Biografia
Actor Tim Williams, who had a relatively quiet career, burst onto the scene in 2016 with his breakout role—a commercial! Yes, he is the spokesman for Trivago.com. Helen Hunt also experienced a quiet career until a commercial spot propelled her to stardom on Mad About You. Unfortunately, Tim Williams has yet to find that coveted breakout acting role. If it’s going to happen, now is the moment—and here’s why: In the week following the 2016 U.S. election, Tim Williams’s IMDb ranking skyrocketed by over 5,000 spots! That’s right, in just one week. Since 2014, after the release of Labyrinth of Lies, where he played Major Parker, his popularity has steadily increased from a low ranking of 60,000 to a peak of 5,000.
To put star rankings into perspective, Marion Michael Morrison—better known as John Wayne—had a star ranking of 24 ten years after his death in 1979, despite having not made a film since 1976. Actor rankings began in 1989. John Wayne’s current ranking is 905 and was over 1,000 in mid-2016—not bad for arguably the most internationally recognized actor of the 20th century. Tim Williams has the same qualities—looks and talent—as “The Duke.” Hollywood should capitalize on his growing popularity, especially among women aged 30 to 55 who have recently become fans. Let’s hope his agent is contacted soon, so we can see more of this American-born actor.
Tim was born in Houston, Texas, in 1966 and spent much of his childhood moving between Houston and New York, as his father was the head golf pro at a private country club. His parents divorced in 1979 when Tim was a teenager. Although he was living in New York at the time, he settled back in Houston with his mother and sister later that year. In high school, Tim discovered his passion for acting. One day after school, he walked into the drama class and asked the teacher, “Could you make me an actor?” The teacher accepted the challenge, and Tim learned his craft well. Around the same time, he developed a strong interest in rock music, particularly bands like Kiss, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin. He even played in a few local bands.
After graduating high school, Tim moved to New York to pursue roles in off-off-Broadway plays and TV shows. He also secured an agent. His agent quickly found him his first acting role on The Cosby Show, where he played a teenage boy who impregnated an underage girl. However, his scene was cut for being too controversial for network executives at the time. Tim’s first officially credited acting role was alongside Claire Danes on the TV show My So-Called Life, followed by an appearance on The Sopranos. These roles eventually led him to Europe.
Shortly after, Tim auditioned for and won the lead role in a German film. Despite not knowing the language and against his agent’s advice, he accepted the part. While filming in Germany, he began learning German and fell in love with a local woman. By late August 2001, Tim decided to permanently settle in Germany. Just days later, the 9/11 attacks in New York solidified his decision to stay abroad.
Determined to integrate fully, Tim became fluent in German with no trace of an American accent—an impressive feat, as many actors can only mimic accents temporarily. His commitment to mastering the language and working in Germany speaks volumes.
He eventually landed a role on the German soap opera Guten Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten (Good Times, Bad Times) from 2012 to 2013, playing an American rock star past his prime. The role suited him perfectly, as he has played guitar since high school and didn’t need to fake it. Before that, between 2001 and 2011, he appeared in numerous American and German productions, most notably Valkyrie (2008) starring Tom Cruise.
Until the Trivago commercial, Tim was mostly unknown in the U.S., moving around publicly without notice. Now, he is as recognizable as George Clooney. While he doesn’t consider himself "famous," he was recently contacted by Elle magazine for an interview. Unsure if the contact was legitimate, he met the female reporter at a restaurant and soon realized she was genuine.
Tim still calls Germany home and continues to work there. His recent projects include the film Ballon (2018), currently in post-production, and an episode of the TV program Die Diplomatin (2018). He remains the spokesman for Trivago.com as of 2018.
