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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 popular TV shows like Prison Break and Close to Home. More recently, he played Mayor Lavon Hayes in Hart of Dixie. He also starred as the main character, Black Lightning, in The CW's superhero series Black Lightning. You might also remember him as Terrence "Scooter" Williams on Living Single or Inspector Antwon Babcock on Nash Bridges.

Cress Williams: An Actor's Journey

Early Life and Learning

Cress Williams was born in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. His parents were American. He went to Fullerton College for some courses. Later, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of California, Los Angeles. This means he studied acting and drama at a university.

Cress Williams' Acting Career

Cress Williams started acting in college plays. In 1990, he performed in a play called Othello by William Shakespeare. He also acted in another play that year called Red Noses.

Since 1994, Williams has appeared in many TV shows. Some of these include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Beverly Hills, 90210, and ER. He was even in the first try-out episode for the show Will & Grace. However, his character was later removed from the show.

Famous TV Roles

Cress Williams joined the cast of Prison Break as Wyatt Mathewson. This character was an assassin for a powerful group called "The Company." He also appeared in the last season of Friday Night Lights. In that show, he played Ornette Howard, who was the father of a star football player.

From 2011 to 2015, Williams starred with Rachel Bilson in The CW series Hart of Dixie. He played Lavon Hayes, a former football star who became the mayor of a small town.

Becoming a Superhero: Black Lightning

From 2018 to 2021, Cress Williams took on a big role in the world of DC Comics. He played Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning in The CW's superhero TV series Black Lightning. This show was even connected to other superhero shows like The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow through events like "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

He also voiced John Henry Irons in two animated movies: The Death of Superman (2018) and Reign of the Supermen (2019). After Black Lightning ended, he played the character again in The Flash during a special event called "Armageddon."

Life Outside Acting

Cress Williams has been married twice. On October 14, 2000, he married actress Simbi Khali. They had two children together. They later divorced in 2011. In June 2013, Williams married his girlfriend, Kristen Torrianni. They also have two children together. In total, Cress Williams has four children.

Movies and TV Shows

Cress Williams has been in many movies and television shows. Here are some of them:

Film and TV Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Doom Generation Peanut
1996 2 Days in the Valley Golfer
Rolling Thunder 'Grey' Toussaint TV movie
Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault Kimbrough TV movie
1997 Home Invasion Freemont TV movie
L.A. Johns Bill Allen TV movie
Pants on Fire Dream Guy Short
1998 Fallen Detective Joe
1999 Never Been Kissed George
The Dogwalker K.C.
2000 Masquerade Marcus TV movie
2001 Pursuit of Happiness Ace
2002 Couples Marcus TV movie
2004 Little Black Book Phil
2006 Haskett's Chance Hudson Chanticleer
2008 Ball Don't Lie Dante
2014 In Your Eyes Jake
2016 Lowriders Detective Williams
2018 The Death of Superman John Henry Irons (voice) Video
2019 Reign of the Supermen Video
2020 The Violent Heart Lee
2021 Crime Story Billy
2022 What Remains Marshall

Television Series

Year Title Role Notes
1993–98 Living Single Terrence 'Scooter' Williams Recurring cast
1993–94 Beverly Hills, 90210 D'Shawn Hardell Recurring cast: season 4-5
1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Talak'talan Episode: "The Jem'Hadar"
Hardball 'Spotlight' Davis Episode: "See Spot Rum"
1995 The Watcher - Episode: "Resurrection/Niles and Bob/Harry Stenz"
If Not for You Ahmed Episode: "Snap!"
NYPD Blue Silky Episode: "A Murder with Teeth in It" & "One Big Happy Family"
1996 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Baron Sunday Episode: "Never on Sunday"
JAG Captain Overton Episode: "The Brotherhood"
1997 Leaving L.A. Dudley Adams Recurring cast
1998 Creature Tall Man TV mini series
Buddy Faro Jaleel Jermaine Episode: "Ain't That a Kick in the Head"
1998–2008 ER Officer Reggie Moore Supporting cast: Season 5-6, guest: Season 14
1999 Becker Chris Davis Episode: "Blind Curve"
2000 Sports Night Steve Sarris Episode: "Dana Get Your Gun"
G vs E Virgil Grissom Episode: "Underworld"
2000–01 Nash Bridges Inspector Antwon Babcock Main cast: season 6
2001 Philly Calvin Burney Episode: "Loving Sons"
2001–02 Providence Dr. Sam Magala Recurring cast: season 4
2002 Presidio Med Richard Clayton Episode: "This Baby's Gonna Fly"
The District Dr. Carson Episode: "..."
2003 Touched by an Angel Riley Episode: "And a Nightingale Sang"
Watching Ellie Dexter Episode: "Buskers"
The Lyon's Den Eddie Episode: "Beach House"
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sam Dufoy Episode: "Careless"
House Hospital Attorney Episode: "Maternity"
2005–06 Veronica Mars Nathan Woods Recurring cast: season 2
The West Wing Lester Episode: "Undecideds" & "Election Day: Part 1"
2006–07 Close to Home Detective Ed Williams Main cast: season 2
2006–08 Grey's Anatomy Tucker Jones Recurring cast: Season 2, 4
2008 Prison Break Wyatt Matthewson Recurring cast: Season 4
2009 Cold Case Jimmy Clarke Episode: "Jurisprudence"
2010–11 Friday Night Lights Ornette Howard Recurring cast: Season 5
2011 Hawthorne Tony Gee Episode: "Price of Admission" & "A Shot in the Dark"
2011–15 Hart of Dixie Lavon Hayes Main cast
2015 State of Affairs Dale Scott Recurring cast
2015–17 Code Black Cole Guthrie Recurring cast: season 1-2
2017 Doubt A.D.A. Gates Episode: "To See, To Tell"
2018–21 Black Lightning Jefferson Pierce / Black Lightning Main cast
2019–21 The Flash 3 episodes
2020 Legends of Tomorrow Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part Five"
2025 Eyes of Wakanda The Lion (voice) Disney+ series
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