Six Months Ago He Was Waiting Tables — Now He’s on the Oscars Red Carpet
Hollywood star Hudson Williams has made his debut on the Oscars red carpet less than a year after quitting his job as a waiter to star in Heated Rivalry.
The show was an immediate success, smashing viewership records and taking the internet by storm in the second half of 2025. The sports romance centers around two hockey players who are rivals on the rink but whose personal relationship is much more complex.
The show is inspired by Rachel Reid's acclaimed book series, Game Changers. Williams plays the character of Shane Hollander, the uptight captain of the Montreal Voyageurs whose life revolves around hockey.
Heated Rivalry was a massive success, but both Williams and his co-star Connor Storrie took huge leaps of faith by quitting their day jobs to commit fully to the roles. There was no guarantee that either actor would make anywhere near as much money as they have, let alone become so recognizable and famous.
"I mean that just goes to show you never know what works," Storrie joked in an interview with GQ.
Storrie also recounted a story of how he lost his job at the South Beverly Grill in Beverly Hills shortly before landing the role on Heated Rivalry: "[A customer] felt like I was insinuating that he couldn’t afford this bottle of wine. I was just making sure I didn’t open a bottle that was almost $400.”
Needless to say, both actors made the right decision by leaving their day jobs behind to pursue this passion project. Their newfound fame has catapulted them all the way to the Oscars, where Hollywood celebrates the industry's most talented figures and most recognizable faces.
Unfortunately, it may be the last time Williams or Storrie are invited to an awards show for some time. Heated Rivalry will not be eligible for next year's Primetime Emmy Awards, because it's fully funded by Canadian company Bell Media and classed as a "foreign television production"—which cannot receive awards or nominations (via Variety).
When asked about his experience at the Oscars, Williams called it "surreal" and "gratifying" to be invited (via Variety)