Thanks to Crave and HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, co-stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams‘ celebrity status soared to the highest heights. The Canadian LGBTQ sports series follows Connor as the fictional Russian-American hockey captain Ilya Rozanov and Hudson as Canadian rival hockey star Shane Hollander, who engage in a secret, long-standing relationship.
As the show gained viral traction following its November 2025 premiere, both actors opened up about their instant chemistry during the casting process. In a November 2025 interview with Out Magazine, Connor recalled knowing almost immediately that Hudson was the right choice. “Hudson was the third actor that I read with,” he said, explaining that after their audition, showrunner Jacob Tierney asked for his thoughts. “I was like, ‘Yeah, Hudson, for sure.’ Instantly.”
Hudson echoed that sentiment, describing an immediate and hard-to-define connection. “There was an inexplicable X-factor that just felt realer than what I thought it could possibly be,” he shared. Connor has also spoken in interviews about preparing for the role, including working on Ilya’s accent and navigating the show’s intense emotional and physical demands as its popularity continues to grow.
Hollywood Life has compiled everything we know about Connor and his acting career below.
Connor Is Not of Russian Descent — He’s From Texas
Despite his convincing Russian accent in Heated Rivalry, Connor is actually a Texas native, according to multiple outlets. During an interview with Etalk, Connor discussed why he was drawn to perfecting his dialect skills.
“Honestly, I’ve always just thought Russian language and Russian culture was really cool,” the actor said. “It’s so different from American culture, so it feels really exotic and out there. … Getting to play anything that is as far away from me as possible, I feel like is really enlightening. It’s also just fun to put on that sort of posture. It lets you discover things about yourself and about the world. It’s easier to play that way too because I’m not so concerned about being Connor.”
Connor Is Also a Writer & a Director
In addition to being an actor, Connor is also a writer and a director, per his IMDb page.
Connor Appeared in Joker: Folie à Deux
One of Connor’s most recognizable big-screen appearances was in Joker: Folie à Deux as a young inmate.
Connor Has Been Acting in Film Since 2018
As seen on his IMDb profile, Connor has been acting in film since 2018.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Connor described his journey as very much a work in progress. “I’m still very much in the beginning stages of my career,” he said, adding that he values being transparent about that reality. He revealed that when he auditioned for Heated Rivalry, he was working full-time at a restaurant, often logging 40-hour weeks and getting off at 1 a.m. “I did that on and off ever since I was in high school,” Connor shared, underscoring how recent his transition into full-time acting truly is.
Connor Is About 26 Years Old
Connor is 26 years old today, per his IMDb.
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