Two rival hockey players strike up a romance off the ice in the fiery new Canadian LGBTQ romance series Heated Rivalry based on Rachel Reid’s novels. Starring Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander and Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov, the new Crave and HBO Max show quickly became the internet’s obsession after the first two episodes of season 1 premiered in November 2025.
While the show’s success may have seemed sudden to viewers, Hudson told The Hollywood Reporter that the breakout moment felt “natural,” explaining that he believed in the project from the very beginning. As fan enthusiasm exploded online, both Hudson and Connor saw their profiles rise almost overnight, with audiences falling hard for their on-screen chemistry and emotionally charged performances.
Below, Hollywood Life has gathered all the facts we know so far about Hudson amid his rise to fame. Get to know him and learn more about his career here!
Hudson Is of Korean & British-Dutch-Canadian Descent
During a November 2025 interview with The PR Press, Hudson opened up about playing Shane in Heated Rivalry and the representation of his Asian Canadian heritage.
“I am half-Korean, and then my dad is British-Dutch Canadian,” Hudson said. “I think it meant a lot to me and my mom. .. My mom is Korean. She always thought it would be harder for me to break into film and acting because she hadn’t really seen anyone.”
Hudson Is Not Only an Actor — He’s Also a Director & Writer
According to his IMDb profile, Hudson has written, directed and acted in short films. He co-wrote, co-directed and starred in the 2024 short Rancid.
Hudson Is 24 Years Old
Hudson was born in 2001, according to multiple outlets. This would make him 24 years old today.
Hudson Has Been Film Acting Since at Least 2024
As seen on his IMDb profile, Hudson’s on-screen work began in 2024 with short films and in various TV shows. He starred in the shorts Brim Reaper, Teresa’s Choice, Peace of Mind, Mrs. Changs Perfect Teeth, Chad GPT, The Dating Game and Snow Angel.
On TV, Hudson appeared in one episode of Tracker and Allegiance, and he starred in the TV movie All I Need for Christmas and the film Nobody Dumps My Daughter.
Heated Rivalry Is Hudson’s First Main TV Role
Although Hudson had built an extensive film résumé, Heated Rivalry marked his first major television role — and it has quickly become a breakout moment in his career. Hudson told The Hollywood Reporter that while he “always believed in” the project, he never expected the rapid rise in attention that came with the show’s viral success, adding, “There’s no way to prepare for what this side of things looks like.”
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