How Ted Williams Landed a Role in Marty Supreme

There are casting stories, and then there’s the tale of Ted Williams, whose brief appearance in the recent film Marty Supreme has caught the attention of audiences and critics alike. Williams, who plays a staff member at Lawrence’s table tennis club, is not your typical supporting actor. His journey to the set is as striking as his voice, which, as it happens, is rather well-known for reasons far removed from the world of cinema.

From Airwaves to Adversity

Back in the 1980s, Williams was a familiar sound on the radio, lending his distinctive tones to adverts and various programmes. Yet, life took a sharp turn. Financial troubles, coupled with substance misuse, left him without a home. Years later, a roadside video of Williams, dishevelled but still possessing that unmistakable voice, went viral. It was this very clip that stuck in the mind of director Josh Safdie when casting for his latest project.

Safdie, recalling the video, felt Williams was the only choice for the role. Not everyone on the production team agreed. Some pushed for a local hire, arguing the part was minor and the logistics of bringing in someone from out of state—especially with union rules and Williams’ recent time in rehab—would be costly and complicated. The director, however, was adamant.

We need to get Ted Williams. We have to get him…[but] to bring somebody [from] out of state, with union rules and stuff like that—it’s very expensive. So that was the first time they were like, ‘Can we find someone local?’ And I said, ‘It has to be Ted Williams.’

For Safdie, the recognition Williams brought to the role was worth the effort. As he put it,

It means so much [when] someone comes up to me and is like, ‘Man in the cage is Ted Williams?!?’

Viral Fame and a Difficult Past

Williams’ story is not one of overnight success. His ambition to work in radio began at fourteen, but by the mid-80s, things had started to unravel. Drug and alcohol issues, combined with a waning interest in his career, led to a series of setbacks. By 1994, he’d lost his home. Arrests followed—charges ranged from theft and drug possession to forgery and obstructing official business. He spent time behind bars, and his prospects looked bleak.

Everything changed in January 2011, when a video interview with Williams, then homeless, was uploaded online. The footage, showing him holding a sign advertising his ‘God-given voice’, quickly spread. Suddenly, job offers poured in, and for the first time in two decades, Williams found steady employment. He also entered rehab, seeking stability after years of turmoil.

Back in the Spotlight

It was this viral moment that Safdie remembered when casting for Marty Supreme. Despite the hurdles, Williams was brought in for the part, a decision that has since been met with both surprise and admiration from viewers. The film itself, directed by Safdie and featuring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Odessa A’zion, has been well received, with strong ratings and a healthy box office showing since its release on 25 December 2025.

Williams’ journey from the streets to the silver screen is a reminder that talent can resurface in the most unexpected places. His role in Marty Supreme may be small, but the story behind it is anything but ordinary.

Marty Supreme is currently showing in cinemas across the United States.