice, to contend with difficult situations, on the offbeat David E. Kelley series drama Boston Legal.