A Different World: Amir Williams portrayed JT Rallen in season one

JT was cute adition to A Different World

The names Amir Williams and JT Rallen might not ring a bell, but this actor and his character were a part of the first season of the hit NBC television series A Different World, which aired for six seasons from September 24, 1987, to July 9, 1993.

JT might not be the first name to come to mind when talking about the sitcom like the main cast members. Sinbad (Walter Oakes), Dawnn Lewis (Jaleesa Vinson), Cree Summer (Freddie Brooks), Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne), Darryl Bell (Ron Johnson), Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert), Charnelle Brown (Kim Reese) and Glen Turman (Bradford Taylor), remain relevant and gave viewers many memorable moments and a lot of laughs along the way.

These cast members are embarking on a 10-city tour of HBCUs this spring. Lou Myers, who portrayed Vernon Gaines, the owner of the Pit passed away a few years ago. Many talented actors outside the principal cast in the series went on to other projects, like Halley Berry, Jamie Foxx, Marisa Tomei, Eric Lasalle, and Loretta Devine, who portrayed divorced mom Stevie Rallen in season one.

JT was not in many ADW episodes

Stevie's son, J.T. Rallen, was played by six-year-old Williams who was adorable. Stevie was the dorm director at Gilbert Hall and lived on the first floor. The storyline said Stevie left to get married, and Mary Alice was hired as Lettie Bostic the new dorm director. Stevie returned for one episode later but her son was not with her. J.T. only appeared in four episodes of ADW, but he is a memorable character. He can be seen in the following:

Episode 1x01: Reconcilable Differences (Sep 24, 1987)

Episode 1x03: Porky Debergerac (Oct 15, 1987)

Episode 1x09 Romancing Mr. Stone (Dec 10, 1987)

Episode 1x21: Come Back Little Eggby (May 5, 1988)

The only picture I could find of Williams as young J.T. was one on his IMDb page with Tomei as Maggie Lawton. There is another of him as an older child with Cuba Gooding Jr.

Amir Williams then and now

Amir Jamal Williams was born in Harlem, New York, to Allison Williams, a Broadway dancer, singer, and actress. He currently lives in NYC with his wife and two children. He began acting at age two in commercials and print work. After A Different World, he worked in the theater before starring in the HBO original movie "Daybreak," with Cuba Gooding Jr., Moira Kelly, Omar Epps, and Martha Plimpton.

He appeared on the ABC soap opera "All My Children" as Jamal Wilson-Cudahy when he was 12, He was twice on the hit show "New York Undercover" as G's best friend, Brian Moore. At 17, he became the voice of "Mack" on the hit cartoon "Daria" before leaving acting behind to pursue other interests, including a writing career. In 2016, Williams made his directorial debut on the stage in the Diary of a Mother, where he also had a small role.

Williams became an author

In 2017, Williams released his first fiction novel, Flame of Retribution, inspired by the shooting death of Sean Bell in 2006. Williams is not a household name like many of the other cast members of A Different World but his character is still fondly remembered.

In addition to his other work, Amir Williams was in three TV films: I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, Is It College Yet?, and For the Love of My Child: The Annisa Ayla Story. A Different World is still popular today more than 35 years later and can currently be streamed on Max.