Cynthia Kaye McWilliams Brings the Heat as Average Joe Returns for a Wild Second Season
Before Average Joe throws audiences back into its unpredictable world of crime, dark comedy, and everyday people making increasingly dangerous decisions, there’s one name viewers should have firmly on their radar... Cynthia Kaye McWilliams.
Cynthia Kaye McWilliams takes center stage as Cathy Montgomery in Average Joe Season 2, returning alongside Deon Cole for more dark comedy, crime, and high-stakes chaos on Paramount+.
McWilliams returns as Cathy Montgomery, a character who quickly proved that being caught in the middle of chaos doesn’t mean standing on the sidelines. Smart, resourceful and far more prepared for the unexpected than anyone might initially assume, Cathy became an essential part of the ensemble as the stakes surrounding Joe Washington and his friends continued to rise.
In Season 1, Cathy’s fascination with true-crime podcasts turned out to be considerably more useful than casual listening. As an ordinary group of friends suddenly found themselves navigating extraordinary—and deadly—circumstances, Cathy brought knowledge, instinct and an unmistakable energy to the mix. McWilliams made the character feel equally believable in the show’s comedic moments and its darker, more intense turns.
That versatility should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with McWilliams’ body of work.
Her television credits have stretched across drama, comedy and action, including appearances in Prison Break, Nashville, Bosch, Real Husbands of Hollywood, and The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. She has also built an extensive voice-acting career, including portraying Gamora in Marvel Studios’ animated What If...? and contributing performances across animation and video games. It’s the kind of résumé that makes McWilliams particularly suited for a series like Average Joe, where the tone can shift from funny to frightening with almost no warning.
And then, of course, there’s Deon Cole.
Cole returns as Joe Washington, the Pittsburgh blue-collar plumber whose seemingly ordinary existence was turned upside down after his father’s death revealed a secret life—and a missing fortune connected to some very dangerous people. Joe’s discovery dragged his family and friends into a world none of them were prepared to enter, setting off the darkly comedic chain reaction that powered the show’s first season.
Cole may occupy the title role, but one of Average Joe’s strengths has always been the people surrounding Joe. McWilliams’ Cathy is a prime example. She adds another layer to a series built around a delicious question: What happens when average people are forced to survive situations that are anything but average?
The formula connected quickly with audiences. Originally premiering on BET+ in June 2023, Average Joe became the platform’s No. 1 scripted drama during its debut week before earning a second-season renewal.
Now the story is getting even bigger.
Season 2 reunites McWilliams and Cole with returning cast members including Malcolm Barrett and Michael Trucco, while expanding the dangerous world surrounding Joe and his crew. Paramount+ has set the new season as an eight-episode run, with the first two episodes premiering Wednesday, August 19, followed by new episodes weekly.
For viewers discovering Average Joe for the first time, come for the outrageous premise and the increasingly complicated trouble surrounding Joe Washington.
But pay attention to Cynthia Kaye McWilliams.
Because when everything starts going wrong—and with Average Joe, it inevitably does—Cathy Montgomery may once again prove that the person everyone needs in the room isn't necessarily the loudest one.
Sometimes, it’s the one who has been studying the crimes all along.
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