Who Is America Ferrera's Husband, Ryan Piers Williams?

Publish date: 2024-05-02

This awards season, America Ferrera has had an unexpected date by her side: her husband, Ryan Piers Williams. And while that might not be groundbreaking news for most couples, Ferrera and Williams's joint red carpet appearances have been few and far between over the nearly 20 years they've been together. 

Ferrera and Williams first met as film students at the University of Southern California in 2005 before tying the knot in New York in 2011 and welcoming two children—a son, Sebastian, and a daughter, Lucia Marisol—in the years that followed. But other than that, not much is known about their relationship, which is by design. “Usually, they stay out of the spotlight. They love what they do, but they do prefer to keep their private life separate," a source previously explained to Us Weekly, adding, "Their family is their priority.”

Here's everything you need to know about Ferrera's husband Ryan Piers Williams and their private love story. 

How did America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams meet? 

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Back in 2005, Ferrera and Williams met as film students at the University of Southern California. At the time, Williams, who had just graduated from grad school, cast Ferrera (an undergraduate) in his first short film, Muertas, which explored the ongoing murders of women and young girls in Juarez, Mexico.

When did America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams get married? 

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After five years of dating, Ferrera and Williams got engaged in June 2010 and tied the knot the following year during an intimate ceremony in Chappaqua, New York at the home of Ferrera’s Ugly Betty co-star, Vanessa Williams.

For the occasion, Ferrera wore a strapless lace dress by Amsale Christos and diamond Fred Leighton earrings. The wedding was officiated by another one of Ferrera's Ugly Betty co-stars, Judith Light, while her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants castmates (Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel) were also in attendance.

How many children do America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams have?

Ferrera and Williams welcomed their first child, a son named Sebastian, in May 2018, and two years later, they expanded their family with a second baby. Ferrera announced the arrival of the couple's baby girl, Lucia Marisol, on Mother's Day 2020 with a sweet Instagram post that's since been deleted.

"LUCIA MARISOL WILLIAMS arrived on May 4th to give me my Mother’s Day hugs and kisses herself,” Ferrera wrote alongside a photo of her daughter’s hand. “Mama, Dada & Big Brother are over the moon to welcome her bright light to our family."

What does Ryan Piers Williams do for a living? 

Like Ferrera, Williams is also in the film industry as a writer, director, producer, and even an actor from time to time. He often collaborates with his wife, and they've worked together on multiple projects, including The Dry Land and X/Y, in which Williams wrote and directed and Ferrera starred in.

Oh, and he's also an artist. Williams made his first solo art show debut in January 2015 with his "Monsters & Landscapes" painting series in New York City.

Did America Ferrera's husband, Ryan Piers Williams, make a cameo in 'Barbie'?

While Ferrera is used to being in front of the camera, Williams mostly stays behind the scenes. However, he made an exception when he made a cameo alongside his wife in Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie.

During his brief appearance, Williams plays Ferrara's unnamed onscreen husband, who's attempting to learn Spanish through Duolingo. Back in January, Ferrara explained that his role actually came about during her first Zoom meeting with Gerwig while Williams was in the other room doing his Spanish lessons.

"Right away she was like, 'Oh my God, does he want to play your husband?' And I was like, 'I don't know, you'll have to ask him,' " Ferrera said while speaking with People. "When it came time, she was like, 'Remember when I asked you if your husband would play your husband?' And he said yes."

How often do America Ferrera and Ryan Piers Williams make joint red carpet appearances? 

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Up until recently, Ferrera and Williams would rarely walk the red carpet together. However, that all changed after the actress was nominated for her role in Barbie at all the major awards shows—including the Oscars, where she's up for the award for Best Supporting Actress.

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