7 Stories Up at SNFL: You Clean Up Well, Mr. Johnson! Abbott Elementary's William Stanford Davis with Taryn Finley
Location
Award-winning actor William Stanford Davis talks about his new career path at age 70 in conversation with HuffPost's Black Voices Editor and Senior Culture Reporter Taryn Finley.
This event will take place in person at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor.
Davis’s portrayal of the quick-witted custodian Mr. Johnson on ABC's hit show, Abbott Elementary, has earned him widespread acclaim, including a 2024 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy.” Even in his 70s, his charisma and timeless style continue to attract a younger fanbase, and his playful energy resonates both on and off screen. The Emmy, SAG, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award-winning series has become a cultural phenomenon, with Davis’s popularity and the Mr. Johnson Fan Club only growing stronger as the mystery around Mr. Johnson continues to unfold with each season. In addition to Abbott Elementary, Davis’s upcoming drama Undercard, starring alongside Wanda Sykes, further showcases his versatility as an actor.
Davis's journey from St. Louis to Hollywood is one of perseverance and passion. At this event, he'll talk about it with HuffPost's Black Voices Editor and Senior Culture Reporter Taryn Finley.
To join the event in person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Award-winning journeyman actor William Stanford Davis is a veteran of both stage and screen, with over 100 credits to his name. He has proven time and time again that he can do it all, bringing complex and captivating characters to life across genres. Born and raised in The Ville neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, Davis was inspired to pursue acting during high school when he saw the Negro Ensemble Company perform. It wasn’t until after he left Lincoln University to work a handful of jobs in media including a newspaper, and as a radio personality in Texas, before he moved to LA, and pursued his dream to be an actor in his thirties. A true testament to never giving up, he landed a role as a custodian on the soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful in 1995. In a full circle, flash forward to the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis put himself on tape to audition for the pilot of Abbott Elementary and landed the role of lovable custodian, “Mr. Johnson” as guest-star. After leaving a lasting impression on-set, Davis was consistently asked back to film more episodes until he was promoted to series regular for the first time in his career. In 2024, Davis took home the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Comedy” for his standout performance in the series and was nominated in the category for two consecutive years. When he is not on-set and bringing dynamic characters to life, Davis is passionate about mentoring and spends his time coaching young artists. He also loves luxury fashion and can often be found on the lookout for new hats to add to his prized collection. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Laura Pallas.
Taryn Finley is an award-winning Brooklyn-based journalist, host and producer who highlights stories intersecting race and culture. As HuffPost's Black Voices Editor and Senior Culture Reporter, the Dayton, Ohio native creates content that informs, empowers and amplifies Black audiences, especially women and femmes. For the past decade, Taryn has produced written, visual and audible works that resonate with the pulse of the culture and speaks to the multifaceted range of the Black experience, including hosting HuffPost's weekly culture and entertainment podcast "I Know That's Right," writing her feature column “I Run This” and working on various other projects. She also co-hosted MadameNoire’s digital show “Listen to Black Women.” She's a proud alum of the Howard University School of Communications and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Taryn has dedicated her career to thoughtful storytelling through nuanced conversations. In 2019, she won the NABJ Salute to Excellence Award for Best Interactive Feature and a Headliner Award in 2020. Taryn’s work has been featured on MSNBC, ESPN, Refinery29, Yahoo and BuzzFeed. She's also contributed to the New York Times, The Root, Essence, NBC and Radio One.
ACCESSIBILITY NOTES
In-Person
- Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue.
- You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.
- This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.
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All programs are subject to change or cancellation. All programs are subject to recording and photography.
The 7 Stories Up Series at SNFL is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).