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Like many kids of the 1980s, Dulé Hill was a fan ofThe Wonder Years— and now, the actor is starring as Bill Williams, the patriarch of a fictional 1960s family in the reboot of the beloved hit.
For the actor, the new version comes at just the right time.
“As much as I appreciated the original, I was very aware of the fact that I didn’t see myself reflected in it,” Hill, 46, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “The reimagining is with a different family telling a different story. And the beauty of America is that there are so many dynamic and diverse stories to tell if we allow ourselves to go there.”
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An entertainer from a young age, Hill, who tap-danced on Broadway before transitioning into acting, launched his Hollywood career with a bang: as one of the stars onThe West Wingin 1999.
“I was young and green and new to the world,” recalls Hill. “So I learned, I leaned in and I listened. I took it all in.”
“It was a shock, but at the same time, it was like, this is America,” he says. “I dealt with racism growing up. But I never imagined that something happening in a fantasy world would cause someone to act out. So the main thing I got from that is, we have a lot of work to do. And it inspired me to keep doing what I was doing.”
For more from Dulé Hill, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
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Now a father of two (Hill’swife Jazmyn Simongave birth to their sonLevi in 2019; Hill also adopted her daughter Kennedy, 17), the actor says he’s even more keenly aware of society today.
“Like my character onThe Wonder Years, I want to build up that strength inside of my kids, but also prepare them for what the world is,” he says. “[Last year’s protests] really affected my daughter. She started to see how society sees her and how society will see her brother. It’s a painful transition for a parent to see happening.”
But ultimately, “it’s encouraging when you see them blossom through that,” says Hill. And he’s also encouraged that the newWonder Yearswill help people to see how far we have to go while remaining hopeful about the future.
“A lot of the issues we dealt with [in the 1960s] should be long gone but there are a lot of similarities, and there’s shame in that,” says Hill. “But the beauty of art is to sow seeds of change. And we can find joy amidst adversity.”
The Wonder Yearsairs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
