If you’ve been watching Swamp People long enough to feel like the Edwards family is part of your weekly routine, you’re not alone. For years, fans have followed the Bayou Sorrel crew through brutal seasons, blown-out lines, and those split-second decisions that separate a clean catch from a total disaster.
Now, the show is leaning even harder into the next generation — and one name keeps coming up as the one “ready to carry the legacy” forward: William “Little Willie” Edwards IV.
He’s not just another new face on the boat. He’s the grandson of original fan-favorite Junior Edwards and the son of veteran swamper Willie Edwards — and HISTORY’s own cast bio says he’s reached the point where he wants more than just riding shotgun. He wants to prove he can lead.
Little Willie (sometimes written “Lil Willie”) is William Edwards IV, part of the Edwards family line featured on the series.
HISTORY describes him as having two years of hunting under his belt and being determined to rise up and show he can eventually captain his own boat — even as extreme weather and unpredictable conditions make the season tougher for everyone.
And if that last name sounds familiar, it should.
Little Willie comes from one of Swamp People’s most recognizable family crews:
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Grandfather: Junior Edwards (original cast member)
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Father: Willie Edwards (longtime cast member)
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Son: Little Willie Edwards IV (the “next up”)
The Edwards legacy — and why Little Willie matters now
The Edwards family has always been portrayed as the kind of crew built on repetition: do it the right way, do it the safe way, and do it again tomorrow — because in the swamp, luck runs out fast.
That legacy became even more emotional for fans after Junior Edwards’ death. Multiple outlets reported that Little Willie was the one who publicly shared the news in a Facebook post in July 2025 — a moment that put him at the center of the family’s public grief and, in many viewers’ eyes, the public face of “what comes next.”
Junior’s obituary also reflects how close-knit (and hands-on) that family operation is: it lists Junior’s survivors and names William “Lil Willie” Edwards IV among the grandchildren.
How old is Little Willie?
Little Willie Edwards IV’s age is easy to pin down from the family timeline you shared: since his father posted a birthday message saying he turned 19 on February 9, 2021, that places Little Willie’s birthdate on February 9, 2002—which means he is 23 years old as of January 13, 2026, and he will turn 24 on February 9, 2026.
Is Little Willie married? Yes — here’s what we know
Yes — Little Willie is married to Victoria.
What we can pin down pretty clearly is the timing: on March 5, 2025, Willie Edwards shared a wedding photo and celebrated a “happy 3 year anniversary,” which strongly suggests Little Willie and Victoria married on March 5, 2022(three years earlier). He also described the marriage in very emotional terms, calling it “3 years down and a lifetime to go,” and used family hashtags like #edwardswayofliving and #blessedandthankful.
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As for how long they’d been together before that, fans have pointed out that the couple appears to have been engaged in 2021 — meaning their relationship milestone timeline likely runs: engagement (around 2021) → marriage (March 5, 2022) → 3-year anniversary (March 5, 2025)
What makes him feel like “new cast” even though he’s been around
To a lot of viewers, Little Willie feels like one of the “new” faces because the show’s focus has shifted. Swamp People has always been about family crews, but in later seasons, the spotlight often moves toward who’s being groomed to take over.
Even Willie’s current cast bio on HISTORY basically frames this season as a turning point: Willie hunts with Little Willie after years of training him — but now, the son wants to take charge and prove he can stand on his own.
That’s the tension that makes Little Willie pop on-screen:
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He’s still learning, but not starting from zero.
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He’s still the son, but he wants to be treated like a partner.
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He’s still being guided, but he’s also being tested.
And HISTORY’s description of Little Willie aiming to “rise up” matches that exact storyline — a young hunter pushing toward leadership while the season itself fights back.
Who he is off-camera (and why viewers connect with him)
Unlike some reality “rookies” who feel like they were cast for personality first, Little Willie is presented as someone who’s been around the work for most of his life. He’s connected to the family’s real-world hunting identity, and that’s part of why fans tend to root for him — even when he messes up.
He’s also become recognizable for a more lighthearted vibe on a show that can feel intense: the kind of young hunter who can joke around one minute, then get dead serious when it’s time to pull a gator.
And when the topic turns to the Edwards family legacy, Little Willie’s name keeps landing at the center — not because he’s claiming the crown, but because he’s clearly next in line to earn it.
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