"They thought I needed to quit" — Abbott Elementary actor William Stanford Davis talks about his failed Friends audition

Abbott Elementary fame William Stanford Davis recently opened up about his path to success and recalled the days when he once auditioned for the famous sitcom, Friends. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on June 8, 2024, he shared:

“I auditioned for Friends, and the casting director called my agent and told him that they thought I needed to quit.”

The 72-year-old actor further stated that he didn't let that failure get him down, he kept working on his acting skills and eventually landed roles in TV shows and movies such as Ray Donovan, Swagger, Adopt a Highway, and more.

William Stanford Davis is best known for playing Mr. Johnson in Abbott Elementary. He joined the cast last year and made a big impact with his portrayal of a lovable janitor. During the season three finale, Mr. Johnson had a touching moment with Quinta Brunson's character, Janine Teagues, that garnered viewers' attention.

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From a failed Friends audition to Abbott Elementary fame: William Stanford Davis's journey so far

William Stanford Davis told The Hollywood Reporter that he remembers moving to Los Angeles in his 30s to give acting a shot. His first big role was in The Bold and the Beautiful as a janitor, which is ironic because he plays a janitor in Abbott Elementary too. He was quick to point out that the characters are different:

“The janitor on The Bold and the Beautiful and Mr. Johnson are light-years apart.”

Looking back on his Friends audition, Davis said that even though he didn't remember the role he auditioned for, the advice he got motivated him to get better at acting. The actor recounted:

"I thought they [agency] had me confused with someone else. I said, “My audition couldn’t have been as bad as the one they’re describing.” That was the best thing that happened to me. It made me decide that no one was going to have those kinds of remarks or comments about my work."

Talking about how he took up acting as a professional career, Davis mentioned that it was because of his love for movies. He added that watching Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones and being part of the Negro Ensemble Company through Upward Bound inspired him to pursue acting.

Davis went on to say:

"The work they were doing made such an impression on me. At that moment, I decided that’s what I’m going to do."

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William Stanford Davis's new chapter with Abbott Elementary

The ongoing ABC show connects with people, like teachers, principals, and janitors as it depicts the struggles of schools with limited funding and the hard work of the staff.

The official synopsis of Abbott Elementary reads:

"In this workplace comedy, a group of dedicated, passionate teachers—and an oblivious principal—are brought together in a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, they are determined to help their students succeed in life."

During the interview, Davis also mentioned a story about meeting a principal in New York who loved how the show recognizes the important role of educators. The actor acknowledged that teachers deserve to be paid as much as doctors for the work they do. He added that "teachers change lives."

In one of the prominent scenes from the Abbott Elementary season 3 finale, his character had an emotional scene with Janine Teagues, played by Quinta Brunson. He spoke to her about living life to the fullest, which left the audience sentimental. Speaking about his character arc, Davis told the publication:

“You got to see a different side of [Mr. Johnson]. He’s a three-dimensional character.”

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To watch William Stanford Davis in Abbott Elementary, stream the latest episodes on ABC and Hulu.