Cress Williams
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- July 26, 1970 (age 56)
- Birthplace
- Heidelberg, Germany
Biography
Cress Williams is an American actor born on July 26, 1970, in Heidelberg, West Germany, to American parents. He studied acting at Fullerton College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of California, Los Angeles. Williams began his acting career performing in college plays, notably in productions like Shakespeare's "Othello" in 1990 before moving on to television and film roles. He is best known for his diverse roles on television, including Terrence "Scooter" Williams on the sitcom "Living Single," Inspector Antwon Babcock on "Nash Bridges," and Detective Ed Williams on the drama "Close to Home." He gained further prominence as Mayor Lavon Hayes in The CW series "Hart of Dixie" and especially as the lead character Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning in the superhero TV series "Black Lightning" (2018-2021). Williams has also had guest roles on numerous popular shows including "Prison Break," where he played the assassin Wyatt Mathewson, along with appearances in "Friday Night Lights," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Law & Order: SVU," among others. In addition to live-action roles, he has voiced the character John Henry Irons in animated films related to the DC universe. Off screen, Williams has been married twice and has four children. His career spans from the early 1990s to the present, marked by a steady presence in television dramas, action series, and superhero fiction, earning him recognition as a versatile and reliable actor in the entertainment industry
Known For
Filmography
A Music City Story
Movie
Oh Season
Movie · as Ray
Eyes of Wakanda
TV · as The Lion (voice) · 1 ep
Dead Wrong
Movie · as Paul Drake
What Remains
Movie · as Marshall
Crime Story
Movie · as Jimmy
The Violent Heart
Movie · as Lee
The Death of Superman
Movie · as John Henry Irons (voice)
The Death and Return of Superman
Movie · as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Reign of the Supermen
Movie · as John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Black Lightning
TV · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning · 58 eps
Lowriders
Movie · as Williams
Steve
TV · as Self · 1 ep
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
TV · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning · 1 ep
Code Black
TV · as Cole Guthrie · 1 ep
In Your Eyes
Movie · as Jake
The Flash
TV · as Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning · 3 eps
Hart of Dixie
TV · as Lavon Hayes · 76 eps
Grey's Anatomy
TV · as Tucker Jones · 7 eps
Close to Home
TV · as Ed Williams · 22 eps
Criminal Minds
TV · as Davonte Faust · 1 ep
Little Black Book
Movie · as Phil
House
TV · as Hospital Attorney · 1 ep
Veronica Mars
TV · as Nathan Woods · 4 eps
Cold Case
TV · as Jimmy Clarke · 1 ep
The Lyon's Den
TV · as Eddie · 1 ep
The Dogwalker
Movie · as K.C.
Watching Ellie
TV · as Dexter · 1 ep
Pursuit of Happiness
Movie · as Ace
Masquerade
Movie · as Marcus
Never Been Kissed
Movie · as George
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV · as Sam Dufoy · 1 ep
The West Wing
TV · as Lester · 2 eps
Fallen
Movie · as Detective Joe
Creature
TV · as Tall Man · 2 eps
Sports Night
TV · as Steve Sarris · 1 ep
Home Invasion
Movie · as Freemont
L.A. Johns
Movie · as Bill Allen
Leaving L.A.
TV · as Dudley Adams · 6 eps
Rolling Thunder
Movie · as 'Grey' Toussaint
2 Days in the Valley
Movie · as Golfer
Nash Bridges
TV · as Antwon Babcock · 22 eps
The Doom Generation
Movie · as Peanut
JAG
TV · as Captain Overton · 1 ep
If Not for You
TV · as Ahmed · 1 ep
Touched by an Angel
TV · as Riley · 1 ep
ER
TV · as Officer Reggie Moore · 12 eps
NYPD Blue
TV · as Silky · 1 ep
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV · as Talak'talan · 1 ep
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
TV · as Baron Sunday · 1 ep
Living Single
TV · as Terrence · 4 eps
Beverly Hills, 90210
TV · as D'Shawn Hardell · 13 eps