William Stanford Davis Reveals What It's Really Like Working with the 'Abbott Elementary' Cast on Season 4

Mr. Johnson is easily one of the most entertaining characters on Abbott Elementary.

Don't get me wrong—I've grown to love every single staff member and their unique quirks, from Ms. Schemmenti's South Philly accent to Mr. Eddie's iconic side-eye. But Mr. Johnson? He's not your run-of-the-mill janitor. He's enigmatic, curious and witty enough to come up with one-liners like, "I'm a pacifist. You mess with me, Imma pass a fist across your face." Not to mention his mysterious past (How exactly does he know Kevin Hart?!) and meme-worthy facial expressions.

So, when I was offered the opportunity to chat with William Stanford Davis—the man who brought Mr. Johnson to life—I couldn't refuse. The 73-year-old actor discussed his special bond with Abbott Elementary co-stars, as well as his favorite moments to film in season four.

While chatting about his dynamic with the cast, Davis said, "This has been the greatest group of actors, the most kind, the most generous. And when I say generous, I mean as actors, they give you a lot to work with and they keep you on your toes, because in spite of the writing, you don't know what they're going to do or how they're going to deliver the line, and so it really keeps you in the moment. You don't have time to think about what's going to happen next. And that's what I love about working with them individually."

The star also mentioned that he learns quite a bit from the team, adding, "Because this is a mockumentary and you're not in front of an audience like some comedies, you don't get that feedback. [So] I watch them, and if I'm doing something and I see them almost breaking, then I know I'm doing it right. I learned a lot from them. They are incredible actors, stage actors. They really know the craft, and they really know comedy."