Meet De’Tuan Williams | Actor, Coach, and Sales Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with De’Tuan Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi De’Tuan, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks enables growth, spurs creativity, and opens up new opportunities. I have been taking risks my whole life and if I hadn’t I would not be where I am today. When I was 17 I had the chance to play football at some D2 and D3 schools which was great. I risked losing a guaranteed opportunity to play because I knew I could play D1. I had no D1 offers because I was 5’5 140 pounds, but I knew I could play. So I walked on to a D1 school and long story short, I earned a full-ride football scholarship and two degrees. That was the major start of me realizing that I had to shift my motivation from avoiding failure to achieving my goals. Failure doesn’t define you and is part of the path to success. As an actor I take to same approach and mindset as that 17-year-old that everyone said couldn’t play D1. One of the biggest benefits of my risk-taking is that it opened up the possibility for new opportunities. Although there was uncertainty, these choices brought unexpected growth or even led to an entirely new direction for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an actor! My story and passion for acting started as a kid but didn’t happen until August of 2022. I was so focused on football and going to the league that I put all my other dreams and goals on the shelf. Now before I started acting I was teaching and coaching at a high school after college. I did that for about two years. It was great but something was missing. I always had this passion and itch to want to inspire people through my creativity. Whether it was singing, rapping, or acting I loved creating. But acting took the cake and always has. I just didn’t realize it, until one day I started making skits, and not only was I having fun making them but people were actually laughing and loving what I was putting out. It allowed me to play, to become that kid again. To fully experience emotions, and to live them genuinely. And what’s more beautiful?

So one day I quit my job at the high school, went home and Google searched “auditions near me” and found a couple in Dallas. I went to one that was in person and I thought it was a scam, but it changed my life. I went into the audition and gave it my all and left feeling anxious. A couple of days later I found out I didn’t book the commercial but I gained something even better. A lady by the name of Maria Louisa called me and told me she loved my energy and my look. She said, “Now we just have to make sure you can act.” This lady has been in the industry for over 30 years and took me under her wing and coached and trained me for 6 months. Then got me out to LA to showcase my talent in front of all kinds of managers and agents. I booked my agent and the rest was history. Since that day, I have been in over 25 commercials, over 10 movies, two plays, and short films, all in under two years.

I have learned so much in such a short amount of time and I am still learning and will always be learning. By no means was this journey easy but when you’re doing what you love it doesn’t feel like work, which is why I worked and continue to work so hard at it. In acting you get told no a lot but that never phased me because people have been telling me no my whole life. It’s like I was prepped for this haha. Even with all my early success, I have learned that I still have a long way to go, and swallowing the pill that I am not ready for everything I want just yet. So just growing daily and learning, and giving back to up-and-coming actors. Sharing my knowledge and not holding it hostage because Maria Louisa didn’t do that to me. She has a heart of gold and I appreciate her believing in me. I want the world to know that De’Tuan Williams is coming! Coming to thrive. Coming to help. Coming to show Jesus through me. Get ready.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We all like to do things but on a budget. So

Day 1: Breakfast at Cindi’s, Wander over to the West End Historic District, Lunch at the Dallas Farmers Market, Check out the sculptures at Pioneer Plaza, Dinner at El Fenix, then play board games from the kiosks at Dallas’ living room at Klyde Warren Park.

Day 2: Breakfast at Yolk, Dallas Museum of Art, Hop on the McKinney Avenue Trolley into Uptown and make a stop at Shake Shack, Explore Uptown,

Day 3: Breakfast at Hypnotic Donuts, Hiking, Stop for lunch at Fuel City, “Thanks-Giving Square” a quiet park in the heart of Downtown Dallas, head to GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower, and eat there.

Day 4: Breakfast at First Watch, Just chill, Take a cooking class, Dinner at Sweet Georgia Brown

Day 5: Breakfast at Lo Lo’s Chicken and Waffles, chill all day.

Dallas has so much to do and so many interesting people.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I can thank, but my biggest support system, critics, and prayer warriors, that I am o so thankful for is my family. My mom, dad, siblings, and grandparents. They have supported me no matter what it is I was trying to do. If woke up one morning and said I wanted to clean trash cans, they would help buy the equipment, post every flyer, and pass out every business card, with no questions asked. No everyone has that and I am forever grateful that I do. Can’t thank them enough.

Instagram: @detuan1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/detuan-williams2015/

Facebook: De’Tuan Williams

Other: Tik Tok: @detuanwilliams