Tyler James Williams placed big names on his idea of a child actor "Mount Rushmore" during a new interview with Complex.
The Abbott Elementary star, also known for his childhood roles on Everybody Hates Chris and Let It Shine, named former child stars like Zendaya and Kieran Culkin among the greats in an interview with Mami Tiff.
"How many people are on Mount Rushmore?" the actor said before adding actresses Natasha Lyonne and Keke Palmer. Williams starred alongside Palmer in former Nickelodeon show True Jackson, VP.
"I think the big thing is anybody who can make the transition from child actor to an adult actor have to be incredibly talented because it's essentially restarting your career over from day one," he explained around the four-minute mark of the video above.
"But I think also a big part of it is like knowing when and where to elevate," he continued. "And each one of those people did that at the right time. They
didn't just kind of sit back on their laurels of being a cute kid who worked before. They found a way to find the next gear every time they had to."
When asked about those who "protected" him when he got his start in acting, Williams credited his parents, who were previously in the music business.
"They did a really good job of making sure I wasn't just somewhere because. I think that happens to a lot of kids and just people in the industry," he explained.
"They hear a bunch of people are going to be in a room and they feel a need to be there. They made sure that wherever I was, it was for a reason and for a purpose."
Going from child to adult actor worked out well for Williams, who won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 2023.