Cress Williams

Actor

Cress Williams

Born July 26, 1970 in Heidelberg, Germany22 films

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.

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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

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The best way into Cress Williams's work
The Doom Generation posterFirst watchThe Doom Generation19956.5as PeanutA major role.Jordan White and Amy Blue, two troubled teens, pick up an adolescent drifter, Xavier Red. Together, the threesome embarks on a sex- and violence-filled journey through a United States of…View film

Essential films

Ranked by role, acclaim and reach
Reign of the Supermen poster7.0Reign of the Supermen2019The Death of Superman poster7.5The Death of Superman2019Fallen poster6.8Fallen1998In Your Eyes poster7.1In Your Eyes2014The Death and Return of Superman poster6.7The Death and Return of Superman2019Never Been Kissed poster6.2Never Been Kissed19992 Days in the Valley poster6.22 Days in the Valley1996Lowriders poster6.7Lowriders2017

Filmography

22 films as actor
  1. TBAA Music City Story
  2. 2026Oh SeasonRay
  3. 2024Dead WrongPaul Drake
  4. 2022What RemainsMarshall
  5. 2021Crime StoryJimmy
  6. 2020The Violent HeartLee
  7. 2019The Death and Return of SupermanJohn Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
  8. 2019The Death of SupermanJohn Henry Irons (voice)
  9. 2019Reign of the SupermenJohn Henry Irons / Steel (voice)
  10. 2017LowridersWilliams
  11. 2014In Your EyesJake
  12. 2004Little Black BookPhil
  13. 2002The DogwalkerK.C.
  14. 2001Pursuit of HappinessAce
  15. 2000MasqueradeMarcus
  16. 1999Never Been KissedGeorge
  17. 1998FallenDetective Joe
  18. 1997L.A. JohnsBill Allen
  19. 1997Home InvasionFreemont
  20. 1996Rolling Thunder'Grey' Toussaint
  21. 19962 Days in the ValleyGolfer
  22. 1995The Doom GenerationPeanut