Cress Williams
Cress Williams | |
---|---|
![]() Williams at San Diego Comic-Con International 2017 | |
Born |
Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany | July 26, 1970
Alma mater | UCLA |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1990–present |
Spouse(s) |
Kristen Torrianni (m. 2013) |
Children | 2 |
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 as well as 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.
Personal life
Williams was born in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany, to American parents. He attended Fullerton College and UCLA.[1] On October 14, 2000, Williams married actress Simbi Khali in Malibu, California.[2] The couple have two children together and divorced in 2011. Williams married girlfriend Kristen Torrianni in June 2013.[3]
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.[4]
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, 3rd Rock from the Sun, 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".[5] Williams joined the Prison Break cast by playing The Company's assassin, Wyatt Mathewson.[6] 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 the DC Universe: As the lead role of Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning on The CW's superheroes TV series Black Lightning, and as John Henry Irons in the animated film The Death Of Superman and its 2019 sequel, The Reign Of The Supermen.
Filmography
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 |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993–98 | Living Single | Terrence 'Scooter' Williams | 10 episodes |
1993–94 | 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 |
2000–01 | Nash Bridges | Inspector Antwon Babcock | 22 episodes |
2001 | Philly | Calvin Burney | Episode: "Loving Sons" |
2001–02 | 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" |
2005–06 | Veronica Mars | Nathan Woods | 4 episodes |
2005–06 | The West Wing | Lester | 2 episodes |
2006–07 | Close to Home | Ed Williams | 20 episodes |
2006–08 | Grey's Anatomy | Tucker Jones | 7 episodes |
2008 | Prison Break | Wyatt Matthewson | 9 episodes |
2009 | Cold Case | Jimmy Clarke | Episode: "Jurisprudence" |
2010–11 | Friday Night Lights | Ornette Howard | 10 episodes |
2011 | Hawthorne | Tony Gee | 2 episodes |
2011–15 | 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–present | Black Lightning | Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning | Lead role |
References
- ↑ "All About Cress". Cress Williams Online. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.