Known For
Acting
Born
Jul 26, 1970
Place of Birth
Heidelberg, Germany
Credits
52 titles
Cress Williams
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
Oh Season
Ray
Eyes of Wakanda
The Lion (voice)
Dead Wrong
Paul Drake
What Remains
Marshall
Crime Story
Jimmy
The Violent Heart
Lee
The Death and Return of Superman
John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
Reign of the Supermen
John Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
The Death of Superman
John Henry Irons (voice)
Black Lightning
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
Steve
Self
Lowriders
Williams
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
Code Black
Cole Guthrie
The Flash
Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
In Your Eyes
Jake
Hart of Dixie
Lavon Hayes
Criminal Minds
Davonte Faust
Close to Home
Ed Williams
Grey's Anatomy
Tucker Jones
House
Hospital Attorney
Veronica Mars
Nathan Woods
Little Black Book
Phil
Cold Case
Jimmy Clarke
The Lyon's Den
Eddie
The Dogwalker
K.C.
Watching Ellie
Dexter
Pursuit of Happiness
Ace
Masquerade
Marcus
The West Wing
Lester
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Sam Dufoy
Never Been Kissed
George
Sports Night
Steve Sarris
Creature
Tall Man
Fallen
Detective Joe
L.A. Johns
Bill Allen
Leaving L.A.
Dudley Adams
Home Invasion
Freemont
Rolling Thunder
'Grey' Toussaint
2 Days in the Valley
Golfer
Nash Bridges
Antwon Babcock
The Doom Generation
Peanut
JAG
Captain Overton
If Not for You
Ahmed
Touched by an Angel
Riley
ER
Officer Reggie Moore
NYPD Blue
Silky
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Baron Sunday
Living Single
Terrence
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Talak'talan