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Cress Williams
Cress Williams SDCC 2017.jpg
Williams at San Diego Comic-Con in 2017
Born (1970-07-26) July 26, 1970 (age 54)
Education Fullerton College
University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1990–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2000; div. 2011)
Kristen Torrianni
(m. 2013)
Children 4

Cress Williams (born July 26, 1970) is an American actor. He is well-known for his roles in TV shows like Prison Break and Close to Home. More recently, he played Mayor Lavon Hayes in Hart of Dixie and the main character in Black Lightning.

Williams also had important roles as Terrence "Scooter" Williams on Living Single. He was also Inspector Antwon Babcock on the show Nash Bridges.

Early Life and Education

Cress Williams was born in Heidelberg, West Germany. His parents were American. He studied at Fullerton College before going to the University of California, Los Angeles. There, he earned a degree in theater.

Acting Career Highlights

Williams started acting in college plays in 1990. He performed in William Shakespeare's Othello. He also appeared in a play called Red Noses.

Since 1994, Williams has been in many TV series. These include popular shows like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Beverly Hills, 90210, and NYPD Blue. He also appeared in ER and Grey's Anatomy.

He played a character named Talak'talan in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Later, he joined the cast of Prison Break as Wyatt Mathewson. In the final season of Friday Night Lights, he played Ornette Howard.

Williams starred with Rachel Bilson in Hart of Dixie. He played Lavon Hayes, a former football star who became mayor.

From 2018 to 2021, Williams took on superhero roles. He played Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning in The CW's Black Lightning TV series. This show became part of the Arrowverse superhero universe. He also voiced John Henry Irons in animated movies like The Death of Superman. After Black Lightning ended, he appeared as the character again on The Flash.

Personal Life

Cress Williams married actress Simbi Khali in 2000. They had two children together. The couple later divorced in 2011. In June 2013, Williams married Kristen Torrianni. They also have two children.

Film and Television Roles

Williams has acted in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his notable roles:

Film Roles

Year Title Role
1995 The Doom Generation Peanut
1996 2 Days in the Valley Golfer
1998 Fallen Detective Joe
1999 Never Been Kissed George
2004 Little Black Book Phil
2014 In Your Eyes Jake
2018 The Death of Superman John Henry Irons (voice)
2019 Reign of the Supermen John Henry Irons (voice)
2021 Crime Story Billy

Television Roles

Year Title Role
1993–98 Living Single Terrence 'Scooter' Williams
1993–94 Beverly Hills, 90210 D'Shawn Hardell
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Talak'talan
1995 NYPD Blue Silky
1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Baron Sunday
1998–2008 ER Officer Reggie Moore
2000–01 Nash Bridges Inspector Antwon Babcock
2005–06 Veronica Mars Nathan Woods
2006–07 Close to Home Detective Ed Williams
2006–08 Grey's Anatomy Tucker Jones
2008 Prison Break Wyatt Matthewson
2010–11 Friday Night Lights Ornette Howard
2011–15 Hart of Dixie Lavon Hayes
2018–21 Black Lightning Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
2019–21 The Flash Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
2020 Legends of Tomorrow Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning
2025 Eyes of Wakanda The Lion (voice)
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