Cress Williams
Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is an American actor, known for his roles in Prison Break and Close to Home. His most recent roles include Mayor Lavon Hayes on The CW series Hart of Dixie and the title character on The CW's Black Lightning. Williams is also best known for his recurring role as Terrence "Scooter" Williams on Fox's Living Single.
Cress Williams | |
|---|---|
 Williams at San Diego Comic-Con International 2017 | |
| Born | July 26, 1970 |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse(s) | Kristen Torrianni
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
Williams was born in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany, to American parents. He took courses at Fullerton College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from University of California, Los Angeles.[1][2]
Career
Williams acted in a 1990 Fullerton College production of William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, which was directed by Tom Blank. He also acted in another production in the same year at Fullerton College called Red Noses, a black comedy produced by Peter Barnes and directed by Michael Fields.[3]
Williams has appeared on many TV series since 1994, including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Beverly Hills, 90210, NYPD Blue, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, JAG, Living Single, Nash Bridges, Providence, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Veronica Mars, The West Wing, Close to Home, ER, and Grey's Anatomy. He portrayed Talak'talan, a Jem'Hadar leader in the Star Trek series, in a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Jem'Hadar".[4] Williams joined the Prison Break cast by playing The Company's assassin, Wyatt Mathewson.[5] He appeared in the final season of Friday Night Lights as Ornette Howard, father of East Dillon's star quarterback Vince Howard. He also starred alongside Rachel Bilson on The CW series Hart of Dixie as former football star turned mayor Lavon Hayes.
Since 2018, he has ventured into adaptations of DC Comics: As main character Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning on The CW's superhero TV series Black Lightning, set in the Arrowverse, and as John Henry Irons in the animated film The Death of Superman and its 2019 sequel, Reign of the Supermen.
Personal life
On October 14, 2000, Williams married actress Simbi Khali in Malibu, California.[6] The couple had two children and divorced in 2011. Williams married girlfriend Kristen Torrianni in June 2013.[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Doom Generation | Peanut | |
| 1996 | 2 Days in the Valley | Golfer | |
| 1997 | Pants on Fire | Dream Guy | Short film |
| 1998 | Fallen | Detective Joe | |
| 1999 | Never Been Kissed | George | |
| 1999 | The Dogwalker | K.C. | |
| 2001 | Pursuit of Happiness | Ace | |
| 2004 | Little Black Book | Phil | |
| 2006 | Haskett's Chance | Hudson Chanticleer | |
| 2008 | Ball Don't Lie | Dante | |
| 2016 | Lowriders | Detective Stallworth | |
| 2018 | The Death of Superman | John Henry Irons | Direct-to-video film |
| 2019 | Reign of the Supermen | John Henry Irons/Steel | Direct-to-video film |
| 2020 | The Violent Heart | Lee | |
| TBA | The Last Job | Billy |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1998 | Living Single | Terrence 'Scooter' Williams | 10 episodes |
| 1993–1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | D'Shawn Hardell | 13 episodes |
| 1994 | Hardball | 'Spotlight' Davis | Episode: "See Spot Rum" |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Talak'talan | Episode: "The Jem'Hadar" |
| 1995 | The Watcher | Episode: "Resurrection/Niles and
Bob/Harry Stenz" | |
| 1995 | If Not for You | Ahmed | Episode: "Snap!" |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Silky | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Baron Sunday | Episode: "Never on Sunday" |
| 1996 | JAG | Captain Overton | Episode: "The Brotherhood" |
| 1996 | Rolling Thunder | 'Grey' Toussaint | Television film |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault | Kimbrough | Television film |
| 1997 | Home Invasion | Freemont | Television film |
| 1997 | L.A. Johns | Bill Allen | Unsold pilot |
| 1997 | Leaving L.A. | Dudley Adams | 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Creature | Tall Man | Television film |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro | Jaleel Jermaine | Episode: "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" |
| 1998–2008 | ER | Officer Reggie Moore | 14 episodes |
| 1999 | Becker | Chris Davis | Episode: "Blind Curve" |
| 2000 | Sports Night | Steve Sarris | Episode: "Dana Get Your Gun" |
| 2000 | G vs E | Virgil Grissom | Episode: "Underworld" |
| 2000 | Masquerade | Marcus | Television film |
| 2000–2001 | Nash Bridges | Inspector Antwon Babcock | 22 episodes |
| 2001 | Philly | Calvin Burney | Episode: "Loving Sons" |
| 2001–2002 | Providence | Dr. Sam Magala | 8 episodes |
| 2002 | Couples | Marcus | Unsold pilot |
| 2002 | Presidio Med | Richard Clayton | Episode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly" |
| 2002 | The District | Dr. Carson | Episode: "Drug Money" |
| 2003 | Touched by an Angel | Riley | Episode: "And a Nightingale Sang" |
| 2003 | Watching Ellie | Dexter | Episode: "Buskers" |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Eddie | Episode: "Beach House" |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sam Dufoy | Episode: "Careless" |
| 2004 | House | Hospital Attorney | Episode: "Maternity" |
| 2005–2006 | Veronica Mars | Nathan Woods | 4 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | The West Wing | Lester | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Close to Home | Ed Williams | 20 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Tucker Jones | 7 episodes |
| 2008 | Prison Break | Wyatt Matthewson | 9 episodes |
| 2009 | Cold Case | Jimmy Clarke | Episode: "Jurisprudence" |
| 2010–2011 | Friday Night Lights | Ornette Howard | 10 episodes |
| 2011 | Hawthorne | Tony Gee | 2 episodes |
| 2011–2015 | Hart of Dixie | Lavon Hayes | 76 episodes |
| 2015 | Code Black | Cole Guthrie | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Doubt | A.D.A. Gates | Episode: "To See, To Tell" |
| 2018–2021 | Black Lightning | Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning | Lead role |
| 2019 | The Flash[8] | "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Three" | |
| 2020 | Legends of Tomorrow[8] | "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Five" | |
References
- "All About Cress". Cress Williams Online. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- "Fullerton College Centennial Celebration | Alumni Stories". fullertoncollegecentennial.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- Smith, Mark Chalon (1990-06-19). "Fullerton College Lacks Breadth for Black Comedy `Red Noses'". Los Angeles Times.
- "The Jem'Hadar". Star Trek. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- Nikki. "Cress Williams to Join Prison Break Season 4 as Assassin". Prison Break Buff. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- "Wed". Passages. People. Time Inc. 54 (22). November 27, 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- Johnson, Zach (June 17, 2013). "Cress Williams Marries Kristen Torrianni: Wedding Pictures and Details". Us Weekly. American Media, Inc. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
- Agard, Chancellor (November 15, 2019). "Black Lightning grabs [Spoiler] in new 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' promo". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
External links
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