Today (August 5), Jesse Williams celebrates his birthday!

Best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery in Grey’s Anatomy, Jesse is a revered onscreen talent who is equally beloved for his efforts on behalf of the Black community. Exiting the award-winning series earlier this year, after 12 seasons of heat, he’s gone on to direct, spend quality time with his family, earn an Emmy nomination for his part in social issue documentary With Drawn Arms, and more. Jesse continues to be a man of  his people.

The Chicago native joins the lovable Leos in celebrating a new year. Williams turns 44 years young and the actor, director and producer has a lot to celebrate. From his most notable role in Grey’s Anatomy to films like The Cabin in the Woods and The Butler. He also provided voice acting and motion capture for Markus in the video game Detroit: Become Human.

For his B-Day a few years ago, he hit Instagram with a photo dump, sharing pics of himself at various ages, alongside this message:

I will now participate in the time honored Happy Birfday This-is-your-Life photo dumping of the slides show. 🎂