All The Babes
Allison Williams
Also known as Ali
Biography
About Allison Williams
Allison Williams grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she was born on Wednesday 13th of April 1988. Her father is NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, but her own path led to acting. As she once put it, 'I wanted to be an actress before I understood anything else about my life... It was innate.' She graduated from Yale University in 2010 with an English degree, though her freshman year she was turned down for a part in the mainstage musical by Yale Dramatic Association. That setback didn't deter her.
At Yale, she honed her comedic timing as part of the improvisation group 'Just Add Water.' Her breakout role came as Marnie Michaels on HBO's Girls (2012), and she also appeared in The Mindy Project (2012) and Will & Kate: Before Happily Ever After (2011). She was even considered for the role of Susan Storm in The Fantastic Four (2015), though the part ultimately went to someone else. Williams also works as a writer, and she has described her time in school as fueling an almost gluttonous intellectual curiosity.
Her personal life has drawn attention over the years. She began dating Ricky Van Veen, co-founder of CollegeHumor, in 2011; they got engaged in 2014 and married in 2015, with Tom Hanks officiating. The couple separated in 2019. Later that year, she started dating German actor Alexander Dreymon, whom she met on the set of Horizon Line. They had a son in late 2021, and reports from June 2025 revealed that they had actually married quietly back in 2023. Williams balances her career with family life, and her journey from Yale improv stages to Hollywood reflects a singular focus on her craft.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
What was Allison Williams' path before her breakout role on Girls?
She graduated from Yale University in 2010 with an English degree, and during her freshman year she was turned down for a part in the mainstage musical by Yale Dramatic Association. She also performed with the improvisation group 'Just Add Water.'
How did Allison Williams meet her current husband?
She met German actor Alexander Dreymon while filming Horizon Line in late 2019. Their relationship began around that time, and they had a son in late 2021. Reports from June 2025 confirmed they had married quietly in 2023.
What notable role was Allison Williams considered for but did not get?
She was in consideration for the role of Susan Storm in The Fantastic Four (2015), but the part went to another actress.
Who officiated Allison Williams' first wedding?
Tom Hanks officiated her wedding to Ricky Van Veen, which took place on September 19, 2015, in Saratoga, Wyoming.
Did you know
- Her father is NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.
- She was turned down for a part in the mainstage musical during her freshman year at Yale, but later joined the improv group 'Just Add Water.'
- She married CollegeHumor co-founder Ricky Van Veen in 2015, with Tom Hanks officiating.
- She had a son with Alexander Dreymon in late 2021, and the couple had actually married quietly in 2023, as reported in June 2025.
- At Yale, she graduated with an English degree in 2010.
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